I Asked ChatGPT How Much the Average Person Spends on Travel Throughout Their Life — Here’s What It Said

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Travel can be expensive, but it’s often worth it to experience a new culture, immerse yourself in the history of a new place and create beautiful memories for you and your family. As much as you enjoy every vacation, those travel costs can add up over a lifetime. How much does it add up to? I asked ChatGPT to find out. 

Also here are five vacation expenses the middle class can’t afford anymore.

Average Lifetime Travel Cost

Assuming that you have the average American lifespan of 77 years and take the average of 2.5 leisure trips each year from the time you’re 18, you’d travel 150 times throughout your life. With that as the basis, I asked ChatGPT how much the average person spends on traveling during their lifetime. “The average person spends somewhere between $55,000 and $120,000 [or more] on travel over their lifetime, depending on income level, geography and how luxurious they prefer their trips,” ChatGPT wrote. 

ChatGPT is known to hallucinate some of its answers occasionally, so I double-checked the numbers to ensure the math is correct. Still, the calculations didn’t add up, even by its estimates for each aspect of a trip. 

Per-Trip Costs

To understand how it came up with its estimate of lifetime travel costs, I asked it to break down the costs that would be included in the average person’s annual travel plans and it gave me this convenient table: 

Average Cost Breakdown Per Trip (Moderate Traveler)

Approximate Total: $210,000

You’ll notice that while the calculations in this table add up correctly, the estimate is much higher than the $55,000 to $120,000 that ChatGPT initially shared. So where’s the research to back this up? I asked ChatGPT to share links to the sources it got these estimates from and while some of those sources and numbers were accurate, others weren’t. 

Flights and Accommodations

According to ChatGPT, the average airfare costs $350, but that’s not exactly true. On average, international economy flights cost $1,217 in 2024, according to a report by FCM Consulting. And the 2024 average for domestic flights reported by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics was $383.15. So where did $350 come from? 

If you plan to travel the average of 2.5 times a year and make at least one international flight each year, then you’d blow that estimate out of the water with a lifetime total of about $73,000 on international flights alone as opposed to $52,500.

In a 2024 NAGSI study, the average daily rate for a hotel room was $158.45. The study also found that North American hotel guests stay an average of 3.43 days. With that information, the average hotel accommodations would cost $543.48, which pushes you slightly over ChatGPT’s suggested cost. So instead of ChatGPT’s estimate of $75,000, you’d spend about $81,500.

Food and Entertainment

When it comes to food, entertainment and even travel gear, those prices fluctuate widely depending on the type of traveler you are and what you like to do. So while a food and dining budget of $250 might be more than enough for some travelers, others might spend that amount on one dinner. 

On average, food and drinks are estimated to cost about $85 a day per person, according to a report by Gogo Charters. ChatGPT shared that it used a baseline of four to five days to run its calculations. That means your total food cost for a moderate traveler would be closer to $425 per person for each trip instead of $250. Bringing your lifetime total to approximately $63,750 for food and dining.

Entertainment varies in price significantly, with activities like theme parks ranging from $27 to $169 per ticket, while visiting a national park costs $7 to $20 per person. Concert tickets average about $252 per ticket. So, assuming that you’re not a luxury traveler, ChatGPT’s estimate of $150 for entertainment is fair. 

How To Save Money on Vacations

The $210,000 lifetime travel estimate is extremely conservative, so it’s best to take ChatGPT’s travel estimates with a grain of salt. However, there are still tons of ways to save money on your next vacation and bring your lifetime travel expenses down to a more reasonable level.

• Go for destination dupes. Instead of booking a trip to a popular tourist destination and paying tourist prices, look for locations nearby that offer a similar experience with fewer crowds and better prices.
• Travel off-season. If you want to visit a bucket list destination but it doesn’t fit into your budget during their typical travel season, try visiting during their slower seasons instead for a better deal on flights, accommodations and attractions. 
• Use your credit card points or miles. If you have a credit card that earns points, miles or even cash back, you might have a stash of rewards waiting to help you offset the cost of your trip. 
• Plan early. The earlier you plan, the better. By planning six months to a year in advance, you can find the best deals on flights, hotels and more. 
• Make use of free amenities. You could be saving money just by using what you’re already paying for. Many hotels offer complimentary breakfast, which could cut down on your food costs.
• Cook meals to cut costs. If you’re staying at an Airbnb or a hotel with a kitchen, visit a local supermarket and cook some of your meals. It’s often less expensive than dining out.
• Consider a staycation. If an overseas or cross-country trip isn’t in the budget right now, you can still satisfy your travel itch with a staycation. Keep it close to home by visiting a local beach, a national park or exploring a nearby city.

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