Finances

This page contains an overview of our EXPENSES BY COUNTRY. All overland travel and expenses are listed in the tables below. Visa and flight costs are listed at the bottom of the page and are not factored into our daily averages.

China (12/10/2006 to 20/12/2006)

Category	Total Amount Spent (RMB, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (RMB, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	4 360, 652, 558, 423	26%	63, 9, 8, 7
Food & Drinks	3 888, 582, 498, 377	24%	56, 8, 7, 5
Accommodation	3 580, 536, 459, 347	22%	52, 8, 7, 5
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	2 445, 366, 313, 237	15%	35, 5, 5, 3
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	788, 118, 101, 76	5%	11, 2, 1, 1
Internet	478, 71, 61, 46	3%	7, 1, 1, 1
City transport	511, 76, 65, 50	3%	7, 1, 1, 1
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	342, 51, 44, 33	2%	5, 1, 1, 1
Total	16 392, 2 452, 2 100, 1 591		238, 36, 30, 23

Note: Currency conversion from Yuan on 31/12/2006, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 69 DAYS were spent in China.



Laos (12/10/2006 to 10/01/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (KIP, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (KIP, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	1 076 000, 125, 107, 82	19%	51 238, 6, 5, 4
Food & Drinks	1 038 000, 120, 103, 79	19%	49 429, 6, 5, 4
Accommodation	590 000, 69, 58, 45	11%	28 095, 3, 3, 2
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	2 053 000, 238, 203, 157	37%	97 762, 11, 10, 7
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	264 000, 31, 26, 20	5%	12 571, 1, 1, 1
Internet	450 000, 52, 45, 34	8%	21 429, 2, 2, 2
City transport	46000, 5, 5, 4	1%	2 190, 0, 0, 0
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	30 000, 3, 3, 2	less than 1%	1 429, 0, 0, 0
Total	5 547 000, 645, 549, 423		264 143, 31, 26, 20

Note: Currency conversion from kip on /01/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 21 DAYS were spent in Laos.



Vietnam (10/01/2007 to 12/02/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (VND, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (VND, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	2 730 000, 200, 170, 129	18%	82 727, 6, 5, 4
Food & Drinks	3 536 000, 260, 220, 167	23%	107 151, 8, 7, 5
Accommodation	2 263 000, 146, 123, 107	15%	68 576, 4, 4, 3
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	3 477 000, 255, 216, 164	22%	105 363, 8, 7, 5
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	1 987 000, 145, 123, 93	13%	60 212, 4, 4, 3
Internet	453 000, 33, 28, 21	3%	13 727, 1, 1, 1
City transport	591 000, 43, 37, 28	4%	17 909, 1, 1, 1
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	367 000, 27, 23, 17	2%	11 121, 1, 1, 1
Total	15 404 000, 1 131, 960, 728		466 787, 34, 29, 22

Note: Currency conversion from dong on 04/02/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 33 DAYS were spent in Vietnam.



Cambodia (12/02/2007 to 28/02/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (KHR, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (KHR, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	275 000, 81, 69, 52	11%	17 187, 5, 4, 3
Food & Drinks	636 000, 188, 159, 121	26%	39 750, 12, 10, 8
Accommodation	373 000, 110, 93, 71	15%	23 312, 7, 6, 4
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	751 500, 222, 188, 143	30%	46 937, 14, 12, 9
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	181 500, 54, 45, 35	13%	11 344, 3, 3, 2
Internet	95 000, 28, 24, 18	4%	5 938, 2, 2, 1
City transport	150 000, 44, 38, 28	6%	9 375, 3, 2, 2
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	18 000, 5, 5, 3	0%	1 124, 0, 0, 0
Total	2 480 000, 732, 622, 472		466 787, 46, 39, 30

Note: Currency conversion from Dong on 08/03/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 16 DAYS were spent in Cambodia.



