Every month, I post a report of our expenses to show that it is possible to live a comfortable, exciting, and adventurous life without breaking the bank. The less money you spend, the less you need to make. 🙂
This report includes ALL of our expenses, in US$, for two adults and one 60-pound dog (we adopted Maya on June 4th, 2019). Under groceries we incorporate food, produce, and non-alcoholic drinks predominantly bought in supermarkets. Toiletries belong in that category as well. Dining out means eating at a restaurant/event or purchasing take-out food. The health category covers non-prescription medicines and vitamins/supplements; medical contains prescription drugs and doctor’s visits. Because of our income level, Mark and I are eligible for free health care within the state of Massachusetts. For check-ups and extensive care, we return to the US East Coast.
My goal was to write and publish this expense report a week ago. But a large, multiple-day translation assignment arrived in my inbox, which was followed by a few days of driving and sightseeing, as our time in Ecuador is quickly coming to an end. And just like that, it’s Friday again!
In June, the first ten days were spent exploring Northern Ecuador a bit more with our truck camper Thirsty Bella. Mark flew to the US for 2.5 weeks and then joined Maya and me in Ibarra to conclude the month at our friend Graham’s place. This time around, Thirsty Bella was parked for over three weeks on Graham’s driveway. Add our five-day initial visit to his family in May, and for one out of our three months in Ecuador, we lived in Ibarra!
Our biggest expense last month was the car. We filled our F350 pickup truck up with gasoline a couple of times in Ecuador and Mark did the same for his mom’s car in Massachusetts. There were toll roads here but most of the parking money went to a Dana Farber parking garage in Boston, when Mark dealt with health check-ups.
Another chunk of money went to maintenance of our truck, which is not that high all things considered, because we did all the work ourselves. Once Mark returned to Ecuador, we used Graham’s driveway to replace the 25-pound (11.5kg) front wheel bearing hub on the passenger side (which my husband brought back from the US in his carry-on luggage!) and check the brakes, including disassembling them and lubricating the parts. We planned to replace the rear brakes, but it wasn’t necessary yet.
Believe it or not, but $55 of those $113 that went to car stuff was spent on a frivolity item that Mark had his eyes on for many months… He bought a “moo horn” for our Thirsty Bella.
Mark installed this button of our “moo horn” on the dash, so we can both reach it.
Now, with the push of a button, she sounds like a cow as well, delivering even more smiles in the villages we pass through.
Our groceries for June cost less than $200, due to me not buying much for just one person and Mark’s mom covering the food bill in the US. Our dining out category was relatively high – we splurged on a few meals in Mindo, Ecuador, and enjoyed taking our friends out for some food as a thank you.
Our annual Chase credit card fee was payable last month, so that was a one-time expense, as well as the high amount for transportation. This $95 covered Mark’s two-hour transfers to and from Quito airport, his train trips to and from Boston airport, a couple of taxi rides to Ecuador’s capital from the spot where we left our camper, a bus ride for me to Yahuarcotcha Lake and one to the border with Colombia in a failed attempt to return on my Belgian passport, and two cab rides to Ipiales for me to go shopping at my favorite Colombian grocery store, the D1.
The alcohol expense was average, I think; when we hang out with friends, we tend to drink more than when it’s just the two of us. Mark bought SD cards for two new security cameras, two pairs of shorts, wiring for the camper, and bandages for Maya while he was in the US. He also went out for drinks with friends one night. Internet was cheap, because we could use Graham and Amalia’s WiFi network for free when camped on their property, as well as the washing machine.
Other useful items Mark brought back from the US – most of them free through our Amazon Vine perk
The only camping we paid for was at Hostal Colibri near Quito airport, which we checked out as a potential place for me to stay while Mark was gone. It happened to be too noisy (from airplanes landing overhead), expensive, and tight to consider. All our other nights of camping were free.
Most of our entertainment – hiking, sightseeing, reading – is free, but in June, we paid money for a waterfall hike in Mindo (see my next blog post) and I bought an eBook to support a fellow author.
Based on Mark’s international trip and shopping sprees and my stationary time in Ecuador, last month’s total expenses of $1,043 are relatively low.
The reasons? The hospitality and generosity of friends and family (Thank you!!), the costs for plane tickets and car parts going to previous months, and the fact that Mark and I are both Amazon Vine members. This status allows us to order useful items for free, to a US address, in return for honest reviews of those products. Of course, we can only use this benefit in accordance with a stateside journey. Time to write some more reviews now! 🙂
(It might be easier to read the table when turning your device in the horizontal position.)
Find all our expense reports here. To learn what other full-time nomads spend each month, check out the blogs of our vanlife friends Duwan and Greg at Make Like An Ape Man.
If you are enjoying these posts, please consider donating to Roaming About in support of our website and our lifestyle. A big thank you to all our readers who have helped out in the past!
