The 5 cheapest holiday destinations

While it is not advisable to travel overseas at present, because it increases your risk of Covid-19 infection, it is interesting to see where, if you were travelling, you’d get the most “bang for your buck”. The following list of the five most affordable destinations in the world is based on the latest Big Mac Index survey (July 2020). This measure, launched some years ago by The Economist magazine, gives an idea of how much a US dollar would buy you in any particular country, by comparing prices, when the local currency is converted to dollars, of a McDonald’s Big Mac burger. While it may serve as a rough guide to how “cheap” or “expensive” a particular country is for tourists, you need to do more homework before going anywhere. For example, while a Big Mac may be relatively cheap, hotel accommodation or car hire may not be.

SOUTH AFRICA

Our country is the cheapest of all the countries in the Big Mac Index, an indication that our currency, the rand, is extremely weak. According to the index, in July, a Big Mac would have cost you R31, which, at the exchange rate at the time of R16.65 to the US dollar, translates to US$1.86. You cannot buy a Big Mac for less than that anywhere in the world. Hotel accommodation in December, according to Booking. com, ranges from about $60 to $270 per room per night (two adults).

RUSSIA

If you’re wanting to travel outside South Africa, Russia is the cheapest country to visit, with a Big Mac burger costing you $1.91 (about R32). Hotel accommodation in December (winter in Russia is very cold, and therefore it is not high tourist season) ranges on Booking.com from $30 to $200 per room per night. In summer a room will cost between $60 and $300.

TURKEY

Picturesque Turkey is the third-cheapest country for tourists, according to the Big Mac Index. A Big Mac will cost you $2.04 (about R33). Hotel accommodation in December is generally very affordable, ranging from $30 to $200. These prices go up considerably in Turkey’s summer season (July and August), to between $60 and $400 per room per night.

UKRAINE

Ukraine, which is to the north of Turkey, on the northern side of the Black Sea, and which borders Russia to the East, is much colder than Turkey in December. A Big Mac burger will cost you $2.17 (about R36). Hotel accommodation in December costs $30 to $120 a room, while in the summer months of July and August you’ll pay $60 to $270, according to Booking.com

MEXICO

Mexico is good to visit all year round because of its moderateto-warm climate. A Big Mac costs $2.23 (about R37), which is less than half the $5.71 (R95) you’ll pay if you cross the border into the home of the Big Mac, the USA. Mexico boasts fabulous beach resorts in sun-drenched Cancun and Acapulco, among other places, but accommodation at a resort hotel is not cheap: in December you are looking at $120 to $400 a night.

NOTE The conversions reflect the rand/dollar conversion rate in July 2020, of R16.65 to the US dollar. The rand had strengthened to about R15.30 to the dollar at the time of writing.