Thailand (only Bangkok) (28/02/2007 to 11/03/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (THB, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (THB, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	414, 14, 12, 9	3%	38, 1, 1, 1
Food & Drinks	3 474, 118, 105, 78	27%	316, 11, 10, 7
Accommodation	2 200, 74, 66, 49	17%	200, 7, 6, 4
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	780, 26, 24, 18	6%	71, 2, 2, 2
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	1 936, 66, 58, 44	15%	176, 6, 5, 4
Internet	2 035, 69, 61, 46	16%	185, 6, 6, 4
City transport	1 034, 35, 31, 23	8%	94, 3, 3, 2
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	1 091, 37, 33, 24	8%	99, 3, 3, 2
Total	12 964, 446, 397, 293		1 179, 41, 36, 27

Note: Currency conversion from Bahts on 24/04/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 11 DAYS were spent in Bangkok, Thailand.



Nepal (25/05/2007 to 8/06/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (NPR, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (NPR, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	3 280, 54, 50, 38	14%	234, 4, 4, 3
Food & Drinks	8 012, 131, 123, 93	33%	572, 9, 9, 7
Accommodation	2 250, 37, 35, 26	9%	160, 3, 3, 2
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	2 369, 39, 36, 27	10%	169, 3, 3, 2
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	5 490, 90, 84, 63	23%	392, 6, 6, 5
Internet	1 060, 17, 16, 12	4%	75, 1, 1, 1
City transport	421, 7, 6, 5	2%	30, 1, 1, 1
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	1 284, 21, 20, 15	5%	92, 2, 2, 1
Total	24 175, 396, 372, 279		1 726, 28, 27, 20

Note: Currency conversion from Nepali rupees on 15/06/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 14 DAYS.



India (11/03/2007 to 25/05/2007) and (25/05/2007 to 20/06/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (INR, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (INR, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	14 611, 382, 259, 265	17%	168, 4, 4, 3
Food & Drinks	29 440, 769, 722, 534	31%	338, 9, 8, 6
Accommodation	12 528, 327, 307, 227	13%	144, 4, 3, 2
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	10 019, 262, 246, 182	11%	115, 3, 3, 2
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	15 690, 410, 385, 285	17%	180, 5, 4, 3
Internet	7 086, 185, 174, 129	8%	81, 2, 1, 1
City transport	2 305, 60, 57, 42	2%	26, 1, 1, 1
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	3 240, 85, 80, 59	3%	37, 1, 1, 1
Total	94 919, 2 480, 2 329, 1 723		1 091, 28, 27, 20

Note: Currency conversion from Indian rupees on 15/06/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 87 DAYS. The amount spent also includes two one-way plane tickets from Leh to Delhi.



Pakistan (20/06/2007 to 11/07/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (PKR, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (PKR, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	8 620, 150, 143, 103	27%	410, 7, 7, 5
Food & Drinks	9 135, 159, 151, 109	28%	435, 8, 7, 5
Accommodation	5 330, 93, 88, 64	17%	254, 4, 4, 3
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	1 888, 25, 23, 17	4%	90, 2, 1, 1
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	4 006, 70, 66, 48	12%	191, 3, 3, 1
Internet	895, 16, 15, 11	3%	43, 1, 1, 1
City transport	1 200, 21, 20, 14	4%	57, 1, 1, 1
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	1 090, 19, 18, 13	3%	52, 1, 1, 1
Total	32 166, 561, 532, 385		1 532, 27, 25, 18

Note: Currency conversion from Pakistani rupees on 06/08/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 21 DAYS. The amount spent also includes 8$ (US) for the northern areas national park.



China (only Kashgar) (11/07/2007 to 18/07/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (RMB, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (RMB, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	875, 122, 116, 84	41%	125, 17, 17, 12
Food & Drinks	337, 47, 44, 32	16%	48, 7, 7, 5
Accommodation	420, 59, 56, 40	20%	60, 8, 8, 6
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	20, 3, 33, 2	1%	3, 1, 1, 1
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	309, 43, 41, 30	14%	44, 6, 6, 4
Internet	151, 21, 20, 14	7%	22, 3, 3, 2
City transport	8, 1, 1, 1	0%	1, 0, 0, 0
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	26, 4, 3, 2	1%	4, 1, 1, 0
Total	2 145, 299, 284, 205		306, 43, 41, 29

Note: Currency conversion from Yuan on 06/08/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 7 DAYS. The amount spent also includes 80$ (US) for the taxi up to the top of Torugart pass.



