United States Travel Guide

• Northeast & Mid-Atlantic: Museum hopping, historical walking tours, fall foliage drives, coastal seafood, and college-campus visits.
• The South: Live music (jazz, country), food trails (BBQ, Creole), antebellum architecture tours and beach time.
• The West: Pacific Coast drives, hiking in national parks, skiing in the Rockies, and city food scenes.
• Midwest & Great Plains: Lakefront activities, cultural festivals, road trips on Route 66 sections, and city architecture tours.
• Hawaii & Alaska: Surfing and snorkeling in Hawaii, volcano and cultural tours, and wildlife and glacier expeditions in Alaska.

Most international visitors fly into one of the USA’s major gateways: New York JFK (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Atlanta Hartsfield‑Jackson (ATL) or Miami (MIA). Overland entry is possible from Canada and Mexico via numerous land border crossings; many domestic connections use hub airports for onward travel.

You clear immigration and customs at the first US airport you land at, even if you are connecting, so collect and re-check your bags and allow at least two and a half to three hours for an international-to-domestic connection. Some flights from Canada, Ireland, the UAE and the Caribbean clear US immigration before departure (preclearance) and arrive as domestic flights. Declare all food, plants and animal products on arrival: fresh fruit, meat and many dairy products are banned, and undeclared items bring fines.

Typical daily spend ranges widely from about $100/day in budget-friendly Midwestern or Southern cities to $300+/day in major coastal metros and tourist hubs.

• Hostel dorm bed: $20-40
• Budget motel or private room: $60-120
• Mid-range hotel (per night): $120-250
• Upscale hotel: from $250
• Cheap café or street-stall meal: $8-15
• Bottle of local beer (domestic pint): $5-8
• Organised day tour or guided activity: $50-150
• Local public-transport ride: $1.75-3.00

For current prices on hundreds of everyday items, see Numbeo’s United States cost of living, a crowd-sourced database that is updated often.

Ways to save

• Use budget carriers: Book domestic budget airlines early and compare fares to avoid expensive last-minute flights.
• Cook or grab takeaway: Shop at supermarkets or eat takeaway to save on restaurant costs in expensive cities.
• City passes and national-park planning: Buy city attraction passes if you plan many museums, and reserve national-park campsites or permits in advance.

Full trip budgets are in United States Itineraries.

The currency is the United States dollar (USD). Cards are dominant in most places, accepted nearly everywhere in cities and tourist areas, and ATMs are ubiquitous; cash is still useful for tips, small vendors and some rural areas.

• Tipping: Servers rely on tips for much of their pay, so 18-20% of the pre-tax bill is standard at sit-down restaurants (a little more in big cities), bartenders get about $1-2 per drink, and taxi and ride-hail drivers 15-20%. Hotel porters get a few dollars per bag and housekeeping a few dollars a night. Check the bill for an automatic gratuity or service charge, common for groups, and don’t add a full tip on top. Tip screens at counters and cafés are optional.
• Sales tax: shelf and menu prices usually exclude sales tax, which is added at the till and varies by state and city (from nothing in a few states to around 10%). Hotels add further room taxes, and many also add a nightly “resort” or “destination” fee, so compare total prices. There is no VAT refund for tourists, except in a few states such as Louisiana.
• Cards & Cash: Visa, Mastercard and American Express are widely accepted at retailers, restaurants and hotels; some small businesses may be cash-only.
• ATMs & Mobile Payments: ATMs are ubiquitous and easy to find; your bank may charge foreign withdrawal/FX fees if your card is from outside the US. Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely supported by merchants.
• Banknotes: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100
• Coins: $0.01, $0.05, $0.10, $0.25, $0.50, $1

Tipping is the clearest social expectation - about 18-20% in restaurants, 15-20% for taxis and ride-hail drivers, and a few dollars for hotel staff. Americans are generally informal and forgiving of minor mistakes, but regional norms and politeness matter when interacting with service staff.

The United States is highly connected in urban and suburban areas with extensive 4G/5G mobile networks and fast fixed broadband-urban broadband frequently exceeds 100 Mbps and mobile speeds in cities often reach tens to hundreds of Mbps. Rural coverage can be uneven.

• Electricity: 120V, 60 Hz; plug types A, B.

Yes, for most visitors; violent crime against tourists is uncommon, but risks come from regional violent crime hotspots, road crashes, seasonal natural disasters and occasional civil unrest.

Generally easy to stay healthy because US healthcare is high quality, but it is very expensive without insurance and regionally variable; the main issues are cost of care, mosquito seasons and routine vaccinations.

U.S. cultural identity is shaped by regional differences, a history of immigration and strong emphasis on individual freedom and entrepreneurship. Travelers will notice variation in customs, food and social norms from one region to another.

Americans eat early by European standards: lunch from about noon to 1:30pm and dinner from 6pm, with many restaurants outside big cities closing their kitchens by 9pm or 10pm. Breakfast and weekend brunch are big meals in their own right, and diners serve them all day.

