In this economy, it pays to save wherever you go. But what makes travel affordable? Is it cheap airfare? Low hotel rates? No, there’s another more realistic factor: the basic cost of living. Now here’s why.

The basic cost of living affects the price of goods and services, which can really add up when you’re on the road.

For example, how much is a fast-food hamburger? How about a tube of toothpaste?

Once you learn how affordable those goods are, you can get a sense of what expenses you might incur on the road.

Right now, one of the most expensive cities in the world is Tokyo.

Well, according to research firm Runzheimer, a Big Mac in Tokyo will cost you about $3.40. So why not head to Taipei instead, where the same burger $2.28?

Another wildly expensive city is Moscow, Russia. Here, a tube of toothpaste will set you back about $2.55. But in Warsaw, Poland, it’s about 35 cents less.

And while I’m a big fan of my hometown, New York City, a far more affordable alternative is Toronto, Canada.

Not only will the US dollar go a lot further, but a bottle of water costs about $1.20 less.

Bottom line: A depressed economy doesn’t mean you have to stop traveling; it just means it’s time to be flexible and resourceful, and seek out more affordable alternatives that might get you an equally rewarding experience.

For more ideas, visit our Budget Travel section.

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