Budget travel in North America looks very different depending on which side of the U.S. border you're on. Mexico and Central America remain genuinely affordable, with strong bus networks, cheap accommodation and food that costs a fraction of prices further north, where budget travel requires considerably more planning.
The destinations on this list range from Mexican cities and coastal towns with well-developed backpacker infrastructure to parts of the continent where camping, hostels and planning around free attractions keep costs manageable. Long-distance buses remain the most reliable way to keep transport costs down.
Camping and cooking your own food make the biggest difference in the more expensive parts of the continent, where accommodation and restaurant prices add up quickly. Travelling in a small group can also help bring down the cost of accommodation and transport considerably.
