As I said in an earlier post, my average long-term touring cost is $25/day including one motel stay a week. That also includes one inexpensive restaurant meal per day, generally an $8 breakfast a $5 sandwich, or even a $4 pint of ice cream at a C-store. If I cut out the motel stay and the restaurant meal, I'm under $20. But I'm a middle-aged guy with a credit card, and though I am frugal I will pay for some comforts. My food cost was $15/day, mostly buying groceries.

I also mentioned a cyclist I met (warmshowers guest) who's been living on $5000/year for the last three years. He's an exception--a freegan, a dumpster diver, and a road-kill eater. The option is there, though not for me, thank you.