How we estimate

The short version

Each calculator starts from a typical cost for each country in US dollars, then scales it by what you choose (size, guests, days, style). We round on purpose: real quotes vary by 20 to 30% even in the same street, so a precise-looking number would mislead.

Building a house

Typical cost per m² for basic, standard and premium new homes, from published construction cost guides, national statistics offices and builder price lists, mid-2020s. Design, permits and fees are a flat 10%. Land is never included.

Weddings

Fixed costs (photos, flowers, rings, attire, music) plus a cost per guest for each country, set so a typical wedding matches published national wedding surveys.

Pets

A US baseline of yearly costs for a medium dog and a cat, scaled by country using local price levels (services such as vets cost much less where wages are lower; pet food less so).

Holidays

Mid-range daily cost per person in each destination (a shared 3 to 4 star room, meals out, sights, local transport), from hotel price indexes and travel budget guides. Budget is 45% of mid-range, luxury 3 times.

Shipping and moving

Typical published carrier rates for parcels and removal company quotes for moves, scaled for local labour costs on domestic routes.

Company setup

Official government fees plus the cost of services the law requires, from the same sources as our CorpNameCheck guides.

Currencies

Local currency amounts use exchange rates from 26 October 2026. In countries with high inflation (Turkey, Nigeria, Egypt, Argentina) local prices move fast, so the US dollar figure is the safer guide.

Spotted a figure that is off for where you live? Tell us and we will check and fix it.