How much did it cost to hike the PCT?

I tracked every dollar I spent on the Pacific Crest Trail. 

I did this from a curiosity standpoint; I was interested to know what the final figure would be. Though I had an approximate idea of how much I thought the hike might cost, I did not set an exact budget. My goal was to make frugal decisions wherever possible, but not to the point where it would affect my overall enjoyment of the experience. 

I recorded my spending on a note on my phone after each purchase, though I did not keep a running total. (I just added up the total cost yesterday).

Each expense was classified into one of 8 categories. Here are the results, listed from most expensive to least expensive. The grand total is