Why costs of volunteering abroad should not influence your decision
So you’ve decided to volunteer abroad; congrats! Volunteering abroad really is all it’s made out to be; it’s a chance to change your life and the lives of others. Yes, that sounds incredibly sappy, but it’s also totally on point. Now that the sunshine and rainbows of your volunteer abroad dream are starting to fade a bit, you probably are probably wondering about the financial costs.
Yep, volunteering abroad means spending a little dough. But, on the bright side, the money you spend goes to a good cause! The fees support the organizations and communities you’ll be a part of and keep the volunteer train chugging. That being said, it is totally acceptable to do some investigating on the organization. If you’re feeling stingy and/or skeptical, it is your duty as a global-citizen-in-the-making, and future badass volunteer, to do some sleuthing to find organizations that are doing right by all the stakeholders—most importantly the local initiatives themselves. You’re a grown ass adult, and you deserve to know where that money is going!
The cost alone shouldn't influence your decision to participate or not. Some organizations might have higher ethical standards, pay their staff more fairly, better community connections, etc. It’s really up to you to find the perfect program that aligns with your ethics and budget (but we’re here to help).
How we faced the question: “How much does it cost to volunteer abroad?”
For transparency’s sake, we want you to be able to match our pretty pictures to the dirty details. Take a peek at our spreadsheets here if you want to learn more about the data.
How much does it cost to volunteer abroad? So what’s the deal with all these pretty graphs and charts and maps? We at GoAbroad decided to lay out some data for all y’all nerds out there (us included, don’t be embarrassed, nerds are cool) because we know you live for that (spread)sheet. Ok, Ben Wyatt, calm down. All jokes aside, there are some things to know about this data.
It’s not a perfect system. We didn’t go too deep into the nuances of each program (do they cover transportation/accommodation/include tours,etc.), so we can’t proclaim this to be the ultimate guide to volunteer costs.
We first identified 20 popular destinations for volunteering abroad based on our traffic stats and overall industry trends. We did our best to span the globe, handpicking destinations from a multitude of regions (Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, Oceania). We then researched program costs for a handful of organizations and broke down the cost per week.
What’s not mentioned in our data, or in our infographic, is that some programs require minimum weekly participation in order to garner that low price point. While it may look like $100 a week, you might have to commit to six weeks to participate in the program, boosting that price per program up to six hundo.
Every program has something different to offer, so this is meant to be more of an overall snapshot than a 100% accurate resource for data. Check out the data we collected—and later visualized—here.
Findings on volunteer abroad cost around the world
Average cost per week
After crunching some mad numbers, we found that the average cost of volunteering abroad worldwide was $688 per week. It should be noted that some programs require you spend at least two weeks volunteering, so that number could fluctuate depending on the program and country you choose. But there are some programs, like something I saw in Africa, that charge you on a daily rate data.
Affordable destinations by region
If you’re looking to land an affordable program in a cheaper location, steer your search towards South America or Asia, with average weekly costs being $584 and $617 respectively. This map gives a rough idea of the average costs per region, but there are always lows and highs. If your heart is set on Africa but you’re worried that the average is too high, do some digging. You can find affordable programs anywhere in the world if you’re willing to wade into the depths of Google.
Three countries worth the extra dough
- Greece: If you’re heading to Europe to volunteer abroad, you can expect costs to be on the pricier side. But you shouldn’t let that deter you. Greece may have an average of $1,042 per week, but it also has some really impactful programs that are worth spending the money to make a difference. GoEco gives volunteers a chance to protect baby sea turtles, while Terra Sylvestris collaborates with local communities to develop sustainability.
- South Africa: With a weekly average of $1,010 a week, volunteering in South Africa may seem a little intimidating. However, the organizations are well established and know how to make a real difference. If you choose an organization like Projects Abroad, you’re guaranteed a myriad of volunteer opportunities. From farming to human rights, volunteering in South Africa has something special for every interest.
- Fiji: It may cost on average $894 a week, but look on the bright side: it’s Fiji. If the idea of living in a beautiful tropical paradise doesn’t win you over, perhaps the types of volunteer positions in Fiji will sway you (just like the palm trees sway lazily on the beach). Live in a traditional Fijian village with Eco Students Abroad, and help construct rainwater tanks, teach English, and learn the ways of the locals. When you’re not volunteering, take time to kayak, snorkel, or relax on the beach.
