Cost schedule

For those who are planning to visit Southamerica, we put together a cost schedule to give you an overview of the estimated expenses.

We spent about 7500 US-$ per person in 4 months excluding the flight which was another 2000 US-$ from Graz (Austria) via Frankfurt (Germany) to Buenos Aires (Argentina) including insurance.

The following considerations must be taken into account:

• We had only one intercontinental flight
• we took the more comfortable (Cama) busses whenever possible (saving potential: 30-40 %)
• we chose more often than not doubles with private bathroom (saving potential: 30-50 %)
• we almost never did the cooking but ate at restaurants (saving potential: 60-80%)
• we almost never went out so this cost schedule does not include party expenses.

This page gives an overview of how much we spent. If you scroll down, you will find cost schedules of the specific countries

All data provided in following tables refers to the total expenses (=two persons). On the pages of the respective country, the expenses are indicated per person.

"cooking?": self-prepared meals per day (when we did not eat out!)

"other": souvenirs, postcards, water, sweets, Internet, laundry, pharmacy, cafe, tips;

There are huge differences in prices between Patagonia and the northwest of Argentina (about 20-40% cheaper). The currency is the Peso(AR$). One US-$ is at the moment (2009) 3,85 AR$.

You have to include the following in your calculations:

- tips

- water

- sweets

- souvenirs

- breakfast (if not included - always ask!)

- laundry

- postcards and stamps

The brasilian cities on the Atlantic coast are almost as expensive as Austria. One US-$ is about 1,77 Brasilian Reals (BRL)

In Chile there is again a difference between north and south. It is more expensive south of the capital Santiago. In the North and in the captial the prices were surprisingly reasonable

The currency is theChilean peso (CLP), one US-$ is about 550 CLP.

Prices in Peru are usually very low, with one exception: the popular tourist destination Cusco. Only the Cama busses are expensive in relation to the average consumer prices.

The currency is the Peruvian nuevo sol (PEN), one US-$ is about 2,9 PEN.

Prices in Ecuador are really low, official currency is the US-$. Be careful, there is a lot of counterfeit money in circulation! If plan to stay longer, buy a "detector pen".

Prices in Bolivia are low as well. Only the tourist destinations like Uyuni or the upper-class districts of La Paz are a bit more expensive.

Currency is the Boliviano (BOB), one US-$ is about 7 BOB (Note, there are fluctuations in exchange rates!)