Let me walk through the research process I use before entering any new budget destination, because the process is consistent and the specific tools matter.

Step 1: Wikivoyage for the comprehensive overview. Better than Lonely Planet for budget-specific practical information (transport options, budget accommodation districts, visa requirements). Free and community-maintained, so more current than printed guides.

Step 2: Reddit destination subreddit, filtered for posts from the last 6 months. The r/solotravel monthly destination threads and country-specific subs have real-time cost information that no guidebook can match. Specifically looking for: current accommodation prices, current safety situation, any new infrastructure (metro lines, airport changes, border crossing changes).

Step 3: Numbeo for cost of living data. Shows average prices for specific items (meal at local restaurant, coffee, beer, transport) with date stamps. Cross-reference with Reddit reports.

Step 4: current visa requirements from the official source (the destination country's immigration website or official government travel advisory). Never trust a third-party source for visa requirements — they go out of date. 10 minutes on the official source prevents expensive mistakes.

Step 5: local Facebook groups for the city. Search 'expats in [city]' or 'digital nomads [city]' and look for recent cost-of-living posts. Often the most current data available.

Total research time for a new destination: 90-120 minutes. The return on this time is enormous — better budget calibration, better neighborhood choices, fewer avoidable mistakes.