Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ing increasingly expensive by the day. It's relatively easy to keep costs below $25 USD per day in the less
developed countries and $45 per day in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.
There's a big divide in the continent along prices. You'll be hard-pressed to eat for less than $20 USD
per day in Argentina, while on the other hand you'll be hard-pressed to spend more than $20 USD per week
on local food in Peru.
Moreover, you should budget a little more if you plan on doing a lot of activities. While the Galápagos
Islands and Machu Picchu will spike your expenses, the low price of everything else can help you maintain
a daily average, especially if your food is costing less than $10 USD per day,
Given the low cost of local food and accommodation, if you stay in a cheap hostel, eat set meals at local
restaurants, shop around for affordable tours, and negotiate local transportation, you'll average $25-30 USD
per day easily without any luxuries. If you choose to fly around more, or stay longer in Brazil or Argentina,
you should plan on $45 USD as a daily average.
Travel in South America, like travel in Europe, is about balancing expensive countries versus inexpens-
ive countries. If your whole trip is in Chile, Brazil, and Argentina, taking tours and drinking a lot, you'll
spend more than $50 USD per day. But if you balance out these countries with the more inexpensive ones,
you'll drop your average way below that. South America may not be the bargain that Central America is,
but it's still a cheap region of the world for travelers.