• Ordering: portions are large, so sharing starters or taking leftovers home in a box is normal. Free tap water arrives with ice, and soft drinks in casual places often come with free refills.
• Paying: the server brings the bill (the “check”) only when you ask, and menu prices exclude sales tax. Tip on the pre-tax total, either on the card slip or in cash.
• Regional food: barbecue styles differ in Texas, Kansas City, Memphis and the Carolinas; try deep-dish pizza in Chicago, Creole and Cajun cooking in New Orleans, lobster rolls in New England, and Mexican-American food across the Southwest and California. New York City is the best place for bagels, delis and pizza by the slice.
• Dietary needs: vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are easy to find in cities, and servers expect to be told about allergies.
• Booking: popular city restaurants fill up days ahead, especially on Friday and Saturday nights; book through the restaurant’s site or an app such as OpenTable or Resy.
• Alcohol: the drinking age is 21 and ID checks are routine. Some restaurants without a liquor licence let you bring your own wine (BYOB), sometimes for a corkage fee.

Travel across the United States spans fragile national parks, Indigenous lands and diverse communities - following park rules, respecting tribal protocols and supporting local businesses keeps tourism sustainable and safe.

• National Parks & Leave No Trace: When visiting US National Park Service sites, follow NPS rules: stay on trails, pack out all trash, and avoid disturbing flora and fauna to protect public lands for future visitors.
• Respect Indigenous Lands & Protocols: Many cultural sites are on tribal lands or are sacred to Native communities - seek permission, follow signage and tribal regulations, and support tribal‑owned businesses when visiting.
• Wildlife Safety & Ethics: Do not feed wildlife (including bears, deer and marine mammals); follow park and local guidance for safe distances, food storage and bear‑proofing where required.
• Support Local Economies & Tipping Norms: Eat at locally owned restaurants, buy goods from small producers, and follow local tipping practices in service industries to fairly compensate staff.
• Know Local Laws & Sustainability Options: Regulations (recycling, smoking, fishing licenses) vary by state and park-check local rules in advance and consider low‑carbon transport options between regions.

Long-term living in the United States attracts professionals, families, and students seeking career opportunities and higher education. People move for employer-sponsored visas, startup and investor routes, or family reunification - expect long application timelines and regional lifestyle differences.

Long-Term Visas: Green Card by family or employer sponsorship, H-1B and L-1 for skilled workers, long processing times.

Working There: Work only with proper authorization (Green Card, H-1B/L-1, E visas); unauthorized employment illegal.

Cost of Living: Costs vary widely; 1BR rents: NYC/SF ~$3,000+/month, many Midwestern cities $700-1,200/month.

Health & Wellness: Healthcare is mainly private, plan required to avoid high medical bills, Medicare for 65+.

Banking & Finance: Open bank accounts with SSN or ITIN, major banks include Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo.

Taxes: Citizens and residents taxed on worldwide income; state taxes vary, filing required annually.

Popular Places to Live in United States

Choosing where to live in the US is about trade-offs: big-city opportunities versus affordability and space in smaller cities. For job and networking choose coastal metros; for lower costs and quieter life consider inland or college towns.

• New York City - Global finance and culture hub, endless networking, very high rents and fast-paced lifestyle, limited living space
• San Francisco - Tech and startup epicentre, strong salary potential, steep housing costs and competitive environment
• Austin - Tech growth and live-music scene, more affordable than coastal tech hubs, rising rents and crowds
• Miami - Warm climate, strong Latin American links, growing tech and crypto scene, seasonal tourism spikes
• Denver - Outdoor lifestyle with mountain access, growing tech jobs, more affordable than coastal metros

The US has large remote-work communities concentrated in tech and startup cities, excellent coworking options, and strong connectivity. High costs in leading metros are balanced by abundant networking and career opportunities.

Nomad Visa: None - no dedicated digital-nomad visa; visitors rely on ESTA or tourist visas, long-term work requires work authorization.

Long Term Rentals: Long-term rentals common, 1BR monthly rents: NYC/SF ~$3,000+, Austin/Denver ~$1,200-2,000, Midwest lower.

Internet: Generally excellent in cities, typical urban speeds 100-300 Mbps, 5G expanding in metros.

Monthly Cost: Monthly living costs vary: expect $2,000-4,000+ in major cities for comfortable lifestyle, less inland.

Coworking: Large coworking market with WeWork, Industrious, Regus and many independent spaces in big cities.

Fitness & Wellness: Gyms, wellness studios, and outdoor recreation widely available, healthcare costs high without insurance.

Community: Huge and diverse communities, strong tech hubs and startup meetups in major metropolitan areas.

Time Zone: Mainland time zones UTC−5 to UTC−8 (ET to PT), wide range for scheduling with global clients.

Popular Nomad Hubs in United States

Nomads pick bases based on community, cost, and lifestyle - cities offer better services, smaller towns lower rent. Coastal metros have larger international communities, inland cities offer more affordable housing and shorter commutes.

• Austin - Tech-forward, strong startup scene, lively nightlife, higher rents than nearby smaller Texas towns
• Miami - Warm climate, large international community, strong nightlife, seasonal rent spikes and tourist crowds
• New York City - Huge networking potential, cultural variety, very high rents and fast pace
• San Francisco - Tech hub, excellent networking, very expensive housing and high cost of living
• Denver - Outdoor lifestyle, cheaper than coastal metros, growing tech and remote-worker community