The United States is a destination where the budget can balloon fast without rigorous preparation. Living costs are notably higher than Europe, and the mandatory 15-20% tipping system adds 15-20% to every restaurant and service bill. The €150/day/person reference budget is an average — realistically count €200-250/day in NYC or Hawaii, €100-130/day in national parks and rural zones.
By expense category. Accommodation (50-60%): 2* budget hotel €80-130/night (motels, Holiday Inn Express, La Quinta), 3* mid-range €150-280/night (NYC rather €200-350), 4* upper €300-500/night (NYC €400-700), 5* luxury €500-1,500/night (NYC, LA, Vegas Strip premium). Airbnb can halve costs for families/groups. Roadside Best Western, Super 8, Days Inn motels $60-100/night, basic but decent for road trips.
Food (20-25%): diner breakfast $12-25/person (pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict), lunch $15-30 (sandwich, burger, salad), mid-restaurant dinner $35-70/person pre-tip, gourmet dinner $80-200/person pre-tip. Street food and food trucks ($15-25) are excellent (LA, NYC, Portland, Austin). Don't forget the 15-20% tip on pre-tax bill. Sales tax never shown — add 4-10% by state.
Activities and sites (10-15%): NYC museums (MET $30, MoMA $25, Guggenheim $25), Empire State $47, Top of the Rock $40, One World Observatory $44, Hollywood tours $40-70, Universal Studios $109-149, Disney World $109-189, Grand Canyon entry $35/vehicle, Yellowstone $35/vehicle, America the Beautiful Pass $80/year for all national parks. Broadway musical $50-300 per show, NBA game $60-400, NFL $100-600.
Transport (10-15%). Domestic flights $80-300 a leg. Car hire $35-80/day (compact to premium SUV), gasoline $3.5-5/gallon (cheaper than Europe), variable tolls. NYC subway $3/ride or $33 weekly MetroCard. NYC taxi $3-15 in centre, Uber/Lyft $8-25. Amtrak Acela NYC-Boston $100-250, NYC-Washington $80-200.
Practical tips. The US dollar exchanges easily on arrival (airport exchanges unfavourable, prefer ATMs with no-foreign-fee cards — Revolut, N26, Boursorama Ultim). Visa/Mastercard accepted everywhere, contactless widespread. Cash useful for tips and some taxis. 110V voltage (A/B plugs) requires adapter for European travellers. Sales tax never shown — unpleasant checkout surprise. For car rentals, drive minimum 21 (under-25 surcharges), French licence valid 3 months (beyond, international licence recommended), credit card mandatory for deposit, choose full LDW/CDW insurance ($60-80 extra).
Read also
- East Coast — New York, Boston, Washington: the urban and historical heart of the US.
- California — Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego: cinema, tech, mythical beaches and spectacular nature.
- Western Parks — Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite: the world's greatest natural landscape reservoirs.
- Florida — Miami, Orlando, Keys: beach, Disney, Everglades and the Latin dimension of the South.
- Hawaii — Honolulu, Maui, Big Island: the most accessible US tropical archipelago.