Where is the US Dollar Still Worth Something?

The greenback is down double digits against the euro, Mexican peso, Brazilian real, and a long list of other currencies since January 20 last year. So where can Americans travel internationally where their money is not automatically worth 15% less than it was a year ago? Well, thanks to some dollar pegs, governments in big fiscal trouble, and irrational exchange oddities, we do still have some options. Here are the best places to travel in 2026 if you earn dollars and want to still find a great deal. (If you earn in euros, book a plane ticket to anywhere already!)

Bedbugs Tracking Registry

It’s been a long time since I’ve encountered bedbugs in a hotel where I’ve stayed, but a few friends have woken up to the tell-tale lines of bites after a stay. Sometimes it has been at places that are going for more than $1,000 a night. If you’re worried about what’s lurking under the sheets where you’re going, check this BedbugReports.com public database where past guests can report a problem. Unfortunately it’s limited to the USA only, so hit me up if you know of one that’s wider in scope.

Rent Prices Worldwide

Want to feel better about how much you’re spending on rent? Check out this chart for a visualization of what monthly rent prices are like around the world for major cities and either rejoice or weep. This pulls data from Numbeo and some prices seem high until you realize that they use “3BR apartment in the city center” for comparison, even in cities where few people live in places that big. Still, it’s fun to gasp at rates in NYC, Singapore, and London, then realize you could live large for less than $1,000 in Rio, Bogota, Cairo, or Bangalore. Or less than $1,500 for three bedrooms in Cape Town, Athens, Budapest, or Kuala Lumpur.

Ranking the Digital Nomad Destinations

I haven’t dug too hard into the data on this Global Digital Nomad Report released this past September from Global Citizen Solutions, but it’s an admirable effort to evaluate which countries are doing the right things to attract digital nomads. They must have given taxes very little weight though since Spain shows up at #1 despite its double taxation status for non-EU members at 183 days forward. Most of those in the top-10 are expensive too, but maybe it doesn’t matter since they say of these nomads, “79% earn >$50k; average salary ~$124,416.” Here’s another stat: “The 1-year visa is the global standard (~66%), and 76.6% of programs are renewable.”

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A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.

02/5/26