13 Months in the Former Soviet Union: The Final Budget Breakdown

How much does it cost to travel around the world for 13 months?

Obviously, this answer will differ for everyone. Costs vary based on where you go, what you do and the level of comfort you seek on the road, so everyone’s travel budget will be different. I chose to spend most of my time in the 15 countries of the former Soviet Union, throwing in side trips to Finland, Italy, Turkey and Spain.

My final total came out to $28,708.58.

Covering 390 days, that comes out to $73.61 per day.

This total includes absolutely everything from the time I stepped on the plane to fly from Chicago O’ Hare to Helsinki, Finland to the minute I got off the plane at Chicago Midway 390 days later. I meticulously tracked every ruble, manat and som I spent along the way on a massive spreadsheet that separated costs out by country and then by lodging, food, entertainment, activities, internet/phone, visas, transportation and miscellaneous. I also separately tracked international transportation costs and what I considered “extras” – replacing clothing, postage to send stuff home, expensive souvenirs, etc. These were costs that I didn’t think could fairly be counted against a particular country’s totals.

I previously shared my expenses when I hit the $10,000 mark and the $20,000 mark. The latter took me through Tajikistan in July. So before I share any more overall totals, I want to provide the breakdown for costs in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia (the second time around) and Spain. Here goes…

International Transportation

Leg	Cost
Shared taxi & taxi, Khujand, Tajikistan to Tashkent, Uzbekistan	$42.61
Taxi, Bukhara, Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan border	$40.52
Taxi, Turkmenistan border to Khiva, Uzbekistan	$20.00
Overnight train, Kungrad, Uzbekistan to Aktau, Kazakhstan	$77.80
Shared taxi, Almaty, Kazakhstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan	$18.05
Flight, Bishkek to Riga, Latvia	$337.83
Flight, Riga to Barcelona, Spain	$239.96
Flight, Barcelona to Chicago	$698.16
Total	$1,474.93

Per Country Expenses

Country	Days	Total	Average/Day
Uzbekistan	19	$1,400.88	$73.73
Turkmenistan	10	$2,797.27	$279.73
Kazakhstan	17	$1,321.45	$77.73
Kyrgyzstan	15	$721.70	$48.11
Latvia	2	$68.79	$34.40
Spain	7	$821.94	$117.42
Total	70	$7,132.03	$101.89

Extras

Clothing (2 jeans, several shirts) & cute sandals: $216.88

Souvenirs: $27.78

Total: $252.66

Like before, here is a further breakdown by country:

Uzbekistan

Visa: $160.00
Accommodation: $801.01 (includes 10 nights hotel, 8 nights guesthouse)
Food: $14.06 per day
Local Transportation: $61.41
Activities/entertainment: $150.78
Miscellaneous: $37.42 (toiletries, mosquito spray)
Currency exchange savings: $76.86 (money saved by changing money on the black market instead of at the official rate)

Turkmenistan

Visa:$89.00
Private tour: $2,561.00 (includes 5 nights hotel, 3 nights camping, 2 nights homestay; 7 days private guide and transport; 10 breakfasts & 5 dinners)
Food: $9.51 per day
Local Transportation: $0.56
Activities/entertainment: $13.86
Miscellaneous: $36.62 (sunglasses, sleeping bag rental)

Kazakhstan

Visa:$30.00
Accommodation:$674.68 (8 nights hotel, 1 night homestay, 2 nights guesthouse; used credit card points for another 4 nights hotel)
Overnight trains: $70.67
Food: $12.02 per day
Local Transportation: $86.06
Activities/entertainment: $224.79 (includes day trip to Aral Sea)
Phone: $2.81
Miscellaneous: $28.37 (toiletries)

Kyrgyzstan

Accommodation: $248.82 (5 nights hostel private room, 7 nights guesthouse, 3 nights yurt camp)
Food: $10.15 per day
Local Transportation: $226.83
Activities/entertainment: $55.63
Phone/internet: $7.34
Miscellaneous: $30.77 (haircut, pedicure, toiletries)

Latvia

Accommodation: $0 (2 nights complimentary hostel private room)
Food: $18.83 per day
Local Transportation: $2.32
Miscellaneous: $9.98

Spain

Accommodation: $491.82 (2 nights B&B, 3 nights shared hotel, 2 nights hotel)
Food: $13.66 per day
Local Transportation: $35.97
Activities/entertainment: $189.73 (includes ticket to TBEX conference)
Miscellaneous: $8.81

13 Month Breakdown by Country:

Armenia: 43 days, $1,364.48 ($31.73 per day)
Azerbaijan: 12 days, $760.66 ($63.39 per day)
Belarus: 11 days, $959.48 ($87.23 per day)
Estonia: 9 days, $562.02 ($62.45 per day)
Finland: 3 days, $240.68 ($80.23 per day)
Georgia: 26 days, $1,195.54 ($45.98 per day)
Italy: 7 days, $425.04 ($60.72 per day)
Kazakhstan: 17 days, $1,321.45 ($77.73 per day)
Kyrgyzstan: 15 days, $721.70 ($48.11 per day)
Latvia: 8 days, $416.95 ($52.12 per day)
Lithuania: 11 days, $347.21 ($31.56 per day)
Moldova: 6 days, $225.38 ($37.56 per day)
Poland: 11 days, $504.53 ($45.87 per day)
Russia: 85 days, $5,259.54 ($61.88 per day)
Spain: 7 days, $821.94 ($117.42 per day)
Tajikistan: 29 days, $628.94 ($21.69 per day)
Turkey: 17 days, $1,133.70 ($66.69 per day)
Turkmenistan: 10 days, $2,797.27 ($279.73 per day)
Ukraine: 44 days, $2,043.46 ($46.44 per day)
Uzbekistan: 19 days, $1,400.88 ($73.73 per day)

I hope this helps anyone planning to take a career break to travel or anyone thinking of visiting any of these countries! Again, what I spent may be more or less than what someone else might spend in the same countries – I made the choice to occasionally splurge on experiences or more comfortable accommodations. Also, due to my gluten intolerance, I probably spent more on food than I would’ve if I had been able to eat a lot of the cheap street food in many countries. At the same time, I probably paid less for some local transportation because I spoke Russian and was able to negotiate taxi fares.

If you have any questions about specific countries or expenses, please feel free to ask!