I am way over budget and I’m okay with that.
My budget for 10 months of travel was only $18,000. I just surpassed $20,000 and I have about two months to go.
But with a nice tax refund, some additional income sources and partnerships with companies like Hostelworld.com to secure complimentary accommodations, I was able to loosen the purse strings a bit, extend the length of my trip and add in two not-so-budget-friendly destinations: Italy and Turkey.
While my first $10,000 lasted me 150 days, my second $10,000 has lasted me 172 days.
Here is how it all breaks down – note that there is some overlap in the per country breakdown as my first 8 days in Ukraine fell into my first $10K.
International Transportation
|
Leg |
Cost |
|---|---|
| Marshrutka, Chernivtsi, Ukraine to Chisinau, Moldova | $16.06 |
| Marshrutka, Chisinau to Odessa, Ukraine | $11.89 |
| Ferry, Odessa to Batumi, Georgia | $181.25 |
| Marshrutka, Tbilisi, Georgia to Yerevan, Armenia | $18.29 |
| Marshrutka, Yerevan to Tbilisi | $16.73 |
| Flight, Tbilisi to Rome, Italy | $169.27 |
| Flight, Rome to Istanbul, Turkey | $180.42 |
| 3 mini-buses & 2 shared taxis, Kars, Turkey to Tbilisi | $43.86 |
| Bus & 2 marshrutkas, Telavi, Georgia to Qax, Azerbaijan | $6.31 |
| Bus & shared taxi, Baku, Azerbaijan to Tbilisi | $24.43 |
| Marshrutka, Tbilisi to Yerevan | $18.39 |
| Marshrutka, Yerevan to Tbilisi | $15.73 |
| Flight, Tbilisi to Dushanbe, Tajikistan | $823.28 |
|
Total |
$1,526.11 |
Per Country Expenses
|
Country |
Days |
Total |
Average/Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 44 | $2,043.46 | $46.44 |
| Moldova | 6 | $225.38 | $37.56 |
| Georgia | 26 | $1,195.54 | $45.98 |
| Armenia | 43 | $1.364.48 | $31.73 |
| Italy | 7 | $425.04 | $60.72 |
| Turkey | 17 | $1,133.70 | $66.69 |
| Azerbaijan | 12 | $760.66 | $63.39 |
| Tajikistan | 29 | $628.94 | $21.69 |
|
Total |
184 |
$7,777.20 |
$42.27 |
Extras
Clothing and shoes (including new hiking shoes, running shoes and sandals): $636.14
Clinique makeup (note to self, check prices and confirm exchange rate before purchasing next time): $99.87
Souvenirs: $212.49
Shipping costs to send stuff home: $101.52
Total: $1050.02
$1,526.11 +$7.777.20 + $1,050.02 = $10,353.23
Like before, here is a further breakdown by country:
Ukraine
- Accommodation: $797.20 (includes 15 nights homestay, 7 nights hostel dorm, 10 nights hostel private room, 3 nights guesthouse, 6 nights hotel, 3 nights Black Sea Ferry)
- Russian language course (2 weeks): $303.75
- Food: $10.69 per day
- Local Transportation: $64.08
- Activities/entertainment: $285.91 (includes Chernobyl tour and day trip in the Carpathians)
- Phone/internet: $11.88 (SIM card and 3G modem internet access in Kiev)
- Miscellaneous: $110.42 (toiletries, ibuprofen, Kleenex, pens, maps)
Moldova
- Accommodation: $93.84 (6 nights hostel dorm)
- Food: $11.34 per day
- Local Transportation: $21.37
- Activities/entertainment: $35.06
- Miscellaneous: $7.08 (map, hostel towel)
Georgia
- Accommodation:$463.75 (3 nights Black Sea Ferry, 1 night guesthouse, 4 nights hostel dorm room, 5 nights hotel, 10 nights complimentary hostel private room)
- Overnight trains: $21.34
- Food: $11.09 per day
- Local Transportation: $77.01
- Activities/entertainment: $245.95 (includes taxi hire for multiple day trips)
- Phone: $27.44 (SIM card used in Georgia & Azerbaijan)
- Miscellaneous: $71.71 (sunglasses, hair color, toiletries)
Armenia
- Visa cost: $38.60 (one 120-day single entry and one 21-day single entry)
- Accommodation: $281.76 (36 nights homestay, 3 nights friend’s apartment, 1 night hostel private room, 4 nights complimentary hostel private room)
- Volunteer program: $138.96
- Food: $6.98 per day
- Local Transportation: $62.56
- Activities/entertainment: $495.24 (includes multiple excursions with volunteer program, 2 organized group tours & a lot of vodka)
- Phone/internet: $71.28 (SIM card and rental of 3G mini-modem + unlimited internet for 30 days)
- Miscellaneous: $114.96 (2 haircuts, 2 pedicures, toiletries, ibuprofen)
Italy
- Accommodation: $234.21 (1 night hotel, 3 nights shared hotel, 2 nights complimentary hotel)
- Food: $17.43 per day
- Local Transportation: $26.32
- Activities/entertainment: $42.50
Turkey
- Visa cost: $20 (90 day, multiple entry)
- Accommodation: $458.62 (4 nights hostel dorm, 8 nights hotel, 3 nights complimentary hotel)
- Overnight buses (2): $60.80
- Food: $12.57 per day
- Local Transportation: $84.23
- Activities/entertainment: $289.91 (includes day trips to Sumela Monastery and Ani)
- Miscellaneous: $56.14 (scarf, hat, toiletries)
Azerbaijan
- Visa cost: $160.98 (30 day, single entry, plus visa agency fee)
- Accommodation: $193.51 (4 nights homestay, 2 nights guesthouse, 6 nights friend’s apartment)
- Food: $12.70 per day
- Local Transportation: $65.95
- Activities/entertainment: $152.39 (includes 3 days of hiking guides)
- Internet: $0.30 (1 hour at internet café)
- Miscellaneous: $43.60 (laundry, bracelet, gift for host)
Tajikistan
- Visa cost: $35 (30 day, single entry)
- Accommodation: $98.53 (2 nights hotel, 2 nights guesthouse included with volunteer program, 25 nights homestay included with volunteer program)
- Volunteer program: $370 (includes bank transfer fee)
- Food: $1.18 per day (all my meals were included while I volunteered)
- Local Transportation: $74.58
- Activities/entertainment: $0
- Phone/internet: $4.20 (SIM card plus 2 hours of internet café use)
- Miscellaneous: $8.09 (anti-itch cream for mosquito bites & new sunglasses)
As before, I hope this helps for anyone planning a career break of their own or thinking about visiting some of these countries. Stay tuned for my final stats this fall!
Photo: Images_of_Money
