The average U.S. vacation now costs $7,249 in 2025, up nearly $1,400 from the previous year.Albuquerque, New Mexico, saw the largest increase in family travel costs since 2019, with total trip prices rising 27.7 percent.Dining expenses have surged the most nationwide, climbing 28.2 percent, outpacing increases in lodging, airfare, and rental cars.

We’ll be blunt: the cost of going on vacation is rising. According to financial website The Motley Fool, the average vacation in 2025 costs about $7,249—that’s up nearly $1,400 from the year before. Thankfully, a new study was recently released that could help families save on their next getaway.

In January, booking platform Luxury Link recently released an analysis on what it costs for a family of four to take a four-night trip in multiple cities across the U.S. The analysis considered four major factors: flights, lodging, meals, and rental cars. It then compared current prices to figures from 2019 to see which travel expenses have risen the most, along with which destinations have seen the biggest price increases. 

After looking at all the data, it found that Albuquerque, New Mexico, has seen the biggest increases in prices. According to the study, the city has seen a 50 percent increase in lodging costs and a 45 percent increase in the price of meals.

“While vacation prices have increased nationwide since 2019, the sharpest spikes have not occurred in the country’s most expensive cities. Instead, the steepest growth in costs has taken place across the Mountain West, where demand has surged in midsize cities that once offered affordable alternatives to pricier coastal destinations,” the finding stated. “In Albuquerque, New Mexico, the total cost of a four-night trip for a family of four has risen by 27.7 percent—the largest increase among the 100 cities analyzed.”

Other cities in the region fared only slightly better, with vacations to Spokane, Washington, and Las Vegas, Nevada, both up 24.8 percent. Salt Lake City, Utah, and Phoenix, Arizona, both saw a 23.8 percent increase.

No matter where you go, the analysis found, odds are you’ll see a higher dining bill, with the cost of dining having the “sharpest increase since the pandemic.” The study found that between 2019 and 2025, average daily meal expenses rose by 28.2 percent. Lodging also increased by 12.9 percent. Airfare costs are up by 9.1 percent, while rental car costs increased by 8.7 percent, too.

“These meal cost increases reflect broader trends in the food service industry, where labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and higher ingredient costs have pushed restaurant prices upward nationwide,” the analysis noted. “And because dining out typically makes up a large share of discretionary spending on vacation, the impact on family budgets can be especially pronounced.” 

While the analysis didn’t give specific advice on how to save, having this knowledge does help families make decisions that are right for them on where to spend and save. If dining out isn’t a critical “must” for your crew, perhaps a home rental where you can cook meals is the move. See the full study at Luxury Link’s website.Â