I actually have fun tracking all of my expenses when I travel. The daily total includes all lodging, food, booze, transportation, sightseeing, visas, etc. I leave out the money I spend on gifts for friends and I don't include the flight price.
| Country | Daily Total | (✓ = shared)
Lodging |
Food | Booze | Transportation | Other Stuff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia |
$25.94 |
$14.35 (✓) | $6.60 | |||
| 28 days in May 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
Belize |
$57.44 |
$13.33 (✓) | $8.00 | $1.67 | $10.94 | $23.50 |
| 9 days in Dec 2018
The budget took a big hit with the tours we did on this trip. |
||||||
British Virgin Islands |
$39.55 |
$8.78 | $7.11 | $1.67 | $22.55 | |
| 9 days in Dec 2022
Joined a live-aboard trip for a week! These are my costs getting there and back and while aboard. |
||||||
Cambodia |
$22.10 |
$1.55 (✓) | $4.50 | |||
| 9 days in Aug 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
Comoros |
$27.66 |
$11.16 (✓) | $5.87 | $0.20 | $5.91 | $4.52 |
| 15 days in Sep 2016
|
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Costa Rica |
$15.71 |
$0.83 | $6.57 | $5.28 | $1.45 | $1.58 |
| 53 days in Feb 2020
My first time bartering work for lodging (part of the time). I also stayed with a local friend, and house sat for a few days. |
||||||
Costa Rica |
$17.85 |
$1.67 | $6.17 | $2.63 | $1.00 | $6.38 |
| 24 days in Feb 2021
|
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Costa Rica |
$18.42 |
$0.65 | $5.63 | $3.07 | $3.05 | $6.02 |
| 114 days in Jun 2021
house/dog sitting on the beach |
||||||
Costa Rica |
$24.37 |
$16.23 | $4.59 | $0.75 | $0.30 | $2.50 |
| 201 days in Mar 2020
stuck in CR because of COVID closed borders! I stayed in one town. |
||||||
Costa Rica |
$28.51 |
$16.08 | $3.29 | $3.53 | $3.02 | $2.59 |
| 59 days in Oct 2019
4 weeks in Zancudo staying put in a nice house, then 4 weeks in Monteverde in an apartment, some tourist stuff, lots of drinking |
||||||
Cuba |
$36.00 |
$12.50 (✓) | $7.00 | |||
| 7 days in Dec 2008
|
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Egypt |
$18.93 |
$2.06 (✓) | $3.54 | |||
| 15 days in Dec 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
El Salvador |
$29.83 |
$6.53 (✓) | $4.17 | $1.22 | ||
| 20 days in Feb 2018
|
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Fiji |
$27.60 |
$13.29 (✓) | $9.63 | |||
| 7 days in Apr 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
French Polynesia |
$98.83 |
$59.47 | $10.70 | $28.66 | ||
| 6 days in Dec 2024
My travel buddy paid for most of the lodging, we ate groceries in the room, and only did one outing. Transportation is pricey. |
||||||
Greece |
$26.25 |
$8.27 (✓) | $9.65 | |||
| 15 days in Dec 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
Honduras |
$31.36 |
$17.85 (✓) | $8.72 | |||
| 7 days in Jul 2009
|
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India |
$21.72 |
$5.00 | $3.03 | $0.79 | $7.24 | $5.66 |
| 29 days in Apr 2011
I did not add in the cost of dental work I had done there $440 USD |
||||||
Indonesia |
$8.54 |
$2.95 | $1.32 | $4.27 | ||
| 47 days in Mar 2019
House sitting, had to pay for utilities |
||||||
Indonesia |
$17.68 |
$3.53 (✓) | $3.99 | |||
| 24 days in Jun 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
Indonesia |
$32.55 |
$15.34 | $3.33 | $1.63 | $1.11 | $11.14 |
| 10 days in Mar 2019
$93 of this was for Komodo tour |
||||||
Laos |
$35.12 |
$3.89 (✓) | $3.30 | $15.93 | $12.00 | |
