Here is the short answer for 2026: your travel money goes further in Japan than in almost any other major destination.
The Japanese yen is hovering near 161.5 per US dollar, its weakest since July 2024 and just shy of its 1986 low, which means a dollar-based budget now buys roughly 50% more yen than it did ten years ago.
This matters directly for Gulf travellers.
The Saudi riyal, UAE dirham, Qatari riyal and most other GCC currencies are pegged to the US dollar, so when the dollar is strong, your riyals and dirhams are strong too.
To find where else your money travels furthest, we mapped how the world’s major and minor currencies have moved over the past 12 months and the past 10 years.
How to read the currency map
Every figure below shows how much more, or less, local currency your dollar-pegged money buys today, compared with 12 months ago and 10 years ago.
A bigger move in your favour means your budget stretches further at that destination.
One honest warning first: a weak currency only tells half the story. Where local inflation is high, prices climb to catch up with the falling currency, and that eats into your exchange-rate gain.
Where your money goes furthest in 2026
Japan: yen-priced costs are about a third lower
The yen has fallen around 34% against the US dollar over the past decade, and another roughly 10% in just the last 12 months.
A hotel that cost a dollar-based visitor USD 200 a night ten years ago can sit closer to USD 130 today at the same yen price.
Japan is the cleanest bargain on this list because domestic inflation stays very low, so the weaker yen becomes a real discount rather than a number on a chart.
Read our full Japan travel guide for GCC tourists before you plan, then compare flights to Tokyo and Tokyo hotels.
Two things are starting to trim the discount at the edges: Japan has introduced dual pricing at some attractions, and it is raising several visa and travel fees in 2026. Both are worth building into your budget.
Most GCC travellers reach Japan with one stop on Emirates, Qatar Airways or Saudia, or direct on ANA and Japan Airlines.
South Korea: the newest big mover
The Korean won has weakened about 24% against the dollar over ten years, and roughly 13% in the last year alone, one of the sharpest recent swings on the board.
That makes 2026 a strong-value moment for Seoul.
Korea’s inflation is moderate, so much of the currency gain reaches your wallet. Compare flights to Seoul and Seoul hotels, and look at Korean Air for direct routes.
Indonesia: Southeast Asia value holds
The Indonesian rupiah is down about 25% against the dollar over the decade and around 8% over the past year, keeping Bali firmly in bargain territory.
Browse flights to Bali and Bali hotels to see how far your money goes.
Türkiye: a huge headline saving, with a catch
On paper, Türkiye looks like the biggest bargain anywhere. The lira has lost more than 90% against the dollar over ten years, and about 15% in the past year, so your dollar-pegged money buys far more lira than it used to in Istanbul.
Here is the catch. Turkish inflation is running near 33% a year, so local prices keep rising to chase the weak lira.
The saving is real, yet smaller than the exchange rate alone suggests. Check live prices as you compare flights to Istanbul and Istanbul hotels, and consider Turkish Airlines.
Egypt: a discount locked in since 2024
Egypt floated its pound in March 2024, and the currency now sits near 50 to the dollar, down about 82% over the decade.
Over the last 12 months it has been roughly flat, so this is a saving that is already baked in rather than a fresh swing.
For visitors, many hotel rooms and major site fees in Cairo are quoted in dollars, while local food and transport stay very cheap.
Inflation has cooled to around 15%, so everyday prices still move, yet a dollar-based budget goes a long way.
Compare flights to Cairo, Cairo hotels and EgyptAir routes.
Also stretching further: Brazil, India and the Philippines
Over the past decade the Brazilian real is down about 33% against the dollar, the Indian rupee about 29%, and the Philippine peso about 22%.
All three give dollar-pegged travellers more buying power than they had in 2016, with India and the Philippines especially friendly for longer stays.
What changed in the last 12 months
Currency moves are never frozen, and the past year reshuffled the map.
Newly cheaper for you
Türkiye (lira down about 17%), South Korea (down about 13%), Japan (down about 10%), India (down about 10%) and Indonesia (down about 8%) all weakened against the dollar over the past year.
Your money now stretches even further there than it did last summer.
Newly pricier
Mexico (peso up about 9%), South Africa (rand up about 10%), Australia (dollar up about 9%) and China (yuan up about 6%) all strengthened against the dollar. A trip to Mexico City costs a little more in 2026 than it did a year ago.
Where your money buys less in 2026
A handful of destinations have grown more expensive for dollar-based travellers, mainly because their currencies are strong.
Switzerland: the decade’s strongest currency
The Swiss franc is up about 20% against the dollar over ten years, the biggest gain of any major currency.
Zurich and the Alps reward the splurge as much as ever. Compare flights to Zurich when you plan.
Thailand, Singapore and the Eurozone
The Thai baht is up about 8% over the decade, the Singapore dollar about 5%, and the euro about 3%.
That makes Bangkok, Singapore and most of Europe pricier in relative terms than they once were.
They stay popular, and Wego still surfaces strong fares on flights to Bangkok and flights to Singapore.
A weak currency only tells half the story
Exchange rates set your starting point, and local prices decide the rest.
Before you pick a destination on currency alone, weigh the inflation that sits behind the headline number.
Japan: the cleanest win
Low domestic inflation means the weak yen converts almost fully into savings. New tourist fees and dual pricing trim a little at the margins, and the bargain still stands.
Türkiye: real saving, smaller than it looks
With inflation near 33%, shop and restaurant prices keep climbing, so the lira’s collapse overstates how cheap a trip actually is on the ground.
Egypt: better rates, rising local prices
Tourists get far more for their money since the 2024 float, and many big-ticket items are dollar-priced.
Inflation has eased to the mid-teens, and it still pushes local costs up, so budget for both.
How to make your strong money go further
Track fares early. Use Wego to compare flights and hotels across dates, because a strong currency plus a low fare compounds the saving.
Pay smart. See our guide to stablecoins for travel if you want newer payment options.
Check status before you fly with the Wego flight tracker.
A note on method
Figures reflect exchange rates in mid-June 2026, compared with monthly reference levels around mid-2025 and mid-2016.
Spot rates move daily and the historical anchors are approximate, so treat each percentage as accurate to within a point or two rather than an exact figure.
Sources
- Trading Economics — Japanese Yen Exchange Rate
- CNBC — Yen Slides Past 161, Nearing 40-Year Low
- Trading Economics — South Korean Won Exchange Rate
- Trading Economics — Turkish Lira Exchange Rate
- Trading Economics — Turkey Inflation Rate
- Trading Economics — Indonesian Rupiah Exchange Rate
- Trading Economics — Egyptian Pound Exchange Rate
- Central Bank of Egypt — Consumer Price Index Press Release
- Trading Economics — Japan Inflation Rate
- Trading Economics — South Korea Inflation Rate
- Skift — Japan to Expand Two-Tier Pricing at Tourist Sites
- VisasNews — Japan to Quintuple Visa Fees from July 1, 2026
Disclaimer
Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
