When I decided to travel for 2 1/2 months, it was important to make sure that I was cognizant of the money I was spending. Solo travel also comes at a higher cost since there’s no one to split expenses with, especially when it comes to lodging. Below you will find a full breakdown of every expense, broken into individual categories.
While this is a fully accurate breakdown based on my credit card statements, there are a few things to keep in mind:
I booked my roundtrip flight and a couple Airbnb reservations with credit card points. I had over 100,000 points saved on my Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card which helped cover almost $1500.
Everything is categorized based on my credit card statements. I was unable to categorize anything I purchased with cash since I didn’t track cash spending. This means that costs are slightly higher for certain categories and in places like Positano, restaurant spending is higher than listed. For reference, I used ATMs in Rome, Positano, Venice, Berlin, and Monte Carlo.
I paid premium costs for nice Airbnbs. This trip could be done much cheaper with tighter budgeting, more hostels, and less restaurants. However, I was able to afford nicer places and outings so I went for it.
There were specific items that caused spikes in spending. One example was the PSG vs. Real Madrid game in Paris, which accounted for approximately 1/3 of my Paris spending. Miscellaneous costs in Rome like my hair appointment and tattoo were additional contributors.
Unfortunately, I had to pay rent during this entire trip which added an additional $2100+ each month to my expenses. I didn’t track my LA rent in these graphs, but for anyone wanting to duplicate my trip, this is a huge cost to be aware of. I probably could have sublet my apartment, but I didn’t want a stranger staying in my space.
The only cost I was able to cut was Wi-Fi, which I suspended before I left. It only saved me $55 each month, but every bit counts.
Excluding rent, this trip was only slightly above my average monthly expenses. Travel does not need to be expensive and you CAN have a great trip without spending tens of thousands of dollars.
Total Cost Of The Trip
January 6-March 17
Rome, Italy
January 6-13, March 7-17
Positano, Italy
January 13-18
Venice, Italy
January 18-24
Rovinj, Croatia
January 24-27
Vienna, Austria
January 27-February 3
Berlin, Germany
February 3-9
Amsterdam, Netherlands
February 9-15
Paris, France
February 15-21
Monte Carlo, Monaco
February 21-26
Milan and Como, Italy
February 26-March 2
Florence and Pisa, Italy
March 2-7
I’d like to end this post by expressing my gratitude for the life that I lead. I recognize that I’m extremely privileged but I also see the hard work I’ve put in over the past few years to be able to embark on any adventure that I desire. This trip was fully paid for by me. I didn’t take a single PTO day. I worked every evening and made sure that I was living my best life while sticking to my responsibilities at work.
If you have any questions about solo travel, budgeting, or just a general question about my trip, please feel free to reach out.