World’s Most Expensive Countries to Visit in 2025

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As travellers around the globe eagerly plan their 2025 adventures, financial advisors everywhere can be heard collectively sighing. “Have you considered a nice staycation instead?” they plead, as their clients scroll through Instagram photos of overwater bungalows in the Maldives and Swiss Alpine chalets.

This article is for those brave souls determined to visit the world’s most expensive destinations. Where ATMs dispense money with sympathy cards attached—here’s a comprehensive look at the 10 countries guaranteed to transform your savings account into a distant memory.

Most Expensive Countries to Visit in 2025

Before diving into our countdown of fiscal pain, it’s worth noting how these daily budget figures were determined.

Each country’s average daily cost includes 4 key components:

Accommodations (whether luxury hotels or Airbnb rentals)
Meals (calculated using local consumer price indices and typical restaurant prices)
In-country transportation (everything from subway tickets to domestic flights)
Activities (museum entries, guided tours, and other tourist experiences)

Importantly, these figures don’t include your international airfare to reach these destinations. Consider that your financial warm-up exercise before the main budget marathon begins!

1. Barbados – Average Daily Budget: $330

Crowning our list of budget-busters is Barbados, the easternmost Caribbean island, where luxury comes as standard as the sunshine.

The island’s west coast, aptly nicknamed the “Platinum Coast,” hosts ultra-exclusive resorts like Sandy Lane. Here, rooms start at $1,000 per night during peak season.

Barbados’ high costs stem from its sophisticated tourism infrastructure tailored to affluent travellers. Almost everything must be imported, from building materials for those lavish resorts to the ingredients for the island’s celebrated rum punch.

The island’s water sports are particularly expensive! A half-day private catamaran cruise can easily exceed $500, while diving expeditions to explore shipwrecks like the Stavronikita frigate command premium fees.

2. Antigua and Barbuda – Average Daily Budget: $310

Coming in second at $310 daily is Antigua and Barbuda, where the tourism slogan might as well be “We have 365 beaches and charging you for each one.” This twin-island nation has positioned itself as an exclusive retreat for the wealthy, with more than 100 luxury resorts scattered across landscapes of stunning natural beauty.

What drives up costs in Antigua? Limited fresh water requires expensive desalination processes, and nearly all consumer goods arrive via costly imports. Even local transportation comes at a premium—taxi fares between the airport and hotels regularly exceed $40 for short journeys.

Exclusive attractions like Shirley Heights Sunday parties, featuring barbecue and live reggae overlooking English Harbour, charge entrance fees plus hefty food and drink prices that reflect the spectacular sunset views.

3. Saint Kitts and Nevis – Average Daily Budget: $271

This dual-island federation in the West Indies has transformed from sugar production to a luxury tourism destination, commanding $271 per day from visitors.

With a combined population of just 53,000 people yet hosting multiple 5-star resorts, Saint Kitts and Nevis maintains exclusivity through high prices.

The country’s economic citizenship program, which grants a passport in exchange for substantial investment, has further elevated the destination’s profile among wealthy travellers.

The Southeast Peninsula of Saint Kitts houses most luxury developments, while Nevis prides itself on plantation-style accommodations like the Four Seasons Resort, where rooms frequently surpass $600 nightly.

The famous Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park and scenic railway tours using former sugar transport lines represent unique attractions that come with premium price tags.

4. Maldives – Average Daily Budget: $267

The Maldives—1,192 coral islands, where your Instagram followers’ envy costs $267 daily. This Indian Ocean archipelago has perfected the art of luxury isolation with its “one island, one resort” concept. Most visitors arrive at Male International Airport (MLE) and immediately transfer to private resorts via seaplane ($500 round-trip) or speedboat.

The remoteness creates astronomical operating costs: resorts must generate their electricity, desalinate water, and import virtually everything. Even simple meals become expensive, with captive audiences paying $30-40 for basic lunches.

The famous underwater restaurant at Conrad Maldives, Ithaa, charges $320 per person for dinner before drinks. Activities like submarine excursions and private sandbank picnics can easily add hundreds more to daily expenses.

5. Grenada – Average Daily Budget: $258

Known as the “Spice Isle,” Grenada’s tourism industry has increasingly focused on luxury offerings that command $258 daily from visitors. Despite producing nutmeg, cinnamon, and cocoa, this small Caribbean nation relies heavily on imported goods and has positioned itself as an upmarket destination rather than a budget getaway.

