Backpacking In South America: Cost Of Travel Overview (2016)

Travel costs vary from near-western prices in Brazil to rock-bottom prices in Bolivia

South America cost of travel

The Salt Flats of Uyuni in Bolivia

South America is an amazing continent to travel on a budget, though you would be wrong to assume that every country in South America is cheap! 2016 has seen weakening currency in some countries (particularly Colombia and Brazil), though in some cases prices have also risen to match.

The least expensive countries are Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, each attracting large numbers of budget travellers, followed by Colombia which is more or less mid-priced. Countries like Brazil, Chile and Argentina are relatively more expensive, sometimes approaching Western prices.

If you’re travelling across South America, a good rule of thumb is that you’ll need about $1000 a month, though this depends greatly on which countries you’ll spend most of your time.

This cost overview is based on notes from my own travels as well as up-to-date research. The hostel bed average is based on analysis of listed prices on hostel booking sites.

Of course not everyone will sleep in dorm beds: as a rule of thumb, double this value and you’ll roughly know the cost of a basic private room in a hostel, guesthouse, or small independent hotel, possibly with a shared bathroom. Triple or quadruple the hostel bed cost and you’ll have a ballpark estimate for a mid-range hotel room.

A note about budget estimates: everything obviously depends on your travel style and specific activities. Stay in rural village in Bolivia only to volunteer, and you could spend as little as $15 a day — but that’s not a typical scenario. This post assumes an average budget travel style, not ultimate shoestring travel, though your mileage may always vary.

Local currencies in this post are converted to EUR and USD automatically based on today’s exchange rate. For other currencies, you can check rates at XE.com.

Country Suggested Daily Budget
Colombia $35 – $50
Ecuador $25 – $35
Peru $35 – $50
Bolivia $20 – $35
Argentina $40 – $70 (see notes)
Chile $50 – $70
Brazil $40 – $60

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Colombia

Hostel bed average: 31,500 pesos ($11 / €9)
Daily backpacker budget: $35 to $50 (€29 to 41)

Colombia backpacking guide »

Colombia is mid-range by South American standards — not the cheapest destination but certainly not the most expensive either. The falling value of the peso also makes it cheaper for foreign tourists than it was just a few years ago.

The priciest location in Colombia is the beautiful and historic colonial city of Cartagena, as it is the most touristy place in the country. Beyond this, there are some expected price differences between the cities like Bogota or Medellin and the countryside.

Activities are quite affordable by Western standards. For example, a paragliding session in San Gil costs 60,000 pesos  ($21 or €18) for a short flight and 170,000 pesos ($60 or €50) for a longer one. An hour-long private salsa dancing lesson in Medellin costs around 50,000 pesos. Museum entry is often free or only a couple of thousand pesos.

Your biggest expense might be the 5 or 6 day Ciudad Perdida trek near Santa Marta, if this will be part of your itinerary. The price is standardized at 700,000 pesos  ($249 or €204) regardless of which trekking company you choose. While it’s a bigger one-off expense, you also won’t have to pay for food or accommodation for almost a week.

Colombia is twice the size of France and bus travel is moderately expensive, so if you will be moving around the country a lot then this will add to your expenses. Viva Colombia is the main budget airline and often has special offers that could work out as good value. For more, read my Colombia budget travel guide.

 

 

Ecuador

Hostel bed average: $12 (or €10)
Daily backpacker budget: $25 to $35 (€21 – 29) not including Galapagos

Ecuador has a fairly low cost of living. It is astonishingly diverse and interesting but it’s also a relatively small and compact country, which reduces the need to spend on long-distance transportation the way you will in neighbouring countries.

Activities are pretty cheap here. For example, a round trip on the stunning Devil’s Nose train will cost $30 (€25). Hiking trips to volcanoes and mountains usually start at around $40 (€33), with bigger groups getting better rates.

In terms of accommodation there are ample cheap private rooms to be found in Ecuador, and often the price difference between a dorm bed and a basic private is minimal. Basic private rooms cost between $10 and $15.

The one thing that can really tip the scale is visiting the Galapagos Islands. This is comparatively expensive as for a visit to these islands you should budget at least $1000 per person (€821), though probably a bit more.

