North America
United States
Huge and varied: big-city culture, national parks and long road trips. Easy for solo travelers with English everywhere, but expensive, car-dependent outside major cities, and healthcare costs are steep.
- Visa4 of 198passports can visit visa-freeDetails
- CurrencyUSDDollarDetails
- Price level100%of US prices (World Bank PPP)Details
- English5/5Spoken almost everywhereDetails
- PlugsType A, B120 V, 60 HzDetails
- Emergency911Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911
- Tap waterYes, drinkableTap water is safe almost everywhere.Details
- LGBTQ+Marriage equalityVery accepting in big cities and coastal states, more conservative in the rural South.Details
- Internet307 MbpsMedian fixed broadband · mobile 187 MbpsDetails
- DrivingOn the rightForeign licences work for visitors in most states; carry an IDP if yours isn't in English. Under-25s pay rental surcharges.
Where to go in United States
57 places with full guides. Comfortable monthly budget for one person, rent included.
| Place | Safety | Month, comfortable | Best months | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York CityCity | 4/5 | $5,800–8,000 | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | 1/100 |
| Las VegasCity | 4/5 | $3,500–5,000 | Mar–May, Oct–Nov | 8/100 |
| Los AngelesCity | 3/5 | $4,500–6,500 | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | 3/100 |
| OrlandoCity | 4/5 | $3,200–4,600 | Feb–Apr, Nov | 15/100 |
| MiamiCity | 3/5 | $4,800–6,800 | Nov–Apr | 2/100 |
| San FranciscoCity | 3/5 | $5,600–7,800 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 1/100 |
| HonoluluCity | 4/5 | $4,400–6,200 | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | 6/100 |
| Washington, D.C.Capital city | 3/5 | $4,400–6,200 | Mar–May, Sep–Oct | 3/100 |
| ChicagoCity | 3/5 | $4,000–5,800 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | 4/100 |
| BostonCity | 4/5 | $4,800–6,800 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | 3/100 |
| New OrleansCity | 3/5 | $3,400–4,800 | Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov | 9/100 |
| San DiegoCity | 4/5 | $4,600–6,500 | Apr–May, Sep–Nov | 4/100 |
| SeattleCity | 3/5 | $4,600–6,600 | Jun–Sep | 2/100 |
| MauiIsland | 4/5 | $4,600–6,600 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 5/100 |
| NashvilleCity | 4/5 | $3,700–5,200 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 10/100 |
| AustinCity | 4/5 | $3,800–5,400 | Mar–May, Oct–Nov | 8/100 |
| Miami BeachBeach town | 4/5 | $5,200–7,400 | Nov–Apr | 2/100 |
| Key WestTown | 4/5 | $5,000–7,000 | Dec–Apr | 4/100 |
| DenverCity | 4/5 | $3,500–5,000 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | 11/100 |
| PhiladelphiaCity | 3/5 | $3,300–4,800 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 8/100 |
| PortlandCity | 4/5 | $3,000–4,500 | Jun–Sep | 16/100 |
| AtlantaCity | 3/5 | $3,200–4,800 | Mar–May, Oct–Nov | 10/100 |
| San AntonioCity | 4/5 | $2,600–3,800 | Mar–May, Oct–Nov | 27/100 |
| CharlestonCity | 4/5 | $3,800–5,500 | Mar–May, Oct–Nov | 8/100 |
| SavannahCity | 4/5 | $3,000–4,400 | Mar–May, Oct–Nov | 19/100 |
| Fort LauderdaleCity | 4/5 | $3,800–5,500 | Dec–Apr | 8/100 |
| KauaiIsland | 4/5 | $5,000–7,500 | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | 3/100 |
| Big IslandIsland | 4/5 | $4,200–6,200 | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | 5/100 |
| SedonaTown | 5/5 | $4,000–5,800 | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | 8/100 |
| ScottsdaleCity | 5/5 | $3,600–5,200 | Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov | 13/100 |
| Lake TahoeRegion | 4/5 | $4,000–6,000 | Jan–Mar, Jul–Sep | 5/100 |
| Napa ValleyRegion | 5/5 | $4,500–6,500 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 5/100 |
| AspenMountain town | 5/5 | $6,500–10,000 | Jan–Mar, Jul–Sep | — |
