How much should international business travel cost?

As companies expand internationally, global travel swiftly becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. But international travel expenses add up faster than domestic trips, so finance teams need to know: What does it cost to send an employee on a trip abroad?

Ramp users book business travel every day through our platform, giving us unique insight into the cost of a trip. To help finance and operations teams plan smarter, we analyzed thousands of expense reports from international trips to the most-visited cities outside the United States: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Dublin, London, Mexico City, Montreal, Ottawa, Paris, Sydney, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Here are the median costs of a four-night trip to these 11 cities.

What does an international business trip cost?

Across these 11 cities, the median total spend for a four‑day business trip is $3,247, with costs ranging from $1,737 to $6,163 by city.

Sydney tops the list with a median total spend of $6,163, with pricey long‑haul flights and car rentals driving up the overall trip cost. Paris follows at $5,561, with high hotel and entertainment spend. London comes in at $4,490, also driven by steep hotel rates. Finally, Amsterdam rounds out the top tier at $3,669, with airfare representing much of those costs.

At the other end, North American destinations are the most reasonable, in part due to their proximity to the U.S. Montreal ranks as the least expensive with median spend of $1,737, thanks to low airfare and hotel costs. Mexico City follows with $1,862, and Ottawa sits just above that at $1,907. Toronto’s next at $2,008, and Vancouver remains relatively affordable at $2,091, despite unusually high spend on hotels.

Airfare

Unsurprisingly, flights have the biggest impact on international travel costs. Sydney has a median airfare of $2,663, Paris $2,608, Amsterdam $2,364, and London $2,174. Airfares to these cities can make up more than half the total cost. Flights to Barcelona, at $2,171, account for nearly two‑thirds of spend. By contrast, Vancouver at $627 and Toronto at $691 keep overall costs lower with cheap airfare, even when hotels are expensive.

The data shows that airfare should be the first input in any international travel budget, as it shapes total spend more than any other category.

Lodging

Hotels are the next largest expense. London has the highest median hotel rate at $1,169 for three nights, followed by Vancouver at $1,011 and Paris at $1,008. Sydney also trends high at $888. Amsterdam at $703, Dublin at $770, Barcelona at $776, and Toronto at $827 sit in the middle. Mexico City at $615, Ottawa at $645, and Montreal at $686 offer much cheaper stays. These differences matter most for teams booking multiple rooms for larger events or company offsites.

Restaurants

Meals are modest in comparison but still show cultural differences. Dublin has the lowest median restaurant spend at $75, while Amsterdam and London have the highest at $147. Mexico City comes in at $124 and Sydney at $116. Eating at the office, dining with vendors, or attending hosted events can drive these costs down.

Alcohol and bars

Alcohol spend is shaped by local norms. Toronto is lowest with a median spend of $34, pointing to a focus on business rather than entertainment and big bar tabs. Sydney and Vancouver both hit $87, reflecting stronger bar cultures. Dublin at $41 skews toward higher bar spend than restaurant spend, consistent with its world-famous pub scene.

Ground transportation

Taxis and rideshares

In London, the median spend on taxis and rideshares is $199, while in Paris it’s $195, reflecting heavy reliance on these services. Ottawa at $87 and Vancouver at $100 are much lower, with Mexico City at $117 also affordable.

Car rentals and parking

Sydney is the most car‑dependent city, with a median rental and parking spend of $612. Paris follows at $503, while Amsterdam at $442 and Ottawa at $422 are not far behind. Barcelona is the cheapest at $159, and Toronto sits in the middle at $387. These figures reveal how public transportation infrastructure and culture shape ground travel costs.

Entertainment

Entertainment is the most variable category. Paris leads with a lofty median entertainment spend of $1,072, perhaps reflecting extravagant client hosting. London is the opposite, at just $28, maybe suggesting more focused trips. Dublin and Sydney are both $39, while Amsterdam ($53), Toronto ($51), and Vancouver ($53) cluster closely. Montreal, though cheaper overall, trends higher at $147.

Budgeting for travel

For these 11 cities, a practical budget for a four‑day international trip falls between a median of $2,000 and $6,000, with most itineraries around $3,200 to $3,300. Start with airfare by region or season (roughly $650 to $2,600), then layer in hotels (about $600 to $1,200 for four nights). Add ground transport ($250 to $750) and meals ($150 to $250). Finally, decide if entertainment is essential for the trip and budget accordingly.

In short, geography drives airfare, hotels add weight, and culture shapes the rest. For businesses, that means the same four‑day trip can cost under a median of $2,000 in Montreal or over $6,000 in Sydney. Knowing these differences is the key to setting smarter budgets and keeping travel spend under control.