Costs
Overlanding comes with its share of expenses, and when budgeting for a global trip, one needs to consider a multitude of costs—ranging from general daily and monthly expenses to the initial costs of entering a continent. Here’s an overview of our current costs for North America, encompassing both of us and our Land Rover Defender. Please note that these figures exclude any expenses incurred during the preparations for our journey, such as acquiring and enhancing our Land Rover Defender and purchasing the gear we’ve brought along. Further details about these preparation costs can be found on the Budgeting and Preparation Costs page.
Living costs
Table 1: Average daily living costs
The table above outlines the average daily living costs, encompassing expenses for food/drinks (including restaurants and take-out), campgrounds/hotels (covering costs for showers and laundromats), and transportation costs (fuel and public transport usage). Notably, these costs include our stays in New York, Washington, and Baltimore before commencing our journey with the Defender.
It’s important to note that we consistently aim to travel on a budget. This entails shopping at affordable supermarkets like Aldi or Walmart and avoiding dining in restaurants due to the high prices in the USA and Canada. We prioritize wild camping whenever feasible, not only because it’s cost-free but for various other reasons. Additionally, we minimize expenditures on paid tourist activities and excursions. It’s worth mentioning that the daily fuel costs increase with the number of kilometers driven each day. North America is likely the most expensive continent we’ll traverse, so we hope to encounter lower figures as we continue our journey southward.
Monthly costs
Table 2: Average monthly cost
The table above provides an overview of our average monthly costs incurred in North America, encompassing detailed living costs outlined in Table 1.
Fortunately, our vehicle didn’t encounter any major issues or breakdowns. As a result, car maintenance costs predominantly cover routine tasks such as oil changes, fluid top-ups, new and spare filters, tire repairs, and various winter-proofing measures in Alaska. These included renewing glow plugs, the car battery, installing a thermosyphon coolant heating system, attaching heating pads on the oil pan and beneath the battery, and integrating a diesel heater for cabin warmth. Additionally, new tools were acquired for necessary maintenance such as a Bottle Jack, and a replacement Air Compressor was obtained when needed. We’ve come to understand that allocating both costs and time for vehicle maintenance is crucial, even in the absence of breakdowns.
The “Equipment” section in Table 2 comprises various items not initially brought with us but found to be highly useful. Examples include bear spray, bear-proof storage solutions, mosquito netting, jerrycans, and waterproofing materials for the rooftop tent, among other smaller items. The cumulative costs of these additions can be significant.
Other substantial monthly expenses include insurance fees, internet costs, and subscriptions (e.g. Spotify, VPN, etc.), further detailed in the Travel Insurance, Car Insurance, and Connectivity sections.
When combining all these costs, including living expenses, our monthly average totals €1908 (~ €65 per day).
Other costs
There are additional costs associated with bringing both ourselves and the Defender into North America, which have not been factored into the monthly expenses.
Table 3: Other costs