What Is a Realistic Budget for a Honeymoon in 2026?

Planning a honeymoon shouldn’t feel like a financial gamble. You want romance, memories, and maybe a little luxury-but you also don’t want to start your marriage drowning in debt. So what’s a realistic budget for a honeymoon in 2026? The answer isn’t one number. It’s a range shaped by where you go, how long you stay, and what kind of experience you’re after.

Most couples spend between $5,000 and $10,000

According to recent surveys from wedding planners and travel agencies across North America, Europe, and Australia, the average honeymoon cost in 2025 landed around $7,800. For 2026, that number’s creeping up to $8,500 due to rising flight prices and post-pandemic demand. But averages can mislead. Some couples spend $2,000. Others drop $25,000. The key isn’t matching the average-it’s matching your priorities.

Think of it like this: if you spent $30,000 on your wedding, you probably don’t want to skimp on the getaway. But if your wedding was small and intimate, maybe your honeymoon should be too. There’s no rule that says you need a private villa in Bali or a seven-night cruise in the Mediterranean. Realistic means what fits your life-not someone else’s Instagram feed.

Breakdown: Where does the money go?

Most honeymoon budgets fall into five buckets: flights, accommodation, food, activities, and extras. Here’s what a typical $8,500 budget looks like in 2026:

• Flights: $1,800-$3,200 (round-trip for two, economy or premium economy)
• Accommodation: $3,000-$4,500 (5-10 nights, mid-range hotels or boutique resorts)
• Food & drinks: $1,000-$1,800 (mix of restaurants, local eats, and a few splurges)
• Activities: $800-$1,500 (tours, snorkeling, spa days, excursions)
• Extras: $500-$1,000 (travel insurance, souvenirs, tips, last-minute upgrades)

That’s a solid baseline. But here’s where people get tripped up: they forget about hidden costs. Things like airport transfers, visa fees, or even bottled water in countries where tap isn’t safe. A $5,000 honeymoon can easily balloon to $7,000 if you don’t plan for those little things.

How to cut costs without cutting joy

You don’t need to go to the Maldives to have a dream honeymoon. Some of the most memorable trips happen in places that don’t cost a fortune. Here’s how real couples stretch their dollars:

• Travel off-season. June to August is peak for Europe and the Caribbean. Go in April or October, and you’ll save 30-50% on flights and hotels. In Mexico, September is rainy but cheaper-and you’ll have beaches almost to yourself.
• Choose one destination. Jumping between three countries sounds romantic on paper. In reality, it means more flights, more packing, and more stress. Pick one place and soak it in.
• Stay in vacation rentals. Airbnb or Vrbo units with kitchens let you save on meals. Breakfast in bed with local fruit and coffee costs less than a hotel buffet and feels more personal.
• Use local transport. Skip the private transfers. Take a train, bus, or even a taxi with a local app. In Thailand, Grab is cheaper than hotel shuttles. In Portugal, the metro is clean, fast, and under $2 per ride.
• Book experiences, not packages. Avoid all-inclusive resorts unless you’re sure you’ll use everything. Instead, book one or two special tours-like a sunset sail in Santorini or a cooking class in Oaxaca-and eat like a local the rest of the time.

Real honeymoon budgets from real couples

Let’s look at three actual examples from couples who planned in 2025 and 2026:

Couple 1: $3,200 - A week in Portugal. They flew economy from Toronto, stayed in a family-run guesthouse in Lisbon and Porto, ate at markets and small tavernas, took trains between cities, and spent $200 on a day trip to the Douro Valley. They didn’t do any spas or fancy dinners. But they had wine tastings, walked along the coast, and danced in a small square in Coimbra. They still talk about it.

Couple 2: $6,700 - Ten days in Bali. They flew business class from Sydney (because they’d saved for years), stayed in a private pool villa in Ubud for six nights, hired a driver for five days, did a sunrise hike up Mount Batur, and had two spa days. They ate mostly local food and only splurged on one fancy dinner. They left with $800 left over from their budget.

Couple 3: $14,500 - Two weeks in the Maldives and Italy. They flew first class, stayed in an overwater bungalow for five nights, then a luxury hotel in Amalfi for seven. They did private yacht tours, helicopter rides, and fine dining every night. They didn’t save on anything. And they’re still paying off the trip two years later.

The takeaway? You don’t need to spend $15,000 to feel like you’ve had a once-in-a-lifetime trip. But if you want to, and you can afford it, go for it. Just don’t let someone else’s dream become your financial nightmare.

What you should avoid

There are three traps most couples fall into:

• Trying to impress people. If you’re planning your honeymoon to get likes on social media, you’re doing it wrong. No one cares if your room had a view of the ocean. They care that you were happy.
• Using credit cards without a plan. Charging $10,000 to a card with 22% interest and paying only the minimum? That’s not a honeymoon. That’s a debt trap. If you’re borrowing money, make sure you have a repayment plan that doesn’t stretch past your first anniversary.
• Waiting until the last minute. Flights and hotels get expensive fast. Booking six months ahead can save you 20-40%. And if you’re going somewhere that needs visas or vaccinations, you can’t wing it.

How to start planning your budget

Here’s a simple five-step method:

1. Set a total amount. How much can you comfortably spend without stressing? Use your savings, not future income.
2. Decide on a destination. Research flight costs from your city. Use Google Flights to compare prices across months.
3. Estimate accommodation. Look at 3-5 hotels or rentals. Multiply the nightly rate by your stay. Add 10% for taxes and fees.
4. Plan daily spending. Multiply your food and activity budget by the number of days. Add $50-$100 per day for small purchases.
5. Build in a buffer. Add 10% for surprises. That’s your safety net.

For example: if you’re going to Greece for 8 days, and you’ve set a $7,000 budget:

• Flights: $2,000
• Accommodation: $3,200 (8 nights at $400/night)
• Food & drinks: $1,200 ($150/day)
• Activities: $800
• Buffer: $700

That’s $7,900. Close enough. Adjust as needed.

Final thought: It’s not about the price tag

The most memorable honeymoons aren’t the most expensive ones. They’re the ones where you’re fully present-with each other, not your phone, not your bank account. A quiet morning in a cabin in the Rockies. A shared gelato on a street in Sicily. A sunset walk on a beach where no one else is around.

Your honeymoon doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours. And that’s worth more than any five-star resort.