How Much Will It Actually Cost?
The most common question British travellers ask about America: "How much do I need?" The honest answer: it depends enormously on where you go, how you travel, and what you do. New York in August costs roughly double what Arizona in March costs.
This guide gives you realistic, current prices based on first-hand experience — not wishful thinking. We'll show budget, mid-range, and comfortable scenarios so you can plan for your actual holiday, not someone else's.
Budget Breakdown by Category
Flights (Return)
| Route | Budget | Mid-Range | Premium Economy |
|---|
| London → New York | £350-450 | £500-650 | £800-1,200 |
| London → Los Angeles | £400-550 | £600-750 | £900-1,400 |
| London → Miami | £400-500 | £550-700 | £850-1,200 |
| Regional UK → US East Coast | £400-600 | £600-800 | £1,000-1,500 |
Save money: Book 6-10 weeks out. Fly midweek (Tue-Thu). Try Norse Atlantic from Gatwick for budget fares. Use Google Flights for price alerts.
Accommodation (Per Night)
| Type | Budget | Mid-Range | Upscale |
|---|
| Hostel / budget hotel | £40-80 | — | — |
| Standard hotel (3-star) | — | £100-180 | — |
| Boutique / 4-star hotel | — | — | £200-400 |
| Airbnb (per room/studio) | £50-100 | £80-150 | £150-300 |
| Motel (road trip) | £40-70 | £60-100 | — |
| Campground | £15-25 | — | — |
Key insight: US hotels charge per room, not per person. Two people sharing a room halves the per-person cost. This makes mid-range hotels excellent value for couples or mates.
Food (Per Day)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|
| Breakfast | £0 (hotel) – £5 | £5-10 | £10-15 |
| Lunch | £5-10 | £10-15 | £15-25 |
| Dinner | £10-20 | £20-35 | £35-60 |
| Snacks/drinks | £5-10 | £10-15 | £15-25 |
| Daily total | £20-45 | £45-75 | £75-125 |
Save money: American portions are enormous. A lunch portion often works as dinner. Supermarkets (Trader Joe's, Walmart, Target) sell excellent pre-made meals for £3-8. Fast food is genuinely good — In-N-Out, Chick-fil-A, Shake Shack are all under £8 for a meal.
Transport
| Method | Cost |
|---|
| Car rental (per day) | £25-50 |
| Petrol/gas (per tank) | £25-35 |
| Uber (typical city ride) | £5-15 |
| Subway day (NYC/Chicago) | £3-8 |
| Domestic flight (one-way) | £50-200 |
| Amtrak train (city-to-city) | £30-120 |
Activities
| Activity | Typical Cost |
|---|
| National park entry (per vehicle) | £25-30 |
| Museum (major city) | £15-30 (many are free) |
| Theme park (Disney/Universal) | £80-130 |
| Broadway/show ticket | £50-150 |
| Guided tour (half-day) | £30-60 |
| Sports event ticket | £15-80 |
| Helicopter/scenic flight | £150-400 |
Sample Trip Budgets
7 Nights in New York City
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|
| Flights (return) | £400 | £550 | £900 |
| Hotel (7 nights) | £560 | £1,050 | £1,750 |
| Food (7 days) | £210 | £525 | £875 |
| Transport | £60 | £100 | £150 |
| Activities | £80 | £200 | £400 |
| Total | £1,310 | £2,425 | £4,075 |
10-Day California Road Trip
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|
| Flights to LA (return) | £450 | £600 | £1,000 |
| Car rental (10 days) | £300 | £400 | £500 |
| Fuel | £100 | £120 | £120 |
| Accommodation (10 nights) | £500 | £1,000 | £2,000 |
| Food (10 days) | £250 | £500 | £900 |
| Activities | £100 | £300 | £600 |
| Total | £1,700 | £2,920 | £5,120 |
14-Day Multi-City (NYC + Vegas + LA)
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range | Comfortable |
|---|
| International flights | £500 | £650 | £1,100 |
| Domestic flights (2) | £150 | £200 | £300 |
| Hotels (14 nights) | £840 | £1,680 | £3,500 |
| Food (14 days) | £420 | £840 | £1,400 |
| Transport (local) | £150 | £250 | £400 |
| Activities | £200 | £500 | £1,000 |
| Total | £2,260 | £4,120 | £7,700 |
Money-Saving Tips
- Use a fee-free card. Starling, Monzo, Chase UK, or Revolut. No foreign transaction fees. Real Mastercard/Visa exchange rates. This saves 3-5% on every purchase compared to a standard UK bank card.
- Eat lunch, not dinner. Many upscale restaurants offer lunch menus at 40-50% less than dinner. Same food, same quality, lower price.
- Free museums exist. The Smithsonian in Washington DC (20+ museums, ALL free), the Getty in LA (free), many NYC museums have free evenings.
- Hotel parking kills your budget. In cities, choose hotels without cars and use Uber/public transport. Hotel parking in NYC or SF is £30-50/night.
- Supermarket breakfasts. A box of cereal, milk, and fruit from Walmart costs £6 and covers 4-5 breakfasts. Hotel breakfast buffets cost £10-20/day.
- Buy the America the Beautiful Pass (£64/year) if visiting 2+ national parks. Pays for itself immediately.
- Happy hour is real. Most American bars and restaurants have happy hour (usually 4-7pm) with discounted drinks and appetizers. Half-price cocktails are common.
Tipping Guide
This is non-negotiable in America. Workers in service industries rely on tips — base pay is often below minimum wage.
| Service | Expected Tip |
|---|
| Restaurant (sit-down) | 18-20% of the total bill |
| Bar (per drink) | $1-2 per drink |
| Taxi/Uber | 15-20% |
| Hotel bellhop | $2-5 per bag |
| Hotel housekeeping | $2-5 per night |
| Hairdresser / spa | 15-20% |
| Tour guide | 15-20% |
| Valet parking | $2-5 when car returned |
| Coffee shop (counter service) | Optional, $1 or round up |
At restaurants: The tip is added on top of the pre-tax total. A £40 dinner becomes £47-48 after tip. Do not skip this — it's how the system works in America.