Kyrgyzstan (18/07/2007 to 13/08/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (KGS, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (KGS, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	9 185, 258, 243, 180	29%	353, 10, 9, 7
Food & Drinks	8 587, 241, 228, 168	27%	330, 9, 9, 6
Accommodation	7 505, 211, 199, 147	24%	289, 8, 8, 6
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	570, 16, 15, 11	2%	22, 1, 1, 1
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	2 598, 73, 69, 51	8%	100, 3, 3, 2
Internet	1 881, 53, 50, 37	6%	72, 2, 2, 1
City transport	477, 13, 13, 9	1%	18, 1, 1, 1
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	1 060, 30, 28, 21	3%	41, 1, 1, 1
Total	31 863, 895, 844, 625		1226, 34, 32, 24

Note: Currency conversion from Som on 06/08/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 26 DAYS. The amount spent also includes 60$ (US) for the taxi down from the top of Torugart pass.



Tajikistan (13/08/2007 to 4/09/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (TJS, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (TJS, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	1 611, 466, 468, 329	49%	73, 21, 21, 15
Food & Drinks	559, 162, 162, 114	17%	25, 7, 7, 5
Accommodation	827, 239, 239, 169	25%	38, 11, 11, 8
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	56, 16, 16, 11	1%	3, 1, 1, 1
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	113, 33, 33, 23	3%	5, 1, 1, 1
Internet	117, 34, 34, 24	4%	5, 1, 1, 1
City transport	32, 9, 9, 7	1%	1, 0, 0, 0
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	6, 2, 2, 1	0%	1, 0, 0, 0
Total	3 321, 960, 963, 677		151, 44, 44, 31

Note: Currency conversion from Somoni on 29/09/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 22 DAYS.



Uzbekistan (4/09/2007 to 22/09/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (UZS, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (UZS, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	169 000, 132, 133, 93	21%	9 400, 7, 7, 5
Food & Drinks	193 000, 151, 152, 107	25%	11 000, 8, 8, 6
Accommodation	205 000, 161, 162, 113	26%	11 000, 9, 9, 6
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	91 000, 71, 72, 50	12%	2 000, 1, 1, 1
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	26 000, 20, 20, 14	3%	2 000, 1, 1, 1
Internet	32 000, 25, 25, 18	4%	2 000, 1, 1, 1
City transport	50 000, 39, 40, 28	6%	3 000, 2, 2, 2
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	22 000, 17, 17, 12	3%	1 000, 1, 1, 1
Total	788 000, 617, 619, 436		44 000, 34, 34, 24

Note: Currency conversion from Som on 29/09/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 18 DAYS.



China (4/09/2007 to 3/12/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (RMB, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (RMB, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	7 951, 1 089, 1 077, 748	36%	110, 15, 15, 10
Food & Drinks	4 054, 555, 549, 381	18%	56, 8, 8, 5
Accommodation	3 425, 470, 465, 323	15%	48, 7, 7, 4
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	2 961, 405, 401, 279	13%	41, 6, 6, 4
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	2 348, 322, 318, 221	11%	33, 4, 4, 3
Internet	845, 116, 114, 80	4%	12, 2, 2, 1
City transport	542, 74, 74, 51	2%	8, 1, 1, 1
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	248, 34, 34, 23	1%	3, 0, 0, 0
Total	22 384, 3 064, 3 032, 2 106		311, 43, 42, 29

Note: Currency conversion from RMB on 18/12/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 72 DAYS. We traveled all the way from Urumqi to Hong Kong and did some loops, hence a huge transport cost. Also Emilie's father was with us for a month so cost are not representative of our usual budget.