The country’s premier Grand Anse Beach hosts numerous high-end resorts, while the capital, St. George’s, offers one of the Caribbean’s most picturesque harbours, at prices to match the views.

Unique attractions like the underwater sculpture park require guided diving tours, while the island’s rum distilleries offer premium tasting experiences. Even Grenada’s famous chocolate factories have capitalised on tourism with expensive tours and workshops for visitors.

6. Switzerland – Average Daily Budget: $250

Switzerland breaks our island monopoly at number 6, proving continental locations can be just as effective at emptying wallets. This Alpine nation combines breathtaking mountain scenery with immaculate cities, and charges accordingly for both.

Switzerland’s stratospheric prices stem from high wages, strict regulations, and quality standards that affect everything from hotel operations to restaurant service. A standard hotel room in Zurich or Geneva regularly exceeds $300 nightly, while a basic restaurant meal costs $25-35 per person without drinks.

Transportation, though excellent, comes at a premium price: the scenic Glacier Express train journey between St. Moritz and Zermatt costs approximately $170 one-way in second class.

7. United States – Average Daily Budget: $248

As the third most visited country globally (after France and Spain), the United States leverages its diverse attractions to command $248 daily from international visitors. The vastness of America creates extreme price variations—from astronomical costs in New York City and San Francisco to relative bargains in smaller cities.

Major tourist destinations drive the high average: a standard hotel room in Manhattan averages $350 nightly, while tickets to popular attractions like Universal Studios Hollywood reach $120 per day.

Transportation between distant U.S. cities adds significantly to budgets, with domestic flights often costing hundreds of dollars. Healthcare costs also concern visitors—a minor emergency room visit without insurance can generate bills exceeding $1,000.

8. Micronesia – Average Daily Budget: $248

Micronesia is a federation of 607 islands scattered across the western Pacific that demands $248 daily from the adventurous travellers who make the journey. Remoteness defines the Micronesian experience—and its costs. Most visitors arrive through Guam or Hawaii, adding substantial transportation expenses before reaching destinations like Pohnpei or Chuuk.

Limited competition in accommodations keeps prices high, while imported food and goods arrive via expensive shipping routes.

The famous wreck diving in Chuuk Lagoon—considered among the world’s best—requires specialised guides and equipment rental at premium rates. Even visiting the mysterious ancient city of Nan Madol on Pohnpei, sometimes called the “Venice of the Pacific,” requires costly tours and permissions.

9. Greenland – Average Daily Budget: $221

Denmark’s autonomous territory in the Arctic commands $221 daily from visitors seeking its unique landscapes of ice sheets, fjords, and remote settlements. Greenland’s tourism infrastructure remains limited despite growing interest, creating supply-demand imbalances that drive up prices.

Almost everything in Greenland arrives by air or sea freight, with weather conditions frequently complicating deliveries.

Domestic transportation relies heavily on helicopters and small planes, with flights between settlements often costing more than international flights to Europe.

Activities like dog sledging expeditions, northern lights tours, and iceberg cruises command premium prices due to specialised equipment and guides required for Arctic conditions.

10. United Arab Emirates – Average Daily Budget: $220

Rounding out our list at $220 daily is the UAE, where artificial islands, indoor ski slopes, and gold-dispensing ATMs demonstrate a commitment to luxurious excess.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi have transformed desert landscapes into playgrounds for the wealthy, with 7-star hotels and record-breaking skyscrapers defining their skylines.

While budget options exist, most tourists gravitate toward the UAE’s signature experiences: afternoon tea at the Burj Al Arab ($175 per person), tickets to the Burj Khalifa’s highest observation deck ($95), or desert safaris with dinner entertainment ($100-150).

Alcohol, heavily taxed in this Muslim nation, adds substantially to costs, with cocktails in upscale venues regularly exceeding $25 each.

Bottom Line

As travellers return from these ten wallet-withering destinations, they often develop a curious condition: gasping uncontrollably at ordinary prices back home. “Only $5 for coffee? Is something wrong with it?” they ask, still recalibrating from paying $12 for the same beverage with an ocean view.

The true souvenir from these expensive countries isn’t the refrigerator magnet or duty-free perfume—it’s the lasting appreciation that in some parts of the world, you can buy lunch without selling a kidney.

But for those with memories of overwater bungalows at sunset or Alpine peaks at dawn, the financial recovery process seems a small price to pay for experiences that, unlike their bank accounts, remain gloriously full.

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