What are you spending on average per month?
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 919
Likes: 1
Depends on type of touring and where
Credit card touring in the USA at least $100 per night if i eat simple.
Touring where i provide my own sleeping arrangement and food. As little as $20+cost of campsite.
Touring where i provide my own sleeping arrangement and food. As little as $20+cost of campsite.
#3
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 1,068
From: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Elite Disc, 1983 Trek 520
Self-supported touring in the US averages $750/month. I can go over $1000 in areas like the Northeast US in tourist season. If I stay in the western US, with lots of public land and easy dispersed camping, it's cheaper. (One week-long tour in Arizona, where I carried all my food, cost me a total of $5 (a Subway footlong in Flagstaff).)
Average is $15/day for food, $10 for lodging, for a cheap motel every week (most nights are free camping or warmshowers).
Average is $15/day for food, $10 for lodging, for a cheap motel every week (most nights are free camping or warmshowers).
#4
2-Wheeled Fool
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 680
From: New Hampshire
Bikes: Surly Ogre, Brompton
I spent $1800 to thru-hike the AT. I felt like a bum and looked like a skinny hobo when I finished. Since I have begun to tour by bike, I've discovered in myself that I like my comfort and security... which comes at a price. I'm planning on one long tour a year plus several week-long tours. So far, I've only been able to do week-long tours, but I'm doing all the math for the Southern Tier and its going to cost me an arm and a leg...or two. I should probably look into Warm Showers, but this old xenophobic Yankee just hates the idea of imposing on strangers. Still, THE GREAT LAW of karma states that what you get out of something is exactly equal to what you put into it. Wish I could allay my fears.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 29
From: Madison, WI
I think in the US, about $1,000 per month is a pretty good basis for camping comfortably. A decent hotel once a week is nice, so add that on top of the $1,000 depending on what level of hotel you desire. You can stay on a cheap motel for $50 or a decent hotel for $80-100 depending on where you are. You can definitely do it on less than $1,000/month with warm showers and free camping if you’re in an area to do that and if you don’t mind keeping things really cheap. I like to eat in a restaurant some and get a bomber or cheap bottle of wine a lot of evenings, so for me the $1,000 is the pricepoint I’m in. If you want to do hotels and restaurants all the time, the sky is the limit on that budget. In Central and South America you can eat more cheaply and free camping was no problem in the areas I’ve been. Southeast Asia is dirt cheap for cooked meals and lodging. You can get a full meal’s worth of street food for a dollar or two, and a place to stay for $10. I haven’t bike toured in Europe, but from what I saw visiting and what I’ve read, it’s more expensive that the US.
#6
Senior Member



Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 12,752
Likes: 2,112
From: Madison, WI
Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
You will have to decide if you want to sleep indoors or in a tent? If a tent, in a designated campground with a fee or on govt lands somewhere or maybe trespassing? If indoors are you relying on the generosity of others or Motel 6, or maybe the Hilton? Do you want to cook your own food or eat food others cooked, or some percentage of each? And if cooked by others, McDonalds or some multi-Michelin star restaurant?
Your question was specific to countries, but I suspect you will mostly get USA answers here.
I spent almost a month in Iceland in summer of 2016, cost excluding air fare was probably about $1600 for just under a month, mostly camping but stayed in HI hostels about 20 percent of the time, mostly campsite cooking but about 5 to 10 percent of my meals were cooked by others. All camping was in designated campgrounds with a fee (and usually free showers). This cost estimate was all expenses except air fare, shuttle bus rides, taxis, costs for my bike and camping gear, etc. Cost of souvenirs was probably about $50.
Your question was specific to countries, but I suspect you will mostly get USA answers here.
I spent almost a month in Iceland in summer of 2016, cost excluding air fare was probably about $1600 for just under a month, mostly camping but stayed in HI hostels about 20 percent of the time, mostly campsite cooking but about 5 to 10 percent of my meals were cooked by others. All camping was in designated campgrounds with a fee (and usually free showers). This cost estimate was all expenses except air fare, shuttle bus rides, taxis, costs for my bike and camping gear, etc. Cost of souvenirs was probably about $50.
#7
Sleeping: Campgrounds of various sorts, B&Bs, Cabins, Hotels, Motels, Hostels.
Spending: It depends. It varies widely.
Also, some of the cost includes flights, trains, ferries, and sightseeing (museums, tours, etc.).
There's also the cost of food.
And insurance.
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Last edited by Machka; 09-15-18 at 07:51 PM.
#8
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,815
Likes: 434
From: Thailand..........currently Nakhon Ricefield, moving to the beach soon.
