6 Months on the Road: Our Detailed Travel Budget Breakdown Across the US, Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala
October 30th marked our six-month travel anniversary. While we'll share our travel highlights and reflections on our 200-day milestone later, now's the perfect time to break down our expenses so far—total spend, category breakdowns, and average daily costs per country. Dani meticulously tracks every expense to the last centavo, converting to British Pounds (our earning currency), US Dollars, and local rates daily for hotels, buses, and treats alike.
Note: These daily averages guide future travelers and nomads. As working digital nomads, we're not on a strict budget. Our costs exceed typical backpackers but align with Latin American nomads, including occasional splurges.
Expenses in the U.S.
Leaving London for Las Vegas on April 30, we underestimated U.S. costs despite the strong pound. It was our priciest stop: $8,333 / £5,530.60 over 70 days, including London-Las Vegas and L.A.-Mexico flights, plus a two-month Enterprise rental. Excluding flights and car, daily spend was $4,628 / £3,071.60, or ~$1,356 / £900 per person monthly.
Transportation: Chevy Aveo rental: $1,700 / £1,128 (incl. $560 insurance), averaging $28.33 / £18.80 daily. Essential for Southwest exploration, Pacific Coast Highway, and 5,200 miles driven—gas and parking added up.
Accommodation: Beyond hotel reviews and housesits, costs surprised us without hostels. Motels: $29–$39 / £18–25; city centers: $69+. Big Sur tent cabin: $119; Chinle Holiday Inn: $109. Avg. per night (shared): $45 / £29.
Tip: U.S. deals abound online (booking.com, lastminute.com) vs. Latin America. Rare on-site negotiations worked too.
Food: Roadside diners/fast food: ~$25/meal for two. Housesits: $100/week groceries. Shoestring LA/SF via housesits and friends.
Avg. per person daily (incl. car): $45 / £30.
Mexico
Spend dropped in Mexico: $3,622.26 / £2,367.78 over 88 days.
Accommodation: Hostels/budget hotels. Cheapest: $12 / £8 (La Candelaria, Valladolid); priciest: $35 / £23 (Posada Ziga, Mazunte). Avg. per night (shared): $21 / £15.
Food: Dinner: $12 / £8; breakfast: $10.50 / £6.90 for two. Street food dominated—delicious and cheap.
Culture: Ruins: $3.95 / £2.55/person (Chichen Itza: $14 / £9).
Transportation: Buses comfy but costly: $8.50–$31 / £5–21/person. Avg.: $10 / £6.70/person.
Avg. per person daily: $20.58 / £13.45.
Belize
Belize exceeded expectations (Lonely Planet: $40–$60/day). Skippable for budgets; see our Belize on a shoestring tips here.
Accommodation: Basic private rooms: $22.50 / £14.20 avg. double.
Transportation: Chicken buses cheap ($3.50 / £2.21 cross-country). Caye boats: $10 / £6.32; golf carts: $35 / £22.10/day.
Food: Restaurant meals (incl. beers): $20 / £12.60 for two. Limited street food.
Adventure: Snorkeling: $20–$40/person; ATM cave: $65. Total fun: $348 / £200.
Avg. per person daily: $54 / £34.10.
Guatemala
Relief after Belize.
Accommodation: $18.43 / £11.65/night double incl. breakfast.
Transportation: Chicken buses: $4 / £2.55 long-haul; nicer overnight: $29.50 / £19.50/person.
Food: Restaurant: $10 / £6.60 for two; street cheaper (though we preferred restaurants).
Tikal: $66 / £42 for two (shuttle, guide, entry).
Avg. per person daily: $27.50 / £17.58 (incl. Dengue/Giardia meds).
Total 6-Month Budget
$14,720 / £9,646 for two, incl. flights/transport, 70 U.S. days. Per person: $7,360 / £4,823.
Expect lower next half: fewer flights, more housesits, South America. Share your budgets below—how do we compare? Tips for deals in US/Central/South America welcome!