| 4 days in Nov 2008
This was just a quick trip through Vietnam. $35 was for visa. |
||||||
Malaysia |
$18.99 |
$3.47 (✓) | $5.52 | |||
| 39 days in Jul 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
Malaysia |
$87.01 |
$57.64 (✓) | $6.60 | $3.62 | $7.76 | $11.39 |
| 4 days in Jul 2025
Swanky trip just to the Perhentian Islands. This also included a $45 waste of money massage. ;) |
||||||
Mexico |
$30.95 |
$13.07 (✓) | $7.17 | $1.60 | $1.03 | $11.09 |
| 10 days in May 2018
We spent our entire time in Mexico City. |
||||||
Mexico |
$35.28 |
$8.71 (✓) | $8.64 | $6.81 | $7.23 | $3.89 |
| 8 days in Dec 2018
|
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Myanmar |
$28.18 |
$13.53 (✓) | $3.48 | $0.53 | $4.74 | $5.90 |
| 19 days in Nov 2015
|
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Nepal |
$23.15 |
$5.64 (✓) | $5.23 | |||
| 30 days in Oct 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
New Zealand |
$33.27 |
$3.68 (✓) | $5.72 | |||
| 25 days in Apr 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
Panama |
$33.50 |
$9.25 (✓) | $7.75 | |||
| 9 days in Oct 2007
|
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Puerto Rico |
$77.50 |
$45.20 (✓) | $7.45 | |||
| 10 days in Jun 2009
My 40th bday vacation with non-budget-travel friends and family |
||||||
Switzerland |
$162.83 |
$95.83 (✓) | $14.17 | $45.33 | $7.50 | |
| 6 days in May 2026
wow, so expensive! This is what I spent, my travel buddy paid for a lot of the expenses |
||||||
Tanzania |
$35.12 |
$5.40 (✓) | $3.79 | |||
| 9 days in Nov 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
Tanzania |
$44.99 |
$11.51 (✓) | $6.07 | $1.33 | $16.05 | $10.03 |
| 20 days in Sep 2016
$100 visa fee(!) and an unexpected in-country flight. $32/day w/o those. |
||||||
Tanzania |
$107.76 |
$51.00 (✓) | $5.38 | $11.88 | $39.50 | |
| 8 days in Mar 2025
$100 visa fee(!) $44 mandatory insurance, a day safari :). This doesn't include $533 in airfare, we had half board at our very swanky hotel, etc. |
||||||
Thailand |
$20.52 |
$2.42 (✓) | $6.10 | |||
| 46 days in Sep 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
Thailand |
$22.62 |
$3.68 (✓) | $3.13 | $1.67 | $13.91 | $0.24 |
| 3 days in Nov 2008
This was just a quick stop on our way to Laos and Vietnam. Most trans was the bus to Laos. |
||||||
Thailand |
$29.43 |
$7.16 | $5.30 | $0.70 | $14.10 | $1.18 |
| 27 days in Jan 2024
Partially shared higher end on Koh Samet, a week in a monastery, some time solo |
||||||
Thailand |
$31.55 |
$12.56 | $8.00 | $2.22 | $6.33 | $2.44 |
| 18 days in Mar 2026
solo travel, stayed with friends for a few days |
||||||
Thailand |
$42.00 |
$20.40 | $4.91 | $1.25 | $6.97 | $5.86 |
| 15 days in Apr 2018
This was my first test at working abroad. It wasn't for traveling around and I spent more on things like SIM card plan, more comfortable hotel with good WiFi, etc. |
||||||
Thailand |
$84.09 |
$28.00 (✓) | $15.24 | $3.05 | $13.41 | $24.39 |
| 1 days in Jul 2025
One night in Bangkok! Quick hit 'n run with 2 massages and Wat Pho entry. Oh, and we paid for 2 nights lodging so we could check out late. ;) |
||||||
Thailand |
$92.61 |
$41.94 | $4.17 | $18.44 | $28.06 | |
| 18 days in Jan 2026
group trip, tourist sites, luxury hotels, private transportation |
||||||
Vietnam |
$17.76 |
$4.94 (✓) | $4.35 | $2.63 | $2.43 | $3.41 |
| 23 days in Nov 2008
|
||||||
Vietnam |
$47.78 |
$18.83 (✓) | $3.94 | $0.19 | $9.08 | $15.74 |
