Some trips cost more than a plane ticket and a hotel room. The priciest places on Earth are usually remote, import-heavy and built around luxury. This ranking draws on the 2026 travel expense index from travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth. It compared destinations across five categories: average daily trip cost, flight cost, accommodation cost, car rental cost, and everyday food and drink prices.[1]
A few caveats first. Several entries below are territories or regions, not sovereign countries, and Antarctica isn’t a country at all. Flight prices are also based on departures from major U.S. airports, so your own costs will vary. Other rankings built on cost of living or per-day budgets reach different conclusions, so treat this list as one well-documented snapshot, not the final word.
1. Greenland
Greenland ranked as the most expensive destination overall, with an expense index of 9.84 out of 10.[1] Squaremouth listed its average daily trip cost at $1,171, with average flights at $1,357, car rentals at $110 per day, and weeknight hotel stays at $227.[1] The daily car rental figure was the highest in the study.[2]
Even a basic meal adds up. An inexpensive restaurant meal averages $36.03, with most items having to be shipped in.[3] Its hotel rates are actually lower than those of tropical rivals. Greenland tops the list because it ranks among the costliest destinations across nearly every category.[2]
2. British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands took second place. Its overall expense index was 9.72, with a $925 daily trip cost.[4] Squaremouth’s table lists its average flight at $891 and its daily car rental at $76.
Lodging is the main driver here. The average weeknight hotel rate reached $1,137 in the British Virgin Islands, compared with $227 in Greenland.[2] That fits the broader pattern in the study. Resort-led travel and premium accommodation push Caribbean islands up the cost rankings.[5]
3. French Polynesia
French Polynesia placed third, with a 9.43 overall expense index and a $756 daily trip cost.[4] The territory is home to islands including Bora Bora and Tahiti.[6] Its average daily trip cost is lower than Greenland’s, but hotels more than make up the difference.
The average weeknight hotel rate in French Polynesia was $1,382.[2] Squaremouth named it, along with Anguilla and Turks and Caicos, among the most expensive for average weeknight hotel costs.[4] If you’re picturing an overwater bungalow, plan your budget around the room first.
4. Antarctica
Antarctica isn’t a country, but it is a real travel destination, and it earned fourth place. It had an overall expense index of 8.90 and a daily trip cost of $1,511.[4] Squaremouth noted that some Antarctica costs used Ushuaia, Argentina, a common gateway for Antarctic expeditions.[1]
The totals are steep. Trips to Antarctica are the most expensive on average at $27,195 per trip.[5] Getting to the gateway city isn’t cheap either, since its average flight cost was $1,899, the second highest in the study.[5]
5. Maldives
The Maldives rounds out the top five. Squaremouth recorded a daily trip cost of $1,072.[4] An average weeknight stay costs $1,249.[3] The country is famous for its iconic overwater villas, crystal-clear turquoise lagoons and extraordinary marine life.[3]
Geography explains much of the price. Remote island geography requires boat or seaplane transfers, resorts operate as self-contained luxury ecosystems, and food and supplies are heavily imported.[7] Another outlet’s per-day estimate, which covers a different kind of trip, is lower at about $379. Your final bill depends mostly on whether you choose a private resort island.
6. Switzerland
Switzerland was the only European destination to make the list, ranking sixth because of high prices for accommodation, dining, and transportation.[2] Its expense index came in at 8.73.[3] Squaremouth also found that Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Switzerland were the most expensive for everyday drink and dining costs.[4]
Budget-focused guides tell the same story. One 2026 guide says a basic lunch costs $20 to $30[8] and that even budget travelers struggle to stay below $120 daily, while mid-range visitors should plan for $250 or more.[8] High wages and premium public transport are a big part of why.
7. Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is the first of several safari destinations on the list. Its expense index of 8.57 out of 10 is driven by the daily cost of wildlife safaris.[3] That makes it a different kind of expensive from the island resorts above.
Airfare adds to the bill. Zimbabwe ranked third for average flight cost at $1,839.[5] The report says destinations catering to polar, island and safari trips tend to top the list.[4] Zimbabwe fits the safari category.
8. Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos ranks eighth. Its daily costs are lower than elsewhere on the list at $878, and excursions such as Chalk Sound National Park and Little Water Cay are affordable.[3] So the activities themselves aren’t what drives the ranking.
Hotels are the real expense. Turks and Caicos stood out for steep hotel prices, with the average weeknight stay costing $1,413.[2] That’s higher than the figures for the British Virgin Islands and French Polynesia. A shorter stay or a villa rental may stretch a budget further.
9. Botswana, Anguilla and Saint Lucia (Tied)
Three destinations tied for ninth, and they cost money in very different ways. Botswana’s per-day trip cost averages $1,525.69, second only to Rwanda.[5] Its average flight cost is $1,812.[5] That’s typical of premium safari travel.
The two Caribbean entries are priced differently. Daily costs in Anguilla push $1,265.[3] Saint Lucia’s are lower at $792, but getting there is more expensive.[3] Across the tie, you’d pay for exclusivity, whether that’s a camp in the bush or a luxury yacht.
10. Namibia
Namibia comes in tenth in this index. It ranks as the most expensive destination for average flight cost in the study, with flights averaging $2,009.[5] It also ranks sixth among destinations with the highest daily trip cost.[9]
The long journey from U.S. cities is the main factor. Namibia, Antarctica, and Zimbabwe lead on airfare after analyzing departures from major U.S. points such as New York and Los Angeles.[5] If you’re coming from elsewhere, your flight costs may look quite different.
The pattern across the list is consistent. Distance and isolation drive up costs, and four of the top five destinations are remote places where transport, limited infrastructure and luxury accommodation quickly raise the price.[2] Squaremouth’s data also suggests demand isn’t fading. More than four in ten U.S. travelers say they’re increasing their travel budget this year.[4]
Expensive doesn’t have to mean out of reach, though. Weighing flights, hotels and daily spending separately can show which part of a trip is worth paying for. Sometimes the smartest saving is simply picking the right season or the right kind of stay.