Note: Ecuador uses the US Dollar as its official currency.

 

 

Peru

Hostel bed average: 36 soles ($11 / €9)
Daily backpacker budget: $35 to $50 (€29 to 41)

Peru backpacking guide »

Peru can be very affordable with a lot of great value accommodation and food in the amazing places that every backpacker wants to visit; Cusco, Lima, Nazca, Lake Titicaca etc.

Your biggest expense is likely to be a Machu Picchu Inca Trail trek. This will set you back at least $400 (the price is almost always quoted in US dollars) if you book in Cusco and potentially a lot more if you arrange it elsewhere. It is worth bearing in mind that the pricier agencies may offer better food and a more comfortable camping experience. Also, many backpackers view $400 as being a good price for seeing one of the world’s most incredible sights on a multi-day trek. The Inca Trail trek is limited to 500 persons per day and needs to be booked well ahead of time; alternatives such as the Salkantay Trek are cheaper and/or easier to arrange.

Bus travel is not only quite affordable but can be very comfortable as well. Travelling by bus from Lima to Arequipa for instance costs around 247 soles ($76 or €63) for a ‘full cama’ (full reclining luxury seat) and around 176 soles ($54 or €45) for a regular 2nd class ticket.

Many of the costs in Peru will be far higher if you book online while abroad. For example, a short flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines could cost you 530 soles ($164 or €134) if you book it from abroad but well under 350 soles if you do so in Nazca.

You should bear in mind that the overall cost of travelling in Peru can be high due to the cost of the main attractions, which some travellers visit in very quick succession. A short loop around Lima, Nazca, Cusco and Machu Picchu is likely to cost you more than the same amount of time spent in neighbouring countries. However, it makes for an incredible experience with a lot of fascinating culture in a short period of time. The daily backpacker budget listed above assumes a tight itinerary hitting up all the major attractions. You can, however, spend much less on average if you’re slow-travelling through Peru and including more local experiences. For more, read my Peru budget travel guide.

 

 

Bolivia

Hostel bed average: 98 bolivianos ($14 / €12)
Daily backpacker budget: $20 to $35 (€16 to 29)

Bolivia backpacking guide »

Bolivia is the ultimate cheapie of South America. Although the country’s recent economic progress has seen some prices and the standard of living rise, there are still bargains to be found in food and accommodation. You can go for the very basic approach and make your money stretch a long way, or else pay a little bit more on the higher quality restaurants and hotels that are springing in the most touristy places.

Bolivia tends to offer the lowest prices for accommodation and the cheapest options for food and drink as well, especially in poorer places like Potosi.  Bolivia is not always the most comfortable country, though; cities like La Paz and Potosi are rugged and dreary, with the threat of protest marches and blocked roads almost always present.

There are certain tourist activities that you will need to take into account. For example, a popular activity is to ride a mountain bike down the so-called ‘Death Road’ near La Paz, which costs from around 300 bolivianos to maybe 700 bolivianos ($101 or €83) depending on the company and the quality of the bikes. Some of the cheaper companies use old bikes that are probably best avoided on such a demanding and dangerous downhill ride.

A 3-day tour of the Salt Flats of Uyuni costs from roughly 700 bolivianos to maybe 850 bolivianos ($123 or €101), which is a steal for the incredible experience you’ll get. Take a 3-day tour instead of the shorter 1- or 2-day offerings if you can, as it will be well worth it.

Like Peru it can be cold high up in the Andes… but it’s definitely cheap. Overall, it is an adventurous traveller’s paradise at knock-down prices as long as you don’t mind roughing it at times. For more, read my Bolivia budget travel guide.

 

 

Argentina

Hostel bed average: 200 pesos ($10 / €8)
Daily backpacker budget: $40 to $70 (€33 to 57)

Argentina has been undergoing some serious economic turmoil for quite some time now. Stability still appears frustratingly out of reach for this massive country, but the truth is that foreign travelers can get a bargain trip due to these difficulties. The country can be expensive or inexpensive depending on how and when you change your money.

