What is the cost of living the dream

[kiwial]

We are in the early stages of planning our big trip around Aussie. What does it cost to be on the road per week roughly. I know some things will very in regard to fuel cost but what about general living costs, camp fees etc,

Cheers

Kiwial

[brianwanless]

As a very rough guide, if you keep moving and only spend a night or two in each place, see most of the attractions that you have to pay to enter. Enjoy a beer and good food, if you allow a dollar per kilometer, you should have a bit left for emergencies.
A lot of people will disagree with this and say they can travel for X dollars per day or week, and they can, but if you are going through $100 fuel per day, plus food, parks, sight seeing, etc.
It dont take long to get to $1 a K.

[WogsRus]

ive budgeted on 1K a week, and that will just cover it.

[ldsparrow]

We have been trying to work through a budget and our calc is around $1,200 per week, that includes meals, accommodation, tyres, servicing and fuel at an average of $2.40 per litre which is high but wanted to do worst case. We have no idea how accurate that will be but hopefully it is a guide for us. We also spent an afternoon with James and Lorna who spent 3 years traveling around and they budgeted $1,000 per week but said it was closer to $1,200.

[Moto Mech]

ive budgeted on 1K a week, and that will just cover it.

We usually work on $1000/week but try to have some in reserve for emergancies. We camp out 99% of the time, drive slowly, have our own shower so only stop at parks if there is no choice in that area. We dont go to many "paying" attractions as we find enough free stuff to see. Oh and we dont drink or smoke.

[Lowndsey]

Expensive old hobby isn't it. Or way of life some might say.

[WogsRus]

yeah your probably right with the 1200 mark.

we are looking at staying at a park every second stop so we can do washing and so forth. We have about 8K spare as play money when we are away, the 1k just covers travel costs.

[NewcastleKnight]

Oh and we dont drink or smoke.

Ok, well I will have to increase my budget...no smoking but love my beer....

[Kit_e_kat9]

Rather expensive from the above posts.  Fuel and food being the major expense on the road, and the usual bills at home still need to be paid ... travelling or not.

Kit_e

[outback jack]

Ok, well I will have to increase my budget...no smoking but love my beer....

X 2 

[Moto Mech]

Well, for us its a way of life. We sold our house 3yrs ago and do not intend in the near future to buy another. We want the option if we want to go away again(moved to Kununurra for 12mths in 06) we can plus instead of making house payments, we put it away and try to go touring every two years for three months. Yes, we pay rent but thats pretty much it.
We are expecting diesel to cost an extra $1000 this trip(maybe more) but oh well, we're not about to sit home and sulk over it.
Sometimes you just have to DO IT.

[GU Rich]

There is the "Hidden" expenses of your bills that still need to be paid whilst your on the road. We spent an AV of around$870 or so a week while on our trip. We set a budget of $1k.

There is great thread on here that was done a while ago covering this topic. I have done a search but can't find it.

Like Nick, Moto Mech mentioned Just do it!! We saved for 5 years for our trip and it was awesome!!

Rich

[time]

As a very rough guide, if you keep moving and only spend a night or two in each place, see most of the attractions that you have to pay to enter. Enjoy a beer and good food, if you allow a dollar per kilometer, you should have a bit left for emergencies.
A lot of people will disagree with this and say they can travel for X dollars per day or week, and they can, but if you are going through $100 fuel per day, plus food, parks, sight seeing, etc.
It dont take long to get to $1 a K.

Got to say that that is about what it costs us (2 adults) for our longer trips.  We eat well and drink well, don't scrimp on staying in Caravan parks when they are available, and with a budget of $1 per kilometer aren't "shocked" when we add up the final trip costs.

[Gunna Do]

Try these threads, one of them may be the one you're after.

Travelling Costs
or
Dreaming of a lap of Oz !!!

[Tassie devils]

We traveled oz in 2005 with a 3 and 5 year olds,sold my business and house so no commitments we planed a year trip and traveled for 8 months we spent around $20,000 had a fantastic time the kids still talk about our trip now. We tried home schooling for 2 months and it was an absolute nightmare. The kids just kept a journal which worked well.

[WogsRus]

Sorry my 1K estimate is just the money for camping, the money for housy stuff, loans ect are covered elsewhere.

[Maîneÿ . . .]

My understandings on travelling costs differ to those below

average fuel consumption based on; 18 Lt per 100 Klm @ $1.70 Lt

5O,OOO Klm = $15,3OO = $294 per week for one year, which is a hell of a long trip for just 12 months, 96O Klm per week.
( I think it's about 12,500 Klm round Aussie - I've added sight seeing and extra trips to everywhere else too )

The price of food will be a bit higher, say 30% more than you pay now.

Accommodation will be the $$ killer with caravan parks charging about $3O a night = $1O,8OO or $2O7 week

So far is about $5OO week, then you have to factor into the equation that you definitely will not be able to stay in caravan parks every evening, particularly in WA & NT, because they, like the towns are so far apart, and the free camping areas are everywhere anyway

I've travelled for many years in the Far North and I can assure you I never spent more than $400 a week because I stopped on deserted beaches to break the monotony of driving  :'(

[Manjimike]

For those travelling as a lifestyle (lets say over 12mths), do you supplement your funds by working the 'Harvest trail' or other forms of employment?
I'm just considering from comments above, that two pensions may not be enough even when we own our own home  :'(

 
Mike

[WogsRus]

well i guess for me not a problem, mechanical engineer and drafter so plenty fo work. Wife is a nurse specielising in three field, no problems there.

Worse come to worse, you can always sell yourself, although i would be lucky to get 50C for me.

[Manjimike]

Worse come to worse, you can always sell yourself, although i would be lucky to get 50C for me.

I would owe money 

I can turn my hand to anything and a hard worker so expect not to have a problem

[Maîneÿ . . .]

well i guess for me not a problem, mechanical engineer and drafter so plenty fo work.
Wife is a nurse specielising in three field, no problems there.

Many if not most of the jobs available are Manual Labour ( thought he was a Mexican ) or short term, labourer intensive
 

[Manjimike]

Many if not most of the jobs available are Manual Labour ( thought he was a Mexican ) or short term, labourer intensive
 

I'm self employed re-stumping houses - can't get much more manual labour than that 

 
Mike

[MC 031]

This is quite an interesting thread, thank you.

[Maîneÿ . . .]

This is quite an interesting thread, thank you.

I love the blue print, so easy on the eye 

[kiwial]

Thanks everyone for the replies, we are renting so if we use the current rent to pay for the camp fees and we have to eat no matter where you are, then the fuel and maintainence costs are the real cost of the dream. we both will need to work otherwise the big trip will just be a lap around and not a try experience of what we are looking for i guess.

Cheers

kiwial