Travel on a Budget
How to Eat Well on a Travel Budget — Tips for Canadian Travellers 2026
Food is one of travel's greatest pleasures — and one of its most variable costs. In Southeast Asia, a spectacular meal costs $3. Knowing how to eat well without overspending is one of the most valuable skills a traveller can have.
The Street Food Rule
The single best food-travel strategy is following locals to street food stalls and market vendors. A bowl of pad thai from a Bangkok street stall eaten by local office workers is infinitely better than the tourist restaurant version at 5x the price.
Street food is almost universally safer than you think — high turnover means fresh ingredients.
By Destination
- Mexico — tacos al pastor from taqueria trucks, not tourist restaurants
- Japan — convenience store onigiri and sushi are excellent and extremely cheap
- Italy — lunch menus (menu del giorno) are 40-50% cheaper than dinner
- Portugal — prego sandwiches and pasteis de nata from local bakeries
- Thailand — pad see ew from night market vendors
Find Your Next Culinary Adventure
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