The infrastructure in Argentina is first class and in the past 1 peso was worth 1 dollar, making it one of the continent’s most expensive destinations. Now, the peso has dropped through the floor, meaning that you can get up to around 14 pesos for 1 dollar. Inflation is rife but as long as the peso stays so low it is still cheap to travel in style here. For example, the food here is probably the among the best you will find anywhere but an excellent 2 or 3 course set lunch in a good restaurant should set you back no more than maybe 40 pesos to 80 pesos ($4 or €3).

The country’s policies on foreign exchange rates has varied recently, so be sure to check the up to date information before travelling. It used to be that the “grey” rate for dollars was far better than the official one but at the time of writing it is pretty much the same. However, ATMs here don’t always seem to give you a great exchange rate, so taking cash could still be a good move.

Buenos Aires is a bit more expensive whereas outer cities like Salta and Mendoza are cheaper. Overland travellers beware: distances in Argentina are huge and long bus rides are not uncommon, so be sure to factor bus travel into your budget. For instance, a long trip from Buenos Aires up to Salta will take you the best part of a day and cost you at least 1400 pesos ($69 / €57). The good news is that the long, flat roads here mean that you can choose a comfortable overnight bus and save on your hotel bill without too many worries.

Entry to the Iguazu Park costs some 260 pesos ($13 / €11) on the Argentine side and you get up far closer than on the Brazilian side (although it is really best to see it from both points of view if you can).

Travelling in Argentina is probably the closest that South America offers to the experience of travelling in Europe. Provided that you are smart about how you get hold of your pesos you will see a magnificent country in comfort for a bargain price. While Argentina costs more in absolute terms than some other countries, it also offers some of the best value for money on the continent.

The higher end of my daily backpacker budget assumes you will cover many regions of Argentina, rather than focusing only on one or two areas.

 

Chile

Hostel bed average: 12,000 pesos ($20 / €16)
Daily backpacker budget: $50 to $70 (€41 to 57) (not including Easter Island)

Chile is the country that most often surprises people. It’s often thought of as a developing country yet a traveller will find that parts of it are very modern and not very cheap at all. If you are on a tight budget, consider cooking your own food rather than eating out.

Transportation can be a major cost especially if going down all the way to Patagonia, in which case flying could be a tempting option. If you make it down to the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park then the current entrance fee is some 18,000 pesos ($30 or €24), which you need to pay for in cash. Camping is relatively cheap here but the size of the park means that you are likely to need to pay to hop on a bus, boat or horse at some point.

The poorer north of the country is usually cheaper than the south, but overall it is a country where you will want to keep a close eye on your spending. The Uyuni Salt Flats tour can be started in San Pedro de Atacama, taking you across the border into Bolivia. A 3 day tour should set you back from 90,000 pesos to 140,000 pesos ($232 / €190).

One place where you will find it impossible to travel on a tiny budget is Easter Island. This wonderfully enigmatic island with its incredible stone moai is officially part of Chile but is very far from the mainland. At the time of writing, only LAN fly there and you will be paying anywhere between 21,000 pesos and 80,000 pesos ($133 / €109). Once you are there, you will be doing very well indeed if you manage to keep your daily living costs under 35,000 pesos ($58 / €48).

 

 

Brazil

Hostel bed average: 47 reais ($13 / €11)
Daily backpacker budget: $40 to $60 (€33 to 49) (not including Easter Island)

From the dirt poor favelas to the high-rise offices of Rio, Brazil is clearly a country of contrasts and has one of the highest levels of social inequality anywhere on the planet. However, make no mistake; prices in Brazil are close to ‘Western’ prices and you should budget accordingly.

While the north of Brazil (for example around Manaus) is a good deal cheaper, most backpackers follow a trail in the south, either looping back to Rio or Sao Paulo to go home or else crossing the border into Paraguay or Argentina to seek out new adventures. Accommodation and food costs are usually higher in Brazil than elsewhere in South America.

Budget sufficiently for sightseeing as well. A cable car trip up to Sugarloaf Mountain to see the bay of Rio de Janeiro costs 71 reais ($20 or €17), which would almost be a day’s budget in Bolivia. Access to the Iguacu Falls park costs about 52.50 reais ($15 or €12). This is well worth it of course, especially if you aren’t going to see the Argentine side.