Three countries where you’ll be living large
- Bolivia: You better bo-lieve this is a great country to volunteer in! With an average of $316 a week, Bolivia is perfect for the volunteer who wants to practice Spanish and get into some meaningful work abroad. There’s a project for everyone in Bolivia. Put your back into it: be a construction volunteer with Kaya. Or maybe you’d rather work with children and community development: here ya go!
- Canada: O, Canada, why are you so affordable? Not only is it easy to find cheap volunteer projects, but it’s pretty sweet that there’s low to no language barrier. Even in French Canadian Quebec, you’ll be able to navigate with some handy-dandy English. Although if you decide to help rehabilitate bears, maybe you should focus on memorizing phrases in the bear’s native tongue like “please don’t eat me”, or, “are you down for belly rubs?”.
- New Zealand: That’s right, for only $516 a week you can live in this magical, mythical country. Known for beautiful landscapes and friendly people—not to mention a hobbit or two— this island is perfect for people looking to volunteer abroad in conservation for cheap. Join International Volunteer HQ in coastline conservation or freshwater restoration projects.
Providers whose weekly average cost is <$500
Because let’s face it: Some of us just wanna do things on the cheap. Nothing wrong with that! Taking time off work to make negative money can be a little stressful, even if it’s for a great cause.
1. ELI Abroad
ELI Abroad offers programs in 26 countries around the world, so your options for affordable good-doing are endless. $472 a week will feel like nothing when your time is spent changing lives with ELI Abroad.
Give back with affordable (only $337 a week), community-driven projects around the world! They offer programs like teaching, medical, conservation, construction, and more.
*CHEAPEST PROGRAM AVERAGE* at only $312 a week, Love Volunteers really lives up to its name! The coordinator and volunteers work with local organizations and communities to ensure admin costs are kept to a minimum and focus energy on giving back money and skills to the communities they work with.
Provider cost vs. level of service vs. ethics of project
Here's how to find the right volunteer program at the right cost to you. So, what are you really paying for when you volunteer abroad? It really depends on the program. Some providers help you with the bare minimum, like program placement and pre-departure help. That way they can offer you a pretty sweet deal to hook you up with a volunteer abroad program. The downside is that you still have to pay for all the things that they don’t cover - housing, transportation, food, etc.
Think about what you’re paying for when you choose a provider. Just because the cost seems low doesn’t mean you’ll be saving money in the long haul. But if you’re able to invest more time and energy into the process, this could be the perfect cash saver. Other programs may seem intimidating when it comes to price, but that often goes hand in hand with the number of services included. For example, GVI may seem on the expensive side of volunteer abroad programs, but you’re pretty much pampered. Plus, their track record towards eradicating stated goals (aligned with UN Development Goals) is pretty hard to beat.
[Read the 13 Best Volunteer Abroad Programs in 2019]
We believe that paying to volunteer abroad might seem counterintuitive, but actually makes sense. But it requires legwork. Any individual considering a volunteer program abroad should be asking themselves hard questions about their preparedness and what they bring to the table. Don’t equate a higher-cost program with necessarily doing more or better work. But don’t fall in the trap of assuming low-cost, no-fringe programs are making the right calls, either. It’s up to YOU to research, vet programs, and ask legitimate questions about the sustainability and ethics of each individual program you’re considering.
Sometimes you can find opportunities for no-fee volunteering abroad, but they’re pretty darn rare.
More resources to help you keep volunteer costs down
Check out our additional articles, tips, and guides to help you make the most of your volunteer experience without going broke in the process.
- Everything You Need to Volunteer Abroad for Cheap
- No, You Can’t Volunteer Abroad for Free. Quit Trying
- Good for the World AND Your Wallet: 10 Cheap Volunteer Abroad Destinations
- 11 Inexpensive Volunteer Programs Abroad
What are you waiting for?!
Now that you’ve seen the graphs and the charts and the spreadsheets, the logical/realistic/cost-crunching Ben Wyatt side of your brain should be happy. Unleash your inner Bat-Ben, and change the world.
If program cost is holding you back, there are other ways to fund your volunteer abroad experience (scholarships maybe?), choosing the perfect program can be a tricky business. Luckily, you have us, your dedicated GoAbroad gurus, to help you find the best fit for you. Browse hundreds of volunteer programs abroad now, or take a shortcut and…
Get Matched with 5 Volunteer Programs Abroad for Free
Special thank you to #props
Look for the Perfect Volunteer Abroad Program Now
Start Your Search