Budgeting Advice for Backpackers
- Margaux
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Budgeting for travel is not always easy, especially when you get somewhere, see all the incredible things on offer, and want to splash out. I went backpacking for 10 months solo and have done countless other solo trips in my life, and this blog post will tell you the best budgeting advice I have for backpackers, including how to set a budget, tips on booking things in advance, and things you might miss while setting a budget for your trip.
Contents
Setting a Budget
Even if you’re just going on a short trip, your budget will differ by country. I always start by doing some basic research from other blogs, Facebook groups, booking sites, and word-of-mouth to see how much things cost in each country. The most important things to look at are food, transport, and accommodation, and then have a look at any other big activities you want to do. You can look at any of my itineraries and guides to get an idea of what things cost in many of the countries I’ve visited. Add all of the individual numbers up, and you’ll have a rough figure. You won’t reach your budget max every day, and some days you’ll go over because it’s a big activity day or a travel day. It will even out in the end.
Each country is different so if you work out roughly how long you are going to spend in each place, you can easily break it down by day.
Making Bookings in Advance
Making bookings in advance is a key part of sticking to a low budget while travelling. Some things are best done spontaneously, but larger spends such as flights are best done at least 2 months in advance. I usually set a flight budget based on research on Skyscanner. I look at the average cost of flights in the month I am planning on flying, which ends up being relatively accurate.
Emergency Funds
Make sure you always have an emergency fund available, at least enough for a one-way ticket home from wherever you are. In the case you need to leave for any reason, it’s good to know you have a safety net and can leave at short notice. Having a little bit extra also allows you to do a few more activities, stay somewhere a bit nicer, or just be a bit more relaxed!
Extra Things to Budget For
Sometimes it’s hard to think about everything you will need to budget for on a trip. Here is a list of hidden costs I’ve come across on my travels and things I’ve had to buy so you can be more prepared:
Visas
ATM fees (I recommend using a travel card to avoid these!)
Luggage storage
Checked bag fees (planes and some buses, especially in Europe)
Tips for guides and others
Toilets
Medicine
Laundry
SIM cards or an eSIM
Bottled water (where it’s unsafe to drink tap water)
Entry fees for national parks, hikes, and anything you wouldn’t usually expect an entry fee for
I hope this helps you in setting a budget for your travels. Along with country-specific itineraries with budgets, I’ve also written some budget breakdown posts, so don’t forget to check them out:
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