Those on a bigger regional backpacking trip tend to keep up a decent pace in Brazil in order to keep costs down, but then take it easy in one of its neighboring countries.

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Paraguay & Uruguay

In brief: prices in Paraguay are very low and you should be able to get by on a backpacker budget of up to $30/day. Uruguay is very expensive; use Brazil’s prices as a rough reference. The trendy resorts on the Uruguayan Atlantic coast – such as Punta del Este and José Ignacio – are gorgeous but the prices are eye-wateringly high. These places are aimed at the local and international celebrities who vacation there, not backpackers on a tight budget.

Venezuela

First ask yourself if you really want to go to Venezuela right now, as it’s experiencing a lot of political and economic upheaval. Inflation is rife, certain products become unexpectedly unavailable, and crime is a real issue, making Venezuela far from a mainstream travel destination currently. That said, at the time of writing Venezuela can be mind-bogglingly inexpensive if you bring in hard Western currency and exchange it on the grey market. Some travellers report spending under $10 a day. The situation in Venezuela is highly changeable however.

Guyana, French Guyana, Suriname

As these countries are the least-visited in South America and completely off the backpacker radar, I will cover them only briefly. All of them are on the expensive end of the scale, with French Guyana being possibly the most expensive on the whole continent (as it is part of France and Euro is its official currency). Budget travel is on the whole more difficult in these countries as there is not much of a backpacker infrastructure, which means having to stay in more expensive hotels more often, or having to use taxis where no public transportation is available. Friends of mine travelled these three countries on a budget by mostly sleeping in hammocks, though this was not always possible and some € 50 / night hotels had to be included as well.

 

Further reading on budget travel

Other posts relevant to South America

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66 comments

  1. Dan Reply March 25, 2018 at 11:41 pm

    Thanks for the tips! I’ve found most of this information to be spot on my travels through South America

  2. Sara Luma Moreno Cassemiro Reply February 17, 2018 at 6:56 pm

    I’ve just saved your guide as my husband and I are planning to travel around South America for three months. I am Brazilian but definitely need to know the neighbours better! Thank you or taking your time to put this together!
    We are recently start to write about our experiences and it would be amazing to get few tips from you, check out our just born blog: https://thekcouple.com/

    • Marek Reply February 18, 2018 at 3:22 pm

      Thanks for the kind words Sara. Your blog is looking good! 🙂

  3. James demidoff Reply November 22, 2017 at 2:09 am

    as a hitchhiking and camping backpacker the rankings get distorted. Pretty much free in Argentina and Chile, Peru and Bolivia not as easy to hitch or camp but prices stupidly cheap…Cusco dorms with breakfast as of Nov 2017 @ 5$ a night. Brazil is challenging requiring patience and perseverance.

  4. Hollie Davies Reply November 6, 2017 at 8:40 am

    Hello,
    At the start you say that the average monthly cost is $1000, however when you add up the daily budgets of each countries the monthly cost comes out around $1300-$2000 a month?????
    Also is all travel and activities included in any of the budgets??
    Thank you!

    • Marek Reply November 6, 2017 at 10:19 pm

      Oops, good point. I meant to write ‘at minimum’ instead of average. Yes transport and activities is included in those budgets, though keeping in mind that’s travelling in backpacker style (local buses, local food, only occasional cheap local tours, etc.). Your mileage may vary… 🙂

  5. John Reply September 6, 2017 at 6:30 pm

    I noticed no mention of visa expenses in countries like Bolivia or Brazil?

    • Marek Reply September 7, 2017 at 10:45 am

      Yes it’s definitely something to keep in mind. I haven’t listed these costs though as they can be totally different depending on your nationality. Americans tend to have to pay a lot for example, EU citizens usually get in for free… it all depends.

  6. Kendra Reply September 5, 2017 at 12:04 am

    This article was BEYOND helpful! Thank you so much for all the details and time you have taken to give accurate recommendations!

