Departure preparation for your working holiday (the full guide)

“How much money will I need for my working holiday?” is undoubtedly one of the most asked and important questions. Creating a budget in line with your plans is the key to making sure you won’t have to fly home early because you’ve run out of money.

Analyse your needs to create your own unique budget

Are you planning to stay in the same city for months or spend most of your working holiday on the road? Are you wanting to work, travel, or both? Your budget will depend on what you plan to do during your WHV.

Your day-to-day lifestyle will also impact the amount you need. Do you like to cook or eat out? Do you smoke or drink alcohol? Do you like to camp or do you need to stay in hotels? Do you want to buy a car or are you happy using public transport?

Every working holiday maker will have different expenses. Jane, who is backpacking around Argentina for a year, will have a very different budget to John, who is settling in Vancouver to work a skilled job.

Don’t compare yourself to others. The key is to budget for your unique adventure and make it work for you. With that in mind, here are the items to budget for when planning a WHV. Plus, we’ve got some tips to help you keep your costs as low as possible.

Items to budget for during visa application

1. Passport

You need a valid passport to even apply for a WHV. If you don’t already have a passport, applying for one should be your first priority. If your passport is expiring soon, renew it. In pretty much all countries, passport applications and renewals cost money.

2. WHV application fees

Remember that most WHV destinations charge application or processing fees. You may also have to budget for related fees like travel costs to a biometrics collection centre or consulate/embassy, medical exams, or police certificate fees. These fees vary depending on your nationality and WHV destination, so be sure to check the details on our destinations page.

3. Proof of funds

All destinations require proof of funds, i.e. a minimum savings amount to start your working holiday. Proof of funds may be required as part of your application, or you may need to show the border officer upon arrival. You need to add this amount to your budget.

Here are the requirements for some of the most popular WHV destinations:

• Australia: AU$5,000
• Canada: CA$2,500
• France: €2,500
• Japan: Depends on nationality
• New Zealand: NZ$4,200
• United Kingdom: £2,530

For other destinations, you can check the costs on our destinations page.

4. Airfare

Unsurprisingly, you’ll need to book a plane ticket to your destination country—unless you can travel overland or by sea. Regardless, you’ll need to budget for transportation to arrive in the country. You’ll also need to put some funds aside to buy a ticket to leave the country at the end of your WHV.

For more information, read the chapter on buying a plane ticket.

5. WHV health insurance

Private health insurance is mandatory for most WHV destinations and recommended for ALL destinations. Whether you need to purchase insurance as part of the application process or before arrival will depend on your destination. The cost of policies that cover working holidays are significantly more than you may be used to with normal travel insurance, so budget accordingly.

For more information, read the chapter on insurance.

Items to budget for during trip preparation

1. Travel gear

Depending on your needs and your destination, you may need to buy travel gear for your trip. You might need a new suitcase or backpack, padlocks for your luggage, hiking boots, thermals, etc.

Aim to travel light—we recommend packing a capsule wardrobe. For most destinations, you can also shop when you are there. Use second-hand shops or look online (Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, Poshmark, etc.) for cheaper prices.

2. Accommodation for the first few nights

It’s wise to book accommodation for at least the first few nights. Try to pick accommodation that is centrally located (ideally walkable) to the downtown area, since you will need to spend your first few days getting set up in the city (opening bank accounts, viewing apartments or cars, etc.).

Read the chapter on booking housing for more info.

3. Transportation to/from the airport

You will need to get from your home to the airport, and from the airport to your accommodation. Research in advance if there are public transportation routes or if you will need to book a taxi or rideshare. Your accommodation might provide a shuttle service for free or an extra fee.

Items to budget for during your WHV

1. Accommodation

Although we don’t recommend signing any leases before you arrive, you will need to work out a rough budget for longer-term accommodation. If you know which city you want to base yourself in, start researching the average cost of rent. Read the chapter on booking housing for more info.

Look for accommodation that comes fully furnished to avoid buying furniture and appliances—sublets can be a great option. If you do need to budget for furniture or appliances for your accommodation, try second-hand shops or look online (Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, Craiglist, etc.) for people donating their old furniture. Backpacker-specific Facebook groups are great for this—travellers may give you a bigger discount because they need to make a quick sale before moving home.

2. Bills

Just like at home, bills are unavoidable on a working holiday. Your accommodation plans will dictate how many bills to budget for—if you’re sleeping in your car or volunteering for bed and board, you won’t have to worry about utility bills. At the very least, travellers usually need to budget for an international SIM card or phone plan.

Utilities

If you’re planning on signing a lease, always ask what your rent includes. Some places include all utilities in the rent. Others will include some (electricity, water, gas, internet, etc.) but not all utilities. Don’t sign a lease based on low rent alone; factor the cost of utilities into your decision.

Phone plan

Shop around for deals. Many phone companies offer discounts or deals such as extra data/SMS bundles to attract new customers.

Consider your needs when researching the cost of phone plans. Are you visiting other countries during your WHV or do you just need the plan to cover your WHV destination? Will you be travelling in remote areas where you need lots of data or are you staying in cities with access to Wi-Fi?

As long as your phone is unlocked, you probably only require a new SIM card, rather than a contract including a new device. Many backpackers prefer the flexibility of pay-as-you-go plans so they aren’t tied to a long-term contract. You will need a local phone number if you want to apply for jobs.

