We are aware of the difficulties that exist in securing reliable budgetary information and are keen to continue to provide helpful advice to the performing arts constituency. Below are a selective range of meal allowances (as opposed to twenty-four hour subsistence) as they are now used for the British Council’s own staff when travelling abroad, which we hope will prove useful in the preparation of budgets for overseas touring.

For travel advice, information on visas, freight, tax and more see our advice for artists taking work overseas and check out the relevant country details.

For more comprehensive information you can purchase the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Worldwide Subsistence Booklet from the Travel Accounts & Claims Unit
T +44 01908 515572, F +44 1908 515360.

We recommend that you also check the Foreign Office’s constantly updated website for international travel advice before you go.

Link to a handy currency converter.

Country Currency Breakfast Lunch Dinner Comments Albania Leks 1,000 1,750 Algeria Algerian Dinars 800 2,100 Argentina Pesos 17 35 Armenia Armenian Dram and US Dollars $7 $15 Austria Euro 11.99 26.89 Australia Australian Dollars 13 15.4 43.8 Azerbaijan Manat (and US Dollars) USD 5 USD 10 USD 15 Bahrain Bahrain Dinars 5 8 13 Bangladesh Taka 200 in Dhaka and Chittagong, 150 elsewhere 300 in Dhaka and Chittagong, 200 elsewhere 500 in Dhaka and Chittagong, 350 elsewhere Personal Incidental Expenses: Overseas Visitors - TK 500, Bangladesh Staff and Visitors - TK 300 Barbados Barbados Dollars 38.51 96.31 Belarus US Dollars 15 20 Belgium Euro 11 16 45 Belize Belize Dollars 28.3 46.3 Bolivia Bolivianos (and US Dollars) USD 10 USD 15 Botswana Pula See Acommodation allowance rates See Accommodation allowance rates See Accommodation allowance rates 20 for self-catering Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Marks 20.8 41.3 Brazil Reals 15 20 47 The rates quoted are all for Brazil. In-country overnight rate - 15, overnight rate for visitors coming to Brazil - 30, Late meal allowance - R$25 Brunei Brunei dollars 15 25 45 Bulgaria Levs (and US Dollars) 14.1 35.9 Burma FEC FEC 9 FEC 22 Cameroon CFA 1,500 - 4,000 4,000 - 7,000 8,000 - 12,000 Combined rate ceiling (breakfast lunch and dinner 15,000 max) Caribbean Jamaica Jamaican Dollars (and US Dollars) USD 17 720 1,850 China RMB (and US Dollars) 100 (if not included) 150 200 Croatia Kunas 60 250 Cyprus Cypriot Pounds 7.2 12.5 Canada Canadian Dollars 20 25 40 Staying with colleagues/friends allowance is $28.50 per night Chile Chilean Pesos (and US Dollars) 6,000 13,500 VAT on hotel bills is normally payable extra, unless paying in US Dollars Colombia Colombian Pesos (and US Dollars) 15,000 (unless included in accommodation bill) 25,000 35,000 Cuba US Dollars 10 (if not included in room price) 15 20 Czech Republic Korunas 255 720 Denmark Danish Kroner 100 375 Ecuador Sucres (and US Dollars) USD 9.20 68,000 198,000 East Jerusalem (West Bank and Gaza) NIS (and US Dollars) 30 130 Egypt Egyptian Pounds (and US Dollars) USD 10 - 15 if not included in room price 40 96