  7. Patryk Reply August 26, 2017 at 5:48 am

    Hi Marek,
    I would like to take an excursion to Latín América as well next year 2018. If you have nothing against It would be great to create some team. What do you think about it, regards

  8. Carrie Reply July 3, 2017 at 11:58 pm

    This is very helpful! How did you get information about the best way to deal with money in Argentina?

    • Marek Reply July 4, 2017 at 3:29 pm

      Honestly the situation with Argentina changes quite a bit. I learned most info from hostel staff and other travellers as I got nearer.

  9. marco Reply June 20, 2017 at 10:29 pm

    good post. Keep it up

  10. Karina Reply June 9, 2017 at 10:56 pm

    Chile is way off ( I know it is from 2016 ) but even your conversion from pesos to dollar is wrong 18.000 pesos is more like $27 than $3, unless you calculate in some other currency. And today for foreigners it is 21.000 pesos
    While living here for 5 months, the cheapest tickets for Easter Island i found was $325, so ( unfortunally ) not even close to the $121 – i wished though. But your calculation for daily living when arrived seems accurate.

    • Marek Reply June 12, 2017 at 5:51 pm

      Hey Karina – thanks for sharing this. The automatic conversion plugin I use on this page seems to have put the decimal in the wrong place for that 18.000 pesos! I’ve corrected it to say it’s about $30 (not $3).

  11. Alice Reply May 28, 2017 at 10:40 pm

    So helpful!!! Thanks !!

  12. malcolm Reply May 17, 2017 at 10:47 am

    Hey Marek,
    just stumbled upon your blog, and to say i am super excited is an understatement. I am considering a backpacker across south/central America or southeast Asia. I have noticed most of the comments here are by ‘gringos’ and generally most backpackers are. I am wondering if it’s safe for a negorito as well? (No disrespect intended)

    • Marek Reply May 17, 2017 at 11:56 am

      Great question, though I’m not sure if or how it might affects things to be honest. Either being a gringo puts you in a kind of bubble, or being a gringo makes you way more of a target – you could picture this working both ways. I don’t know if race or racism is a factor… most Central American countries for instance have both hispanic and black populations (esp on the Atlantic coasts). I imagine that safety is more about your behaviour and whether you take unnecessary risks though. I’ll hazard a guess and say it’s safe whoever you are as long as you travel sensibly.

  13. Haz Reply May 10, 2017 at 3:58 pm

    The Argentinian prices are way off by now, it is not a cheap country to travel anymore. Right now for example empanadas are 12-25 pesos, Big Mac Combo is 120 pesos, Restaurants start around 150 pesos, and a pizza is 160-200 pesos. 80 pesos for a pint of beer. A semi-cama bus from Cordoba to Buenos Aires is 780 pesos.

    Pretty much, due to inflation whatever prices you research will be wrong by the time you arrive

    • Marek Reply May 11, 2017 at 9:31 am

      The Argentinian economy is notoriously volatile. Thanks for the update – I really need to do a revision of this post!

      • Martina Reply June 11, 2017 at 12:39 pm

        (update) Entrance to Iguazú National Park is now 260 pesos for Argentine citizens, 400 pesos for citizens of Mercosur countries (Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, etc) and 500 pesos for all other foreign visitors. A bus from Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú is at around 1800 pesos. Depending on when you are travelling and when you book, airfare could be cheaper than that (specially in the low season).

        • Marek Reply June 12, 2017 at 5:47 pm

          Thanks for sharing this!

  14. Vivian Reply May 7, 2017 at 2:43 am

    Hi Marek
    I’m planning visit Ecuador, you have a guide from there?

    • Marek Reply May 7, 2017 at 10:41 am

      Sadly I’ve yet to visit Ecuador. It’s high on the list for when I return!

  15. Anita @haihuistory.com Reply April 28, 2017 at 10:53 am

    This is really great! We’re planning a 3-4 months trip next year to South America, and were looking for a realistic budget estimation. So this will help us a lot, thanks so much !!!:) Will save your article for further analysis:)) Cheers!

