How Much Does It Cost to Travel The World? See If You Can Afford It!

By Alice Ross | GENERAL TIPS

Jan 05
how much does it cost to travel the world

This is probably the most common question asked by those who want to experience more of what the world has to offer.

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To tell you the truth, this question is not easy to answer especially that each person has different preference and interests. Depending on how you want to travel and for how long, the price you are looking for can be less or more than another person would spend.

To be able to know how much does it cost to travel the world, it is important to know the expenses you need to face while on the road. To help you plan your budget for your trip, take a look at different factors that affect your expenses while on the road.

Factors That Influence Your Travel Costs

Travel Duration

Okay, let’s start calculating. The world currently has 196 recognized countries. Let’s say that you’ll spend an average of 7 days in each country, it will add up to 1372 days. Let’s say that it is going to take a day for you to travel to a country from the other, so that’s going to be an additional 196 days.

1372 +196=1568 days.

That is 4 Years, 3 Months, 2 Weeks, and 2 Days. So, yes, one can possibly visit each country in the world in a lifetime.

airport

For most backpackers, the ideal duration of stay for about a month, the more the better. For many, they do their best not to cram a lot of destinations as for them, experiencing the countries are still important than getting the stamps. But then again, it’s your decision to make how long do you think is best to stay. Furthermore, if it is your goal to be in every country in the world, then go for it!

However, there are some obstacles one has to face and not only know the answer to the question, “How much money does it cost to travel the world?” is the most important part.
You have to know that there are countries that you cannot legally enter. There are countries that don’t issue a visa to foreigners. Some might be in the middle of a war like Iraq.

Some may require all-inclusive tours to access like Turkmenistan, Bhutan, and North Korea. While

There are also countries that discriminate derived from gender like Saudi Arabia where they don’t allow female travelers unless they are accompanied by their husband or a male relative.

Average Daily Expenses

travelling cheap

Expenses in developing countries and cities are, of course, tend to be cheaper. If you are good at budgeting, you can spend only $20 to $40 a day including your accommodation.

On the other hand, developed countries like America, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and most European countries require a higher amount of budget. Averagely, you have to set $60-$80 on a daily budget.

This estimated budget doesn’t include booking plane tickets, passport expenses, and airport fees. This estimated budget includes hotels, land transport, food, and other miscellaneous. But what are these miscellaneous? Below are common expenses you must consider in order to avoid overspending on your trip. Make sure to plan your whole itinerary properly in order to find a spot where you have to put out your wallet.

Common Travel Costs to Consider

Dining

Of course, it is important to always have money for eating expenses. For those who want to save money, they go for authentic street food. Depending on where you are, they are usually easy to find. One can spend $1 to $5 on a meal when traveling to cheap countries, while those countries with a higher standard of living, an average meal may cost anywhere between $5 and $30 or even more.

dining table

Exchange Rates and Bank Fees

When going to another country, you, of course, have to exchange currency, and with every exchange transactions, there are fees apply. When using a credit card and withdrawing money from the ATM, you have to remember that there are also fees that will be deducted.

Entrance Fees and Tour Costs

What is a vacation without having to experience some of the activities? Make sure to make plans on what you want to do and what it will cost you.

Land Transports

As soon as you exit from the airport, you will have to ride a public transport. So, make sure that you have enough money for it.

transport

Other Fees

You must have money for miscellaneous expenses. From buying sunblock to buying souvenirs, it is very important to have extra money with you all the time. There are also emergency expenses that may come up like buying medicine or beer for you to be able to easily meet people.

But really, how much does it cost to travel the world?

To tell you honestly, I cannot give you an exact number and it is pretty obvious why.

As said earlier, it depends on your lifestyle and your travel preference. It’s not easy to make a sensible approximation. So, let's take a look at how much money some of the known people who have completed this journey spent.

journey

Graham Hughes from Britain
Graham Hughes holds the Guinness World Record for traveling the world without riding a single airplane. He explored the world by train, cars, ships, and by foot. Traveling for over four years and 31 days, the whole thing cost him $36,000.

Chris Guillebeau from America
Taking advantage of the ability to travel about 160 countries without having to apply for a visa, he traveled the world for eleven years and spent $150,000 in the process.

Kashi Samaddar from India
Another Guinness Book of Records holder, Kashi Samaddar who refused to accept citizenship from Australia and Canada to prove that an Indian passport-holder can travel the whole world traveled for six years, 10 months, and 7 days. To make it possible, he spent $532,000. He is titled to be the first man to travel all countries in the world.

Cassie De Pecol from America
Not only she is the first woman to do it, she also did it for the shortest time. She only did it for only one year, 4 months, and 26 days. Visiting a total of 193 sovereign nations including Kosovo, Taiwan, and Palestine, she funded her trip through endorsements and sponsorships. She spent a total of $198,000 during her trip.

Is it worth it?

Of course, it is! The experience you will get is always worth more than the money you’ll ever spend. Many people spend their time to work to earn money but most of them forget how to live their lives and experience things. Traveling is always worth it. But then again, it is always important to know how you can set your priorities straight.

maldives

You can always travel and experience thing but also save money at the same time. In my opinion, there’s no need to ask how much does it cost to travel the world, as it quality is always better quantity. You can always see all countries in the world, but you don’t have to do it in a rush manner. Anyway, you have your entire life to do it. Just enjoy and experience what life truly offers.

So, what do you think of this? Do you think you can afford traveling the world? share your thoughts in the comment box below!

Rating: 4.6 (5 votes)

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Alice Ross, a long-term traveler who left the corporate world to travel the world. I chose to live life on my own phase and live day by day while immersing myself in new experiences, new knowledge, and new people in a different walk of life I met along the way.

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