July 14, 2023 at 15:11
How do gas prices in Ecuador compare to the united States? Of course, that’s relative too. Our prices are inexplicably right near the top of anyone in the country. I just paid $5.49 a gallon yesterday for regular unleaded.
Haha! The moo horn has to be a frequent topic of conversation.
July 15, 2023 at 15:39
Hi Pete,
The gas prices in Ecuador are the same in every gas station and they are affordable and stable: $2.40 a gallon for regular unleaded since we arrived 2.5 months ago. Diesel is even cheaper at $1.75 a gallon. Once we enter Peru, this will be much more expensive at around $5 a gallon!
The moo horn is very new but we have pushed that button quite a few times so far, usually when groups of people stare at us, when a kid waves, or when a stray dog blocks the road (Mark’s favorite).
July 14, 2023 at 15:49
Liesbet, you do yourselves proud every month. Mark reminds me of our son Joel, who does repairs on their family’s cars, saving a ton of money.
I’m happy to hear that you have had “a large, multiple-day translation assignment.” which I hope means $$$ in your account, all good. 😀
July 15, 2023 at 15:44
Hi Marian,
I’m so glad Mark is able to figure things our mechanically (and otherwise), often using YouTube videos. And, he’s not afraid to try things. I’m sure we’ve saved a lot of money, frustration, time, and hassle by doing all these projects ourselves. I happily am the assistant. Just like on our sailboat.
Yes, my translation job was financially viable. I made $810 for about 24 hours of (hard) work! 🙂 It almost covered last month’s expenses or this current month’s! Mark is working 10+ hours a week now as well, so soon, we might actually be able to break even every month, which will be a relief. Keeping the savings for just that is our goal right now.
July 14, 2023 at 21:41
You three remain very inspirational. I had never heard of Amazon Vine before. I wonder if they have somehting similar at Amazon Canada. I am off to check that out now.
July 15, 2023 at 15:49
Hi Donna,
I don’t know if they have Amazon Vine in Canada. I would think so. But, this is not a membership or anything like that. It’s Amazon itself who selects people to become Vine Voice reviewers.
I have no idea how I got selected as Mark always left more reviews than me. He somehow jumped on that bandwagon as well, so now we each have the privilege of being able to order up to 3 items a day for up to $100 each. Too bad we are abroad and can’t use this more often! 🙂
I think the way you get selected is by leaving reviews for everything you buy on Amazon and that makes you stand out to be selected… You start at Level 1, with the perks mentioned above. And, if you order and review a lot (100 items that year), you reach the next level, which means that you can order more items with no price limit.
The items you can order as a Vine Voice are limited, however. It’s basically for (new) companies to get their products out there and reviewed.
July 15, 2023 at 13:22
A moo horn – now that’s funny.
I’d be screwed as I know nothing about auto mechanics.
July 15, 2023 at 15:50
Hi Alex,
I hope you listened to the short video of the moo horn! It’s so very funny. 🙂
I’m fortunate Mark is willing to learn about auto mechanics. Mostly from YouTube videos!
July 15, 2023 at 15:50
Wow, you did well, considering all the air travel. After three weeks parked in one place, you must be looking forward to getting on the road again. (And the moo horn cracked me up!) 🙂
July 16, 2023 at 13:25
Hi Diane,
I had the feeling that this goofy moo horn would make you smile! Interestingly, it gives Mark most joy when he uses it to shoo off stray dogs blocking the road. Mooing and shooing seems to go hand in hand. I have to say, the look on those dogs’ faces when hearing this funky sound is priceless! 🙂
And, yes, I was super ready to hit the road again and now, two weeks later, I’m exhausted because of all the sightseeing. We have upped the pace and are fitting a lot into our days, because we’ve decided to not buy an extension for Ecuador. We have to leave the country in about two weeks.
July 15, 2023 at 18:37
Haha! I love that Mark bought the moo horn! Sometimes you just need to be silly 🙂 Did he have any issues getting that wheel bearing hub through baggage check? I can’t imagine that they let it through without having him take it out for inspection.
July 16, 2023 at 13:32
Hi Janis,
I’m glad you got a kick out of that moo horn. It’s growing on me!
I find it very expensive and – initially – money wasted (it should have come out of his share! :)) but now, I’m seeing the fun in it as well. I’m keeping track of how many smiles it produces. So far, each smile has cost $5, haha. That amount will drop over time.
Good question about the wheel bearing and our biggest concern as well. When Mark went through security in the US, five officers were involved to check the part and finally let him through. Car parts are allowed in carry-ons and he bought tools for the installation that fit the length requirements as well. While the officers eventually let him through, they worried about the weight, which is not their jurisdiction but the airline’s.