If your phone is compatible, use eSIMs when travelling to avoid any hidden fees from ordering a physical SIM card. Don’t miss our special eSIM deal with Holafly!

Internet

When viewing places to rent, always ask if internet is included or if it will be up to you to find a provider. Only book accommodation where Wi-Fi is included for free (or charged as a small extra cost). When travelling, make use of free Wi-Fi in city centres, cafes, fast food restaurants, libraries, etc.

Similar to phone plans, you can look around for deals—some companies offer bundles on combined phone and internet plans. If your phone plan includes unlimited data, decide if you even need internet or if you can hotspot from your phone.

3. Transport

Whether you’re planning on travelling around the country or settling in one place, you’ll need to budget for some form of transportation. Buying a car in a foreign country is a huge expense, so many travellers make do with public transport.

If you’re planning on working, factor in the cost of getting to/from work. You might be able to find a job that includes access to a vehicle (e.g. farming or au pairing), or hosts who offer lifts.

Public transport

Work out how many times you’re going to take public transport per week/month. This will help you decide if buying into a scheme like monthly or annual passes is better value than paying per ride. Many cities offer free transfers (or even free public transport in the downtown core), so make the most of any transfer windows! Look up the city’s public transport rules in advance to avoid hefty fines.

Travelling around

For moving between cities, coach/bus is often the cheapest option, followed by train. Internal flights are usually the fastest but most expensive option. Consider longer journeys (e.g. an overnight bus instead of a short flight) to save money, especially if you plan to move around frequently.

You can also drive rental cars and vans for free on a one-way relocation deal. You’re not given long to get the vehicle from A to B, but it’s a good budget option if you need to make that journey anyway (e.g. if you have to move across the country to start a new job).

Hitchhiking is a popular option with backpackers, but be sure to research its legality in your WHV destination, and always put your safety first.

Buying a vehicle

If you are travelling to remote areas, you may have no choice but to buy or rent a car. Make sure you use our special deals page for discounts on car rentals and car insurance!

If buying a campervan, it will cost more than a basic car, but your transport and accommodation costs will be rolled into one. You can learn more about van life here.

4. Food

Depending on where you’re moving to, the cost of food might be cheaper or more expensive than you’re used to at home. Regardless, eating out and buying groceries can quickly add up in your daily budget.

Don’t deprive yourself of eating out, especially if there’s a certain dish your WHV destination is famous for! You can still make budget-friendly choices: go out earlier for happy hour menus, try street markets instead of sit-down restaurants, ask locals for recommendations to avoid tourist traps that deliberately hike prices, etc. Learn the rules of your WHV country before dining out to avoid unpleasant surprises like taxes and tipping on your final bill.

If you’re planning on volunteering, pick roles that supply you with meals, not just a place to sleep. We also recommend picking accommodation with a kitchen so that you don’t have to eat out for every meal. Dried goods will be your best friend—stock up on noodles, pasta, rice, etc.

Sign up for loyalty schemes with your local supermarkets to earn discounts. Shop around for the best deals—you’ll often need to go to three or four different shops to get everything you need at the best price. Check out the local markets for cheaper meat, fruit and vegetable products.

5. Entertainment

Most likely, the reason you’ve decided on a WHV is because you want to travel and explore your new country. The “holiday” element of a working holiday is the best part, but also a big reason why travellers end up over-budget. So, how do you balance having fun with your budget?

First, pick a WHV destination where the activities you want to experience are generally free anyway (snorkelling in Australia, hiking in New Zealand, ice skating in Canada, etc.).

If you’re staying in a city, look up their events calendar. Often, you’ll find free festivals and events throughout the year—think Vivid Sydney in Australia, Notting Hill Carnival in the UK, Bastille Day fireworks in France, and so on. Also, look for museums and art galleries in the area that offer free entry on specific days/nights. If you’re staying somewhere longer-term, you might be able to qualify for residential discounts!

Free walking tours are a great way to get to know your new home (and meet other tourists). Plus, the guides can give recommendations from a local’s perspective. You will be expected to contribute a tip, but how much is up to you. Hop-on, hop-off buses are more expensive but are another good way of orienting yourself—they usually offer unlimited rides throughout your ticket validity, and you won’t have to pay for extra transport costs on that day!

Most hostels targeted at backpackers run tours or activities (beach days, hikes, bar crawls, etc.) for free. Make the most of happy hours or promotions (e.g. free entry in exchange for a social media post) for a low-cost night out.

Many national parks offer free entry on specific days (e.g. public holidays, anniversaries or special celebrations). Alternatively, work out how many times you want to visit the national parks during your WHV. Most countries offer a national parks annual pass; you can make your money back if you visit a handful of times throughout the year.

6. Emergency and medical funds

Aside from expenses related to your adventures and everyday life abroad, it’s important to set aside an emergency fund for unexpected situations, especially when it comes to your health.

Health issues can happen unexpectedly and you may have to pay a deductible or wait for your insurance claim to be processed. Cut down on unexpected medical costs by bringing a first aid kit with you to treat basic problems (cuts, scrapes, headaches, etc.) at home, instead of paying for a visit to the doctor or pharmacy.

Make sure you have enough emergency funds to cover you if it takes longer than planned to find a job or if you need to book a sudden flight home (for a funeral or family illness, for example).

Basically, life happens, even abroad—maybe especially abroad. Having an emergency fund helps during stressful times, so leave some leeway in your travel budget.