Bikes: inferior steel....alas....noodly aluminium assploded
too many variables, i mean, like, all of them.
be more specific about what you want to know, other than everything.
where are YOU wanting to tour?
what kind of touring do YOU plan to do?
what comfort level do YOU desire?
what is YOUR budget?
#9
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 1,068
From: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Bikes: 2012 Specialized Elite Disc, 1983 Trek 520
I spent $1800 to thru-hike the AT. I felt like a bum and looked like a skinny hobo when I finished. Since I have begun to tour by bike, I've discovered in myself that I like my comfort and security... which comes at a price. I'm planning on one long tour a year plus several week-long tours. So far, I've only been able to do week-long tours, but I'm doing all the math for the Southern Tier and its going to cost me an arm and a leg...or two. I should probably look into Warm Showers, but this old xenophobic Yankee just hates the idea of imposing on strangers. Still, THE GREAT LAW of karma states that what you get out of something is exactly equal to what you put into it. Wish I could allay my fears.
I like your characterization of going cheap on the AT. I spent 3.5 months hiking the AT in 2008, cost was $3500 but that included travel to and from, and replacement gear. I did not skimp on lodging and meals. I was in my fifties with a credit card, so some comfort and security was affordable. And I'd already hiked the PCT and CDT, so I had a lot of experience taking care of myself on long hikes.
I started using warmshowers on my last XC tour. I hosted a couple of times first, so I got some good reviews and karma points. I have hosted many more times than I've been a guest by now. I was a guest roughly once a week on tour. Because of that, I often went a couple of weeks without paying for lodging. But I sure enjoy paying it back as a host. I've never had a bad or even questionable experience with WS. And it sounds like you have the right attitude about it, not to take advantage.
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,251
Likes: 17
I spent around a dollar a mile on the AT back in 1997 when I thru-hiked. Now on the bike I spend much less. 8500 mile trip in 2015 I spent less than $1500, in 75 nights out, all states east of the Rockies. I stealth camp and the only money I spend is on food or bike parts.
#11
Behold my avatar:
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 447
From: SW Colorado
Bikes: 2019 Gorilla Monsoon, 2013 Surly Krampus, Brompton folder
England this May/June.
10 days of "credit card" touring
Daily averages.
$70 room
$23 dinner w/ beer
$5 afternoon beer
$12 lunch
$4 road snacks
$7 transport (train fare for a couple trips, averaged per day)
$6 entrance fees to tourist stuff
-------
$127 per day
Man, UK is expensive!
10 days of "credit card" touring
Daily averages.
$70 room
$23 dinner w/ beer
$5 afternoon beer
$12 lunch
$4 road snacks
$7 transport (train fare for a couple trips, averaged per day)
$6 entrance fees to tourist stuff
-------
$127 per day
Man, UK is expensive!
#12
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
I don't remember, .... 20 years ago and longer.. pre EU currency union .
Guilders Punts GB pounds DM PL Zloty CZ crowns all had different rates of exchange..
spent some time on a intentional community in Scotland, that ran workshops,
and fed the participants ..
helped out , thereby covering cost of living; food, shelter, etc.
so that was both fun and saved costs..
Guilders Punts GB pounds DM PL Zloty CZ crowns all had different rates of exchange..
spent some time on a intentional community in Scotland, that ran workshops,
and fed the participants ..
helped out , thereby covering cost of living; food, shelter, etc.
so that was both fun and saved costs..
#15
#17
Rain Rider
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Bikes: Breezer Beltway (commuter), Co-Motion Deschutes, Specialized Tarmac, Salsa La Cruz (rain bike), Co-Motion Tandem
USA Portland to Portland 2017
Total cost $10,180 for two people
Average cost: $115.69/day or $57.84/day for each of us
Lodging: 39 camping, 33 motel, 3 B&B, 13 hostel/church
88 days, 8,846k/5,497miles
Europe - Norway to Istanbul 2018
Total cost: $12,936
Cost per day: $118.60 (just one person on this trip)
Lodging: 51 motel, 31 commercial campground, 20 free camping, 5 hotel, 2 cabin
109 days 9,832k/6,109miles
Total cost $10,180 for two people
Average cost: $115.69/day or $57.84/day for each of us
Lodging: 39 camping, 33 motel, 3 B&B, 13 hostel/church
88 days, 8,846k/5,497miles
Europe - Norway to Istanbul 2018
Total cost: $12,936
Cost per day: $118.60 (just one person on this trip)
Lodging: 51 motel, 31 commercial campground, 20 free camping, 5 hotel, 2 cabin
109 days 9,832k/6,109miles








