Cheap and Tasty: Eating Well on a Travel Budget

Travel tips

May 4

How to find the best deals for tasty and cheap food.

Food can eat up your travel budget fast—pun intended. But eating well on the road doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In this guide we show you how to stay full without emptying your wallet.

When we travel, we always seek a balance between budget-friendly meals and the experience of trying local flavors. While street food is an obvious go-to for saving money, we’ve found that many local restaurants offer great value, especially when you avoid tourist traps. We've discovered that many spots offer affordable, hearty meals that reflect the region’s cuisine and culture. Whether it's a casual restaurant with daily specials or a charming local café, being a bit adventurous with your restaurant choices can lead to memorable, budget-friendly meals.

Street Food: Delicious and Cheap

Street food is often affordable and packed with amazing authentic flavors. In countries like Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan, many locals don’t cook at home. Instead, they enjoy all of their meals at their favorite street food stalls because its cheaper and more convenient than cooking at home. The dishes are often freshly made right in front of you, so you know exactly what you are getting. Plus, street food gives you a chance to experience the local food culture. If you're curious about how to enjoy street food safely and avoid food poisoning while traveling, check our tips here.

Stay Away from International Food & Chain Restaurants

From our experience, international food tends to be more expensive in most countries and tourist hot-spots. For example, restaurants that serve things like pasta, pizza, burgers, Tex-Mex, and smoothie bowls often charge more because they know tourists are willing to pay for it. Sometimes, the ingredients used in these types of restaurants can be pricey because they have to be imported from faraway places. We do get the occasional craving for a meal like that, but we definitely don’t make it a habit to splurge on these kinds of restaurants too often. It’s more of a treat than a regular choice for us!

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Eat at Local Restaurants and Small Eateries

Some tourists might feel nervous about getting sick and decide to avoid local restaurants, but honestly, there's no need to worry if you know what to look for. We’ve got some tips on how to choose a good spot to eat and how to stay safe. Local restaurants often offer much lower prices than touristy places, and you get to taste authentic dishes that you probably won't find anywhere else. We personally love trying new foods and experiencing the unique flavors of each country or region we visit. It's one of the best ways to really connect with the culture and enjoy a meal that's full of local character.

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Cook on Your Own

Depending on where you are, cooking your own meals can be a great way to save some money while traveling. In countries like Japan or South Korea, for instance, preparing your own food can definitely help cut down on costs. We’ve often looked for accommodations with a kitchen or hostels that offer shared kitchens, so we could cook breakfast, a meal or two during our stay.

It was a great way to stay within budget, and it also gave us a bit of a break from eating out all the time. We kept our meals simple, like making pasta, vegetable curries, or scrambled eggs. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was satisfying and helped us save some cash for other adventures. Plus, it’s fun to experiment with local ingredients and create something quick and easy when you’re out exploring all day.

Convenience Stores

In countries like Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea, convenience stores offer an impressive variety of fresh food options, including frozen and packaged items. For example, in Taiwan, you can easily find fresh sweet potatoes or tea eggs, which are both local favorites. These stores are a popular choice among tourists because they provide a quick and affordable alternative to dining at restaurants. In fact, food at convenience stores is often even cheaper than what you'd pay at small local eateries. While it’s a great option for saving money, we wouldn’t recommend relying solely on convenience store food. You’d miss out on experiencing the full range of delicious local dishes, and some of the items might not be the healthiest choices. It’s best to enjoy the convenience stores occasionally, but make sure to also explore the amazing food culture around you.

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