On average during my trip through Arg, Ch, Bol, and Pe I paid AU$1.54/l which was trading at about USD0.7- 0.8 ish I think. I reckon it wouldn't be cheaper in most of South America than in the US. Probably dearer.

A crap leaking hotel in Potosi was about AU$30, a nothing flash motel in Osorno AU$40. Basically Australian Pub prices. AU$ for a family camp ground on the edge of La Rioja.

Thanks, othalan. Sounds like your budget estimate is for shorter trips, near to home, riding short distances per day, without including amortization of longer-term costs. To some extent this is a function of different ways of accounting; for example, I used up 10 tires last year, ranging in price from US$40-200+, did about 20 oilchanges, four chains and multiple sprockets, etc. etc. etc. On top of all that, there were unexpected expenses like a new rear shock and silencer.

On a long trip these are mostly predictable and inescapable expenses; on a short trip they're part of the background noise of everyday life at home. It will be interesting to see how your budget works out on your upcoming trip to Ushuaia. I hope you'll post an update.

Mark

I actually include all the maintenance expenses you mention in my short trip budgets because they are directly trip related. Chains have a somewhat predictable life expectancy, so I just pro-rate the cost for the miles traveled. What I don't include are yearly costs that are forced on me by every-day-life but would be different for long-term travel. Insurance for example.

I do plan to report on how my budgeting worked out compared to reality.

I actually expect my budgeting to be 100% wrong because I don't know what type of long-term traveler I will be. Its why my plans are so vague in some places.

Oops, I see I've confused you with someone leaving for Ushuaia next month. You're going first to Alaska, then Asia?

I thought you'd not included maintenance costs because in your previous post you said "I also do not include fixed non-daily costs I cannot control such as bike maintenance. Those I plan for separately because I do not have control over when it occurs & how much is spent." Now it sounds like you do include chains, tires, sprockets oilchanges and other predictable expenses.....? You leave out less-predictable stuff? Like what?

In my experience, humility and a sense of humor go a long way--in budgeting as in most else in life. Looking forward to hearing about your trip!

Mark

Leaving in early June. Alaska first, then Ushuaia.

Oops, I appear to have created a great deal of confusion. A budget for any trip I put together, short or long, has three parts:

#1 is my daily budget
#2 is my fixed overhead for the trip (bike maintenance, etc.)
#3 is optional luxury activities (e.g. boat trip to Antarctica)

I use this separation because it makes sense to me. Combining everything into a single number does not make sense to me as it obscures how much is being spent on things I have at least some control over.

What #2 does not include in my past planning for trips of 1 month or less is any expense which cannot be directly calculated because there is no travel equivalent. I would never use the same phone plan traveling as I do at home, but I'm not going to switch for a 2-week vacation.

It may make sense to you but for others it doesn't because it doesn't tell the whole story which is what the OP was all about. Putting everything together how much do you think it'll come to?

I've been planning a RTW forever now. The cost keeps varying so much that im at the edge of frustration. Plus, Im from india and our currency doesn't help one bit. To make things worse, im planning a trip on my Bandit 1250S which, im estimating, will return 12-15kmpl at best.

Still, ill figure this out and head out ASAP. This thread is helping out a lot.

Great thread, this is also my first post. While I'm not planning on going RTW right now, halfway is good enough. Oz to Morocco or Mali, nothing is set in stone and anything could change between now and whenever, very early stages here. I've just ordered a couple of books and a vauge plan to start with.

I wonder what % of RTWers go back to something resembling their life before their big trip? Or are they so financially ruined that they must, lol. :p

No financial ruin here, but more an emotional ruin every time I realise how itchy those feet are every day. You get so used to moving around, changing scenery that going to work and sit there all day is just torture.

Deadman, no fret. As you can see in this thread you can do it with whatever you've got. But certain things you can't get around. Such as the price of fuel and tyres. You can limit your daily cost, but this than makes it time vs distance. You can cook yourself to keep the price down, camp wherever you can and stay with newly made friends. It's all in your hands. Shipping can be minimised by choosing your route carefully. Being from India you are limited to the east, but can go west all the way to Spain or Morocco. It's all in your own hands.

Good to hear Taco, just watching your vids, you've done a great job with them. Love the Tenere awesome bike.

Thanks mate. Not bad bikes, but bloody viby compared to what I've got now though. Wouldn't go back to them.

I can't really remember doing a budget for that trip at all which shows. I hadn't discovered HU yet and relied on Chris Scots book. Dave sorted the bike out, which is only just as well. Talk about being clueless. But I enjoy those trips the most...... in hindsight. The experience from all the other trips before really helped sorting the bike related problems out though, which helped calm the nerves. The footage for the South America trip won't be near as entertaining.

Hey!

We're travelling the world at the moment and are just finishing our South American part of the journey.

I agree with the average 100$ US per day. That's what you roughly need to go RTW. Mind you we're travelling on one bike two up and are averaging around 80$ per day within the last 8 months.

Hope this helps!
Happy travels!
Andy

So thats $80 per day for two people? Take out the extra costs of food, more fuel, greater wear and tear on Tyres etc for that extra person and it comes down somewhat Im guessing?

gsgirl
 

For two people and two bikes I would budget around $120 US a day for reasonable travel.
However.


If you have some money saved up and a loose plan You should just Go.
Go until the money almost runs out.
See how far you can get.
See if you really like travelling by motorcycle.
It is not as easy as it sounds, Or as hard as everyone says.
Just do it, you will never regret it.
have fun.

You can camp in our yard on your way to and from Alaska if you want.

Cheers, Peter bier

Your KLR650 gets, say 55 mpg, @ avg. $3.75/gallon. So, 275 miles/day would be $18.75 in gas alone.
$55 - $18.75 = $36.25

Three $5 meals a day = $15
$36.25 - $15.00 = $21.25

I've travelled the U.S.A. from top to bottom, and coast to coast, and I've NEVER seen a motel room for $21.25 or less, and seldom eaten out for $5 or less. Please do give some suggestions/locations for those spots, 'cause that's where I'll be staying and eating on future trips.

The OP asked for RTW costs. I haven't made that trip, yet, but agree with a previous posters formula for average daily costs being "total cost divided by number of days away". Pretty simple in my eyes, but then again I can't see worth a damn.

I hope to be departing this fall on a meandering adventure with no particular destination or return date on a KLR so this is all very pertinent info for me too.

Two parting thoughts on keeping accommodation costs under control.
1. Couchsurfing.org
2. Globalfreeloaders.com

Cheers all!