  16. Campbell Reply October 15, 2016 at 6:49 am

    Hi Marek, we traveled through Latin America for 13 months. I thought you might find my overview of South America interesting.
    We spent $3881 in 275 days (over 8 months) so an average budget of $14.11 each per day.
    We traveled all South American countries on a tight budget, it is very possible. The cost of travel in each country is not only dependent on price. Some examples; Chile is an expensive, but safe country that is very camping and hitchhike friendly and it is possible to hike independent. In contrast Bolivia is a cheap country, but crime can be a problem and activities are expensive. Consequently we spent more per day in Bolivia than Chile.
    Safe Travels
    http://stingynomads.com/south-america-travel-budget/

    • Marek Reply October 17, 2016 at 8:34 pm

      That’s a fantastic post and I’m sure many reading this will find it valuable! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

  17. Ryan Reply September 27, 2016 at 4:33 am

    Hey Marek,

    Great write-up, will be helpful as I leave Argentina and head to other countries down here. One thing I’ll say is I haven’t found any sort of 2 or 3 course meal in Buenos Aires that’s anywhere close to the prices you have listed. Inflation is the real deal here.

    • Marek Reply September 27, 2016 at 9:42 am

      Thanks for sharing that info Ryan. This post was last updated half a year ago but things change so fast in Argentina! Will need to take a fresh look at all the prices sometime soon.

  18. GWolf Reply September 13, 2016 at 10:26 pm

    I think you got it wrong for salsa private classes in Medellin..or Cartagena…if its a studio, its about 150 000 pesos…way off bro! lol

  19. Andrew Reply July 24, 2016 at 11:26 am

    Your post was very enlightening! I had no idea that there could be so much of a difference between the traveling costs within South America. This does change my plans a little bit!

    Andrew
    http://www.andestransit.com/

  20. Jess Reply July 22, 2016 at 6:50 pm

    Thanks for the post! Were you including hostel prices in the daily budget or is that separate?

    • Marek Reply July 23, 2016 at 1:26 pm

      Daily budget includes food, accommodation (hostel bed or cheap shared room), transportation, and normal travel costs (like local tours etc.)

  21. shiran Reply June 11, 2016 at 8:15 pm

    Hi thanks for such an awesome article! I am planning my own backpacking trip now and was planning on starting Oct/Nov for 6 months. Do you have any suggestions on a route in the best weather conditions (as I’d like to travel lightly)? I like taking my time and definitely want to include Machu Picchu and other adventures. My start date is flexible and I’d like to make the most of every country. Thank you!

    • Marek Reply June 12, 2016 at 1:11 pm

      In that case you could consider starting in Argentina or Chile as it’ll be spring around that time there. As you go north you’ll get closer to the equator which means the climate gets more consistent with less extreme seasonal differences. It’s rainy season in Peru from Jan-Apr though which isn’t the best for trekking, so you could try to get there around late Apr or May. As always though being everywhere at the ‘perfect’ time is often impossible on a bigger trip. 🙂

  22. Piotr Kulczycki Reply May 30, 2016 at 12:32 pm

    Thanks for sharing your reviews! Your articles are great. Cheers!

  23. Helen Reply May 9, 2016 at 1:53 pm

    Hi there, currently travelling around Argentina. So far we have found it to be quite expensive, 16ARS to 1 Euro seems like a good deal but then the ARS prices are going up and up! For example, it is now 330ARS per person to enter Iguazu Falls from the Argentina side (boat trips are extra). It is also 20ARS per person “city tax” just to enter Puerto Iguazu City (its more like a town). As of May 2016, a bus to Puerto Iguazu from the airport is 90ARS per person, one way. It is 65ARS per person one way to the Falls by bus from Puerto Iguazu. We found Ushuaia (Beagle Channel&Tierra del Fuego) , El Calafate (Perito Moreno&Upsala Glaciers) and Buenos Aires to be the same, but what kind of a trip would it be if you didnt go to these amazing sites!:-)

  24. Gearoid McSweeney Reply April 30, 2016 at 1:48 pm

    ‘There are certain tourist activities that you will need to take into account. For example, a popular activity is to ride a mountain bike down the so-called ‘Death Road’ near La Paz, which costs from around 300 bolivianos (USD$2030100.00) to maybe 700 bolivianos (USD$4736900.00) depending on the company and the quality of the bikes. Some of the cheaper companies use old bikes that are probably best avoided on such a demanding and dangerous downhill ride.’

