How to Eat Cheap Around the World

Last Updated: 3/17/23 | March 17th, 2023 I love to eat. In fact, eating is one of my favorite activities, and also one of my favorite aspects of traveling. Food is such an integral part of so many cultures that to skip out on meals when you travel is to miss out on a part of that culture. I’m always disappointed when I meet travelers who cook all their meals in a hostel kitchen. Why come to Italy and not have pasta? No sushi in Japan? Avoiding steak in Argentina? Skipping paella in Spain? While you don’t need to eat every single dish when you visit a new country, it’s important to be as open as possible to their food culture. Of course, many travelers have a valid concern when it comes to food. For one, eating out all the time is expensive. Imagine if you ate out every day — your food budget would be astronomical! Additionally, many people have dietary concerns that prevent them from fully embracing new foods. And many travelers are vegan or vegetarian, as well, which might impact their options. As a backpacker, people often assume that I, like other backpackers, cook all my meals. However, I don’t actually cook very often when I’m on the road. While I love cooking at home, I hate poorly equipped hostel kitchens. To make sure I can eat out without breaking the bank, I have had to learn how to balance eating 99% of my meals out while still finding a way to save money. Yes, it takes a bit of clever thinking, but it definitely is possible. Here’s how to eat out on a budget while you travel the world: Table of Contents 1. Eat at Buffets While they don’t always serve the best meals, buffets offer great value for your money, especially since they are all-you-can-eat. More often than not, you can fill up on one meal for the entire day. They are a good economical choice and give you the most food for your buck (while allowing you to sample a lot of different foods). 2. Visit Outdoor Street Vendors Small stands that sell hot dogs, sausages, sandwiches, and similar foods great places to get a cheap and quick meal. While in Sweden, I lived off these types of vendors. While they are nothing fancy, they are tasty and cheap! In Amsterdam, FEBO and their croquettes kept my stomach full. In Costa Rica, the empanada seller filled me up for a dollar and I bought local food from vendors at markets for mere pennies in Madagascar. These quick and inexpensive meals won’t win any Michelin stars (though there are Michelin star food stalls in Singapore!) but, they will keep you full without emptying your wallet. 3. Eat Street Food In most places around the world (and especially in Asia), the streets are lined with little food stalls and areas where food is cooked openly on the street. You grab a plate, sit down in a little plastic chair, and enjoy a delicious meal. Street food is some of the best food in the world. Meals at street stalls (different from street vendors, who have a bit more permanent set-up) cost less than a dollar most of the time and are a great way to really experience the local cuisine. Many places — like Thailand and Vietnam, for example, wouldn’t be the same if the street food disappeared. 4. (Sometimes) Eat Fast Food Fast food isn’t the best for you, but it is another option if you want a cheap meal in inexpensive parts of the world. For as little as $5 USD (more in expensive countries like Norway, home of the $15 Whopper), you can get a filling (and hugely caloric) meal. Moreover, the local dollar menu will save you even more. Sure, it’s not the greatest food, and I am going to skip the philosophical debate about traveling around the world only to eat McDonald’s to say that it’s cheap and just another way to help you rein in your spending. (However, note: in Asia, fast food is often more expensive than local food.) 5. Go Local When you’ve been traveling for a while, it’s only normal to crave a taste of home every now and then. That means that sure, sometimes I get sick of Greek food when I’ve been traveling there for a bit. Other times, I can’t eat any more Thai food and just want a burger. And that’s OK. We live in a globalized world — eat what you want. However, non-local food is almost always more expensive than local cuisine. For example, in Vietnam, a bowl of pho is less than a dollar, but a burger is about three times as much (or more!). Go local and you will save yourself a ton of money in the long run! 6. Find the Lunch Specials Many restaurants, especially in Europe, offer lunch specials, where items on the dinner menu are offered at a huge discount. You can get an amazing afternoon meal for a fraction of the cost you’d pay for the same meal in the evening. I usually tend to eat my “nice” meal during lunch, because lunch specials and plates of the day are about 30-40% off what I might pay at dinner. The options will usually be more limited, but the savings more than justify it. 7. Skip the Soda Grabbing a refreshing can of Coke or Pepsi might see

How to Eat Cheap Around the World