| Palm SpringsTown | 5/5 | $3,500–5,200 | Nov–Apr | 14/100 |
| DallasCity | 4/5 | $3,800–5,200 | Mar–May, Oct–Nov | 8/100 |
| HoustonCity | 3/5 | $3,500–4,800 | Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov | 7/100 |
| PhoenixCity | 4/5 | $3,700–5,000 | Feb–Apr, Nov–Dec | 10/100 |
| TampaCity | 4/5 | $3,900–5,300 | Feb–Apr, Nov | 8/100 |
| Santa FeCity | 4/5 | $3,800–5,200 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | 10/100 |
| Jackson HoleMountain town | 5/5 | $5,000–7,000 | Jan–Feb, Jul–Sep | 4/100 |
| Salt Lake CityCity | 4/5 | $3,400–4,600 | Feb, May–Jun, Sep–Oct | 12/100 |
| Grand CanyonRegion | 4/5 | $6,000–9,000 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 1/100 |
| YosemiteRegion | 4/5 | $6,500–9,500 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | — |
| Park CityMountain town | 5/5 | $5,200–7,500 | Jan–Mar, Jul–Sep | 3/100 |
| AshevilleCity | 4/5 | $3,500–4,800 | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | 13/100 |
| Santa BarbaraCity | 4/5 | $5,000–7,000 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 3/100 |
| VailMountain town | 5/5 | $5,500–8,000 | Jan–Mar, Jul–Aug | 2/100 |
| BoulderCity | 4/5 | $4,000–5,500 | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | 7/100 |
| AnchorageCity | 4/5 | $3,600–5,000 | Feb–Mar, Jun–Sep | 9/100 |
| St. PetersburgCity | 4/5 | $3,900–5,300 | Feb–Apr, Nov | 9/100 |
| MinneapolisCity | 4/5 | $3,400–4,700 | Jun–Sep | 12/100 |
| PittsburghCity | 4/5 | $3,100–4,300 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | 18/100 |
| San JoseCity | 4/5 | $5,000–7,000 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 3/100 |
| MemphisCity | 3/5 | $3,200–4,500 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 11/100 |
| DetroitCity | 3/5 | $3,200–4,500 | May–Jun, Sep–Oct | 10/100 |
| MoabTown | 4/5 | $4,000–5,500 | Mar–May, Sep–Oct | 6/100 |
| CharlotteCity | 4/5 | $3,500–4,800 | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | 12/100 |
When to visit United States
Spring (Apr–Jun) and fall (Sep–Oct) suit most regions. Summer is very hot in the South and Southwest; winter is best for Florida, Arizona and Hawaii; ski season Dec–Mar.
Good to know
Entry
- Visa Waiver travellers need an approved ESTA (US$40) before departure; apply only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, ideally 72+ hours ahead.
- CBP has proposed making five years of social-media identifiers mandatory on ESTA; check the form's current questions and answer truthfully.
- Presidential proclamations since June 2025 restrict entry for nationals of a growing list of countries; check travel.state.gov before booking.
- Border officers may inspect phones and laptops; non-citizens are photographed on arrival and departure.
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking age is 21 everywhere; bars and shops check ID, so carry your passport.
- Open alcohol containers in public and in cars are illegal in most places.
- Cannabis is legal in some states but federally illegal; never carry it across borders or onto federal land.
Etiquette
- Tips are part of service workers' pay, not an optional extra.
- Friendly small talk with strangers and staff is normal.
- Stand right, walk left on escalators in big cities.
- Politics, religion and guns can be touchy topics with strangers.
Tipping
Expected: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, 15–20% for taxis and rideshare, US$1–2 per bar drink, US$2–5 per night for hotel housekeeping.
Neighbouring countries
Sources
- ESTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- U.S. Department of State, travel
- Speedtest Global Index: United States
- World Bank open data
Country facts are researched by SoloSquare; advisory levels, crime, health and visa figures come from the sources listed. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.