    I love the article, but these USD prices are surely an error. I was in Bolivia last year and I’m sure I paid a little less…

    • Marek Reply April 30, 2016 at 4:55 pm

      Hmm, the prices are converted automatically by a plugin, which is clearly malfunctioning at the moment. Will look into it!

  25. Miriam Reply March 16, 2016 at 1:40 pm

    Great write-up, Marek! When I visited Peru and Bolivia, the biggest expense was definitely the tours I joined. Food, accommodation and transportation weren’t overwhelmingly expensive, but some of the activities like the Inca Trail… so pricey!
    Miriam recently posted…Winter wonderland in DenmarkMy Profile

  26. Shobhit Choudhary Reply February 12, 2016 at 7:28 am

    Hey Marek,

    I was in South America in July last year and I think you should maybe revise the map now? Argentina is getting so expensive(Inflation rate was almost 30-35% for two consecutive years).
    So $$ for Brazil
    And may be $$$$ for Argentina.

    For Argentina it’s advisable to carry $ in cash. One can get almost double the money in grey market. I got an exchange rate of 8 pesos from the bank and 14 pesos in the grey market!
    Shobhit Choudhary recently posted…You’re Never Really Alone When You Travel SoloMy Profile

    • Marek Reply February 12, 2016 at 11:12 am

      Hey Shobhit. This post is probably due for a bit of an update in general, though I’m waiting for the dust to settle a bit to see where currencies stabilise. Brazil and Colombia have become cheaper and Argentina more expensive. ‘$$$$’ seems too extreme though… you can still get a dorm bed in Buenos Aires for $12-$15, for instance. (Unless I’ve missed other costs having gone up?)

      The grey/blue rate is sadly no longer applicable in Argentina as of Dec 2015. Since the government lifted currency controls the grey market rate and official rate synced up.

      • Shobhit Choudhary Reply February 12, 2016 at 11:28 am

        Hey Marek, I read about it in the news sometime ago. But I have couple of friends in BA. They said it’s still possible! Poor governance may be ?!
        Transportation and food costs have gone up beyond measure. Wine is cheaper than bread though. lol

        Just checked a bust trip from BA to Puerto Iguazu costs like 1400 pesos. It was 1100 pesos in July2015. But they gave me a discount of roughly 22% when I bought the ticket at counter in cash.

        Anyway you have put great information here(I did use this page as reference during my travel)
        Do update it soon, it’s the first in google search results. Cheers!
        Shobhit Choudhary recently posted…You’re Never Really Alone When You Travel SoloMy Profile

        • Marek Reply February 12, 2016 at 11:41 am

          Argentina and Brazil probably need to switch places on that map (so to speak)! Thanks for pointing it out of course, I want the site to be as up-to-date as possible 🙂

        • Marek Reply February 26, 2016 at 1:47 pm

          This post now been revised fully. Thanks for your feedback! 🙂

        • Conor Reply June 16, 2016 at 9:31 pm

          Hey, I’m probably being dumb here but are you including the accommodation in the daily costs?

          • Marek June 16, 2016 at 10:46 pm

            Yes I am! I should probably specify that more clearly. All daily costs (accommodation/transportation/food/etc.) included, but not any one-off pre-trip expenses (like flights, travel insurance, etc.)

  27. sanike Reply January 29, 2016 at 3:07 am

    I am in Venezuela now, I am staying at Posada guamamchi in merida, I pay 3 us everyday, in all everyday I spend 6 us. Cheapest country in the world. And very nice and beautiful people. I love venezuela

  28. Agnes Reply January 12, 2016 at 6:26 pm

    Hi Marek!
    I’m planning my first female solo trip to south and central America in October.
    I have 4 to 5 months and will be on backpacker budget.Where would you start and what countries would you visit and what countries in your opinion are less atractive/not too safe for girls?(I’m having in mind 2 weeks per country-with some flexibility obviously!)
    Any advice,itirenary suggestions would be much appreciated.Thank you
    Happy travels!
    Ps.I’ll be flying from London.I’ve heard flights to Mexico,Panama are quite cheap to start with..