| 6 days in Jul 2025
Since it was my friend's first time in SEA, we stayed in nicer hotels and took private cars.. We did a few tours, and had a $25 visa fee. |
||||||
Zimbabwe |
$18.18 |
$4.41 (✓) | $4.48 | |||
| 28 days in Nov 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
||||||
| Daily Total |
# of Days |
Date | Notes | Lodging (✓ = shared) | Food | Booze | Transportation | Other Stuff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$25.94 Australia |
28 days in May 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$14.35 (✓) | $6.60 | |||||
$57.44 Belize |
9 days in Dec 2018
The budget took a big hit with the tours we did on this trip. |
$13.33 (✓) | $8.00 | $1.67 | $10.94 | $23.50 | ||
$39.55 British Virgin Islands |
9 days in Dec 2022
Joined a live-aboard trip for a week! These are my costs getting there and back and while aboard. |
$8.78 | $7.11 | $1.67 | $22.55 | |||
$22.10 Cambodia |
9 days in Aug 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$1.55 (✓) | $4.50 | |||||
$27.66 Comoros |
15 days in Sep 2016
|
$11.16 (✓) | $5.87 | $0.20 | $5.91 | $4.52 | ||
$15.71 Costa Rica |
53 days in Feb 2020
My first time bartering work for lodging (part of the time). I also stayed with a local friend, and house sat for a few days. |
$0.83 | $6.57 | $5.28 | $1.45 | $1.58 | ||
$17.85 Costa Rica |
24 days in Feb 2021
|
$1.67 | $6.17 | $2.63 | $1.00 | $6.38 | ||
$18.42 Costa Rica |
114 days in Jun 2021
house/dog sitting on the beach |
$0.65 | $5.63 | $3.07 | $3.05 | $6.02 | ||
$24.37 Costa Rica |
201 days in Mar 2020
stuck in CR because of COVID closed borders! I stayed in one town. |
$16.23 | $4.59 | $0.75 | $0.30 | $2.50 | ||
$28.51 Costa Rica |
59 days in Oct 2019
4 weeks in Zancudo staying put in a nice house, then 4 weeks in Monteverde in an apartment, some tourist stuff, lots of drinking |
$16.08 | $3.29 | $3.53 | $3.02 | $2.59 | ||
$36.00 Cuba |
7 days in Dec 2008
|
$12.50 (✓) | $7.00 | |||||
$18.93 Egypt |
15 days in Dec 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$2.06 (✓) | $3.54 | |||||
$29.83 El Salvador |
20 days in Feb 2018
|
$6.53 (✓) | $4.17 | $1.22 | ||||
$27.60 Fiji |
7 days in Apr 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$13.29 (✓) | $9.63 | |||||
$98.83 French Polynesia |
6 days in Dec 2024
My travel buddy paid for most of the lodging, we ate groceries in the room, and only did one outing. Transportation is pricey. |
$59.47 | $10.70 | $28.66 | ||||
$26.25 Greece |
15 days in Dec 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$8.27 (✓) | $9.65 | |||||
$31.36 Honduras |
7 days in Jul 2009
|
$17.85 (✓) | $8.72 | |||||
$21.72 India |
29 days in Apr 2011
I did not add in the cost of dental work I had done there $440 USD |
$5.00 | $3.03 | $0.79 | $7.24 | $5.66 | ||
$8.54 Indonesia |
47 days in Mar 2019
House sitting, had to pay for utilities |
$2.95 | $1.32 | $4.27 | ||||
$17.68 Indonesia |
24 days in Jun 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$3.53 (✓) | $3.99 | |||||
$32.55 Indonesia |
10 days in Mar 2019
$93 of this was for Komodo tour |
$15.34 | $3.33 | $1.63 | $1.11 | $11.14 | ||
$35.12 Laos |
4 days in Nov 2008
This was just a quick trip through Vietnam. $35 was for visa. |
$3.89 (✓) | $3.30 | $15.93 | $12.00 | |||
$18.99 Malaysia |
39 days in Jul 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$3.47 (✓) | $5.52 | |||||
$87.01 Malaysia |
4 days in Jul 2025
Swanky trip just to the Perhentian Islands. This also included a $45 waste of money massage. ;) |
