While your program fee includes quite a lot, you will need to budget for extra expenses like a passport, travel insurance which meets certain requirements, medical exams, ID photos, immunizations (if desired/required), teaching materials/supplies (if not donated), airline luggage fees, and transportation costs to travel to training in Orem, Utah.

When it comes to spending money in-country, we recommend that volunteers budget around $1,500-$2,500+ to cover any in-country costs during the semester such as travel expenses during vacation days, weekend excursions, eating out with their group on vacation days, souvenir shopping, tickets to local museums, etc.

How much you spend during your semester is really up to you. Your personal spending habits (plus where you are volunteering) may mean planning trips and activities with a different budget than others in your group. You can certainly get by on less, but you may miss some unique opportunities to travel outside of your assigned city or country, and will need to watch your spending when it comes to snacks and souvenirs.

If you’re looking for a more affordable semester, your ILP representative can help you choose a country that has a lower cost of living, where things like traveling, accommodations, and activities tend to be less expensive than another country or region.