Macau and Hong Kong (3/12/2007 to 10/12/2007)

Category	Total Amount Spent (HKD, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (HKD, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	280, 36, 36, 25	10%	35, 5, 5, 3
Food & Drinks	967, 125, 124, 86	34%	121, 16, 15, 11
Accommodation	760, 98, 97, 68	27%	95, 12, 12, 9
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	66, 9, 9, 6	2%	8, 1, 1, 1
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	551, 71, 71, 49	20%	69, 9, 9, 6
Internet	45, 6, 6, 4	2%	6, 1, 1, 1
City transport	104, 13, 13, 9	4%	13, 2, 2, 1
Supplies (clothes, toilet paper, laundry, soap, ...)	42, 5, 5, 4	1%	5, 1, 1, 1
Total	2 815, 383, 360, 251		351, 48, 45, 31

Note: Currency conversion from HKD on 18/12/2007, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 8 DAYS.



Bolivia (31/07/2008 to 20/08/2008)

Category	Total Amount Spent (BOB, CAD, US, EUR)	% of Money Spent	Average Per Day (BOB, CAD, US, EUR)
Transportation (long distance)	590, 104, 84, 62	9%	28, 5, 4, 3
Food & Drinks	1 517, 268, 216, 159	24%	72, 13, 10, 8
Accommodation	1 293, 229, 184, 136	20%	62, 11, 9, 6
Tourist activities (admission, guides, tours, ...)	1 740, 308, 248, 183	27%	83, 15, 12, 9
Other (souvenirs, mail, ...)	1 152, 204, 164, 121	18%	55, 10, 8, 6
City transport	115, 20, 16, 12	2%	5, 1, 1, 1
Total	6 407, 1 133, 913, 672		305, 54, 43, 32

Note: Currency conversion from BOB on 21/03/2009, the amount spent is for two travellers, for a total of 21 DAYS.



Other Expenses
August 2006:
Plane tickets (Toronto - Shanghai, one-way): 830$ each
September 2006
Chinese visa (3-month): 50$ each
Vietnamese visa (3-month, multiple entry): 192$ each
December 2006
Lao visa (1-month): 390 Yuan (RMB) each (obtained in Kunming/Yuannan/China) note: cheaper for all other nationalities
January 2007
Cambodian visa (1-month): 380 000 Dong (VND) each (obtained in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)/Vietnam)
March 2007
Indian visa (6-month): 2100 Baht (THB) each (obtained in Bangkok/Thailand) note: same for 1 month up to 6 months
Flight from Bangkok to Kolkota: 6575 Baht (THB) each (by Jet Airways India)
May 2007
Pakistan visa (1-month): 78$ (USD) each (obtained in Kathmandu/Nepal) note: also needed a letter of introduction from the Canadian consulate which cost 50$ (CDN)
China visa (2-month, 2-entry): 52$ (USD) each (obtained in Kathmandu/Nepal)
June 2007
Tajikistan visa (1-month): 78$ (USD) each (obtained in Delhi/India) note: included a GBAO permit for the Pamir region
Kyrgyzstan visa (1-month): 1660 rupees (INR) each (obtained in Delhi/India)
July 2007
Uzbekistan visa (1-month): 72$ (USD) each (obtained in Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan) note: plus 35$ each for a letter of invitation (LOI) through Stantours
Kazakhstan visa (1-month): 35$ (USD) each (obtained in Bishkek/Kyrgyzstan)
September 2007
Flight from Tashkent to Urumqi: 208$ (USD) each (by Uzbekistan Airways)
Flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver: 389$ (CAD) each (by Oasis Hong Kong)
Flight from Vancouver to Ottawa: 285$ (CAD) each (by Uzbekistan Air Canada)
August 2008
Flight from Montreal to La Paz and flight from Lima to Montreal: 1250$ (CAD) each (by US Airways)
Bus from La Paz to Lima: 55$ (US) each