$57.64 (✓) | $6.60 | $3.62 | $7.76 | $11.39 | ||
$30.95 Mexico |
10 days in May 2018
We spent our entire time in Mexico City. |
$13.07 (✓) | $7.17 | $1.60 | $1.03 | $11.09 | ||
$35.28 Mexico |
8 days in Dec 2018
|
$8.71 (✓) | $8.64 | $6.81 | $7.23 | $3.89 | ||
$28.18 Myanmar |
19 days in Nov 2015
|
$13.53 (✓) | $3.48 | $0.53 | $4.74 | $5.90 | ||
$23.15 Nepal |
30 days in Oct 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$5.64 (✓) | $5.23 | |||||
$33.27 New Zealand |
25 days in Apr 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$3.68 (✓) | $5.72 | |||||
$33.50 Panama |
9 days in Oct 2007
|
$9.25 (✓) | $7.75 | |||||
$77.50 Puerto Rico |
10 days in Jun 2009
My 40th bday vacation with non-budget-travel friends and family |
$45.20 (✓) | $7.45 | |||||
$162.83 Switzerland |
6 days in May 2026
wow, so expensive! This is what I spent, my travel buddy paid for a lot of the expenses |
$95.83 (✓) | $14.17 | $45.33 | $7.50 | |||
$35.12 Tanzania |
9 days in Nov 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$5.40 (✓) | $3.79 | |||||
$44.99 Tanzania |
20 days in Sep 2016
$100 visa fee(!) and an unexpected in-country flight. $32/day w/o those. |
$11.51 (✓) | $6.07 | $1.33 | $16.05 | $10.03 | ||
$107.76 Tanzania |
8 days in Mar 2025
$100 visa fee(!) $44 mandatory insurance, a day safari :). This doesn't include $533 in airfare, we had half board at our very swanky hotel, etc. |
$51.00 (✓) | $5.38 | $11.88 | $39.50 | |||
$20.52 Thailand |
46 days in Sep 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$2.42 (✓) | $6.10 | |||||
$22.62 Thailand |
3 days in Nov 2008
This was just a quick stop on our way to Laos and Vietnam. Most trans was the bus to Laos. |
$3.68 (✓) | $3.13 | $1.67 | $13.91 | $0.24 | ||
$29.43 Thailand |
27 days in Jan 2024
Partially shared higher end on Koh Samet, a week in a monastery, some time solo |
$7.16 | $5.30 | $0.70 | $14.10 | $1.18 | ||
$31.55 Thailand |
18 days in Mar 2026
solo travel, stayed with friends for a few days |
$12.56 | $8.00 | $2.22 | $6.33 | $2.44 | ||
$42.00 Thailand |
15 days in Apr 2018
This was my first test at working abroad. It wasn't for traveling around and I spent more on things like SIM card plan, more comfortable hotel with good WiFi, etc. |
$20.40 | $4.91 | $1.25 | $6.97 | $5.86 | ||
$84.09 Thailand |
1 days in Jul 2025
One night in Bangkok! Quick hit 'n run with 2 massages and Wat Pho entry. Oh, and we paid for 2 nights lodging so we could check out late. ;) |
$28.00 (✓) | $15.24 | $3.05 | $13.41 | $24.39 | ||
$92.61 Thailand |
18 days in Jan 2026
group trip, tourist sites, luxury hotels, private transportation |
$41.94 | $4.17 | $18.44 | $28.06 | |||
$17.76 Vietnam |
23 days in Nov 2008
|
$4.94 (✓) | $4.35 | $2.63 | $2.43 | $3.41 | ||
$47.78 Vietnam |
6 days in Jul 2025
Since it was my friend's first time in SEA, we stayed in nicer hotels and took private cars.. We did a few tours, and had a $25 visa fee. |
$18.83 (✓) | $3.94 | $0.19 | $9.08 | $15.74 | ||
$18.18 Zimbabwe |
28 days in Nov 2000
Year-long trip with my ex. We were young and super thrifty! |
$4.41 (✓) | $4.48 |
Although I'm really a diehard Eagle Creek girl, this pack is considered the best of the bunch right now. It's a good size, has good features (including zip-away straps), and Osprey has excellent customer service. The 55 liter includes a daypack that zips and/or clips to the main bag.
Shop This my recommended gear, not an ad #affiliatelink