Traveling full time and working as a freelance writer, photographer, content creator, and doing some other side quests comes with a lot of expenses.
Traveling on a budget is extremely possible. Budgeting on accommodation through hostels, cooking to save on food, taking local transport, and so many other steps allow travel to be a very budget friendly activity. But behind the scenes of that, especially as a digital nomad, there are monthly and yearly expenses that for me are essentials, and they add to the unexpected budget you need to put together.
As someone who has been doing this full time for nearly two years, I have a lot of experience with what to have, what to prepare, and what costs are truly non negotiable. I’ve broken down all of my pre travel expenses and my yearly and monthly expenses that you might not think about before going on a backpacking trip.
So if you’re a backpacker, aspiring digital nomad, or just curious about the real costs of this lifestyle outside of accommodation, transport, and food, here it is.
Starting with Pre Trip Costs
Vaccinations
First off is vaccinations.
As an American, these costs are typically higher than they are in Europe or other countries. We pay a lot more and get a lot less covered by insurance since these are not considered essentials for the average person.
Before traveling, I covered my bases and received these vaccinations:
– Updated tetanus which was the only one covered by insurance
– Updated polio
– Typhoid
– Japanese encephalitis which required two rounds
– Rabies which required two rounds
– Yellow fever
The total cost of all of these vaccinations was over 3000 USD.
Some of these require boosters after a couple of years to stay truly effective, which is something to think about long term.
These were essential costs for me because I travel to off the beaten path places, places with a lot of stray animals, and places with heavy mosquito presence. Another medication I had prescribed and paid for was malaria pills when I traveled to high risk malaria zones.
Although for some this might seem excessive, using proper vaccinations is sometimes mandatory to enter a country and can be life saving.
International Driver’s License
Another pre trip cost was getting my international driver’s license.
This was easy to obtain but cost around 75 USD. This was essential because when renting a car or motorbike in certain countries, it is required by the agency or required by insurance.
If you got into a motorbike accident and tried to file a claim, your insurance would most likely not help you if you do not have an international license.
For me, I would rather spend the 75 on the license than risk having to spend thousands later on medical care or bike repairs that insurance will not cover.
Unlocked Phone
Another pre trip expense as an American with an iPhone was buying a phone outright or paying off my phone to have it unlocked by my carrier so that I could use eSIMs in other countries.
My phone is not compatible with physical SIM cards, so this was necessary.
Again, this depends on your phone plan and your home country, but for me this was another 1000 USD out of pocket to buy a phone that was unlocked instead of using my phone plan upgrade, which would not allow for eSIM usage.
For me, those were the biggest and most important pre trip expenses. All very essential now that I understand the ins and outs of long term travel.
Monthly and Yearly Expenses as a Digital Nomad
Next is the monthly and yearly expenses as a traveler and also as a freelance worker who relies on online tools to do my job.
VPN 99.99 USD per year
First off is a VPN.
This is used for a couple of different things. First, to protect your information from being hacked or stolen when constantly using different WiFi networks, especially public ones.
It is important to keep your data safe not only for personal security but also for work.
This also allows me to use certain apps or websites in countries where they are blocked. Whether it is apps like TikTok which is banned in many places, or streaming services for entertainment, it has come in handy so many times.
It helps me feel safe and secure on the road while also allowing me to enjoy small comforts from home.
Canva 119 USD per year
Next is Canva, which is an amazing editing and design platform.
This allows me to access premium features that help improve my portfolio and media kit for content creation and collaborations. It also helps me create content for my personal brand and stay consistent with trends and aesthetics.
This is super useful for anyone working in creative fields or marketing who wants to grow their brand and reach a wider audience.
Travel Insurance 56 USD per month
Next up is one of the most important and essential expenses that I cannot stress enough.
So many people travel without insurance to save money and then karma hits later.
Having travel insurance is so important because it can save you thousands of dollars. You are bound to get sick, injured, or face unexpected situations while traveling long term.
Travel insurance helps reimburse you for these situations.
I have personally used my insurance for medical situations and it has never failed me. It is easy to use, straightforward, and works in almost every country.
I use SafetyWing digital nomad insurance which costs 56 USD per month. You can also add extra coverage for higher risk activities for about 10 dollars more per month.
For me, this is essential and completely non negotiable.
Internet eSIM 58 USD per month
Next up is internet.
Having internet as a digital nomad is a necessity, but also for any traveler for safety reasons.
Being able to call an Uber, check Google Maps, access bookings, or stay in touch with people back home is essential.
Everything is on our phones now, including hotel bookings, train tickets, and reservations.
Roaming data through American phone plans is expensive and unreliable, so I switched to a digital eSIM through Holafly. I pay 58 USD per month for unlimited data in over 160 countries.
This makes everything simple and reliable. I never run out of data and never arrive in a country without service.
This is essential for my safety, my work, and my overall well being.
iCloud Storage 10 USD per month
Next is storage.
As a photographer and content creator, this is a necessity, but honestly even the average traveler needs it.
We all know how quickly photos and videos fill up your phone.
I pay for 2TB of iCloud storage for 10 USD per month so I can keep all of my content backed up and not stress about running out of space.
Lightroom 49 USD per year
Next is Lightroom, specifically for photo editing.
As a photographer, editing is just as important as taking the photo itself. The premium version of Lightroom is a game changer if you really want to elevate your content.
I have been using it for years and it is a key part of my workflow.
Website Domains 96 USD each per year
Next is my websites.
I have two websites, both on WordPress. In order to keep them running, store content, and access features, you need to pay for a domain and hosting.
Each of my websites costs 96 USD per year.
There are different plans depending on your needs, ranging anywhere from 50 to 500 dollars per year, but this is essential for me to continue writing, sharing content, and working with my audience and publishers.
Google Drive Storage 2 USD per month
Lastly is another form of storage.
For one of my projects, I upload weekly 10 to 15 minute videos to a shared Google Drive. These files take up a lot of space.
To keep this running smoothly, I pay 2 USD per month for 100GB of storage.
This is essential for me to maintain that project.
So What Does It All Add Up To
Pre trip expenses plus monthly and yearly costs come out to around 5800 USD for the first year.
On a yearly basis, just including recurring monthly and yearly expenses, it comes out to about 1739 USD.
These are the costs that are useful, essential, and for the most part non negotiable for me as a full time traveler and digital nomad.
Final Thoughts
Traveling full time can be very budget friendly on the surface, but there are so many hidden costs that people do not talk about.
These are the things that keep you safe, keep you working, and keep your lifestyle sustainable.
For me, these are not optional. They are investments in my safety, my career, and my ability to continue living this lifestyle long term.
So if you are planning to travel full time, make sure you budget for these types of expenses, plan ahead, and understand what you actually need to maintain this life.
Because staying safe, staying connected, and staying able to work is what truly makes this lifestyle possible.
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