Dreaming of sunshine without the eye-watering bill? The Post Office Travel Money Winter Sun Report 2026 has crunched the numbers on 24 destinations, comparing what holidaymakers actually buy on the ground: meals, drinks, sunscreen and insect repellent. The result is a clear winner for value this winter — Cape Town, South Africa.
Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa finished a close second, proving that East African beach escapes can be remarkably affordable. Third place went to Tokyo, a slightly surprising inclusion in a winter sun ranking given Japan's winters are more crisp than tropical, though still mild compared with much of Europe. Colombo in Sri Lanka and Phuket in Thailand round out the top five.
Europe holds its own further down the table. The Algarve in Portugal is the best-value European option in sixth, followed by Spain's Costa del Sol and Tenerife in the Canary Islands — handy for anyone wanting winter warmth without long-haul flights. Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic came ninth, while Penang in Malaysia completed the top 10.
The flip side: the Caribbean doesn't come cheap this season. Scarborough in Trinidad and Tobago and St George's in Grenada ranked among the priciest, with Funchal in Madeira also making the most expensive list. Island destinations and smaller markets tend to push up the cost of everyday purchases, so those scenic escapes come with a premium.
So what does this mean for your winter break? If value is the priority, long-haul destinations like Cape Town, Mombasa and Colombo deliver sunshine and strong exchange-rate stretch — your daily spend on food and drinks can go considerably further than in the Caribbean or even some parts of Europe. Meanwhile the Algarve, Costa del Sol and Tenerife remain the reliable short-haul picks, with mild winter temperatures and a much cheaper basket of goods than most island getaways.
The takeaway: skip the pricey Caribbean this season and look to South Africa, Kenya or Southeast Asia for sun on a budget, or stick with southern Europe for the easiest, most cost-effective escape from the grey.