  29. Campbell Reply January 8, 2016 at 10:41 pm

    Hi Marek,
    interesting post, me and my girlfriend have been traveling through Latin America for about 10 months, we are budget backpackers and so far our average budget is below $20 per day each, including all costs. Some of your estimates looked ok, but we found Colombia cheap and amazing, we even did rafting and paragliding on our budget! Our average budget for a month in Venezuela was $6 each per day. We are currently in Chile and because it is expensive we decided to hitchhike and Couchsurf, the people here are so friendly and amazing, we have only been here for 3 weeks, but our avg budget up to now is just below $12 per day each! Where we went, what we did and how much we spent can be seen on our blog stingynomads.com
    Thanks and safe travels!

    • nicole Reply January 12, 2016 at 4:34 pm

      The Colombian peso plummeted in 2015. It lost 40 % of its value. So if you travel Colombia right now is a bargain if you come from a country with euros or usd. I am planning to go to Chile later this year so it is really refreshing to hear Chile can be done on a budget!

  30. talia Reply January 6, 2016 at 2:49 am

    just doubling checking the prices you listed were in US dollars?

    • Marek Reply January 6, 2016 at 3:39 pm

      Yep, USD.

  31. Andrew Graham Reply December 31, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    Hey Marek,
    I’m currently in the process of planning my first two week backpacking adventure to South American. I’m considering Peru or Bolivia. Do you have any suggestions for routes or “must see’s” in either of these countries? Also, I’ll be going solo.

    Thank you in advance.

    • Marek Reply January 2, 2016 at 11:22 am

      I’d stick to the south of Peru only as this combines well with Bolivia. Most people going on this kind of trip want to see Machu Picchu and the Uyuni salt flats. To save time it might be worth taking a domestic flight from Lima (assuming this is where you land) to Cusco. From there you could go to Arequipa, lake Titicaca, La Paz, maybe Sucre and then Uyuni.

  32. ike Reply December 27, 2015 at 12:52 am

    Thanks for the article. Do the daily backpacker budgets include the hostel cost?

    • Marek Reply December 27, 2015 at 10:52 am

      I should have made that more clear; it’s meant to cover all daily expenses including the hostel cost.

  33. Mark Reply November 22, 2015 at 12:16 am

    I’m just about to leave Venezuela after two exceptionally amazing months!
    I planned on 4 weeks, but just couldn’t fit everything in… and I’m still leaving having missed out on a few adventures.

    Black market exchange rate is currently 760 to 800Bvs to £1.00…. 80 times the official bank rate, and almost 4 times the Venezuelan exchange bank rates…. I have spent $300 in two months. I have Couchsurfed and made great friends. I have been on fantastic tours and excursions, including paragliding for for £10.00!!! Unbelievable!

    Keep posting, love the website.

    Mark.
    http://www.facebook.com/markboydphotography
    Mark recently posted…The Big City of Caracas!My Profile

    • ike Reply December 28, 2015 at 2:45 am

      thank you mate!

      • Marek Reply January 11, 2016 at 11:10 am

        Thanks for sharing your great guide. I think many people will be amazed you spent just $6 a day each!

    • Kelly Reply May 20, 2016 at 12:01 pm

      Hi Mark,
      You talk about exchanging on the Black market… can you tell me a bit more about this as I am travelling to Argentina at the end of May and have no clue how to access the ‘Black Market’.
      Thanks 🙂

    • Mark Boyd Reply May 10, 2017 at 8:51 am

      Make friends with locals, the blue market in Argentina isn’t quite as extraordinary as the black market in Venezuela. Speak with locals you’ll soon find out how to access the blue market rate. Make sure you’re carrying US dollars.

      • Erik Reply September 27, 2017 at 12:58 pm

        Hmm… Isn’t the blue market (Blue exchange rate) in Arg pretty much over, to this date? (other than, er, some 3% variance)

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