For that reason, Mark kept it in his backpack (instead of his other wheelie carry-on) with barely anything else. And, the backpack didn’t get weighed, luckily. It was a challenge to bring the part back (doing so saved us $300) and Mark was super happy that he could stay within the security zone on all his subsequent layovers.
July 16, 2023 at 11:27
Look at all that stuff! I’m glad you have been able to use your Amazon Vine. I can’t believe Mark splurged on a moo horn! That’s a month’s worth of alcohol or eating out for you guys! But I’m sure it will be a conversation starter and delight the people you meet on the road.
July 16, 2023 at 13:34
Hi Duwan,
Right!? $55 for a “toy” is a lot of money for us. But… look at all the joy it brings Mark (and me) and the people, especially kids, we drive by. It’s freaking funny and fun! 🙂 I hope you get to hear it in person one day. I’m sure it’ll make you smile as well, haha.
July 16, 2023 at 23:41
Glad you were able to get over the initial shock of the sticker price for the moo horn, Liesbet, to also revel in the dogs’ funny looks when they see/hear you coming!
July 17, 2023 at 21:24
Haha, Annie. The moo horn proves to be a big success, if only to see more smiles around me. 🙂
July 17, 2023 at 03:15
I appreciate your transparency and honesty in sharing your monthly expenses as a nomad in South America. It is very helpful and inspiring to see how you manage your budget and lifestyle. Your breakdown of the costs and categories was clear and detailed. I also enjoyed reading about your adventures and challenges in Ecuador.
July 17, 2023 at 21:29
Hi Supraja,
Welcome to Roaming About and thank you for leaving a thoughtful and supportive comment.
I’m glad you enjoyed our expense and other blogs and that you find them informative. Few people feel comfortable talking about their budget and expenses, yet it is a big part of traveling – and of life. A lot of people still think you have to be rich to travel the world or to be a nomad and we are proof that this is not the case. 🙂
I also like to give a realistic picture of our lifestyle – in my blog posts, articles, books, social media, and personal messages. We need to see everything in perspective: the good, the bad, and the ugly.
July 17, 2023 at 19:35
Wow, cheap gas in South America. But really, I’m still chuckling at that cow horn! Hysterical! 🙂 🙂 xx
July 17, 2023 at 21:31
Hi Debbie,
I’m so glad I made you smile with that moo horn. I had a feeling it would crack you up. People who watch that short movie (I didn’t know how else to record the sound) were rewarded by the horn! 🙂
Yes, gasoline is cheap in Colombia and Ecuador (and diesel even cheaper), but we will have to prepare ourselves for a shock in Peru, where gas costs around US$5 a gallon or over US$1 a liter. Those are Canadian prices, I think.
July 18, 2023 at 08:35
Loved the horn!!!! 🙂 🙂 And ouchee! Yes, that is definitely Canadian pricing for gas here. So strange it’s so much more when it’s still part of South America.
July 21, 2023 at 11:46
Hi Debby,
I think the fluctuating prices here have to do with subsidies from the government and taxes charged. We are hoping that all the other costs will offset the high price of gasoline in Peru. We will see…
July 18, 2023 at 05:42
How great that Mark can do most of the repairs on Thirty Bella. You must save so much money by him doing it. Was he trained as a mechanic or is it something he just picked up by reading manuals and watching videos?
I love the Moo horn. I can image the smiles it will give when driving along and it’s activated.
Amazon Vine? Never heard of it, but thanks for explaining what it is in the comments.
July 21, 2023 at 11:44
Hi Hugh,
Mark is more of an intellectual person than a manual expert, but he is willing to try and fix about anything! He uses YouTube videos to tackle any car – and other – problem! So, no, he is not trained at all. It’s amazing how he does it all – with the camper and with the sailboat previously. I’m happy to just be his assistant.
I’m glad you loved the moo horn. We haven’t pushed the button in a few days, as we’ve been sitting still and then had a very annoying road and weather yesterday.
Amazon Vine might be an American thing, but it sure comes in handy whenever we have access to ordering items (and picking them up) in the US. 🙂
July 21, 2023 at 12:15
Hi, love your adventure. It’s similar to ours in 2018 but we drove those roads in a small sedan. If you make it to the coast, Olon is a wonderful quiet beach town. You might enjoy checking our blog out 2suitcasesfor2years.com
Great travels, Craig & Donna
July 22, 2023 at 15:08
Hi Craig and Donna,
Thanks for swinging by and leaving a comment.
How cool you explored Ecuador (and beyond) as well. Much easier to drive the roads with a car than a camper, but Ecuador has been easier on us than Colombia. And than Peru will be, probably. 🙂 I’ll have a look at your blog one of these days.
We have decided to skip the coast as we are running out of time on our visas and we’ve heard many reports of criminality and drug violence getting worse along the coast. It would be nice to come back one day and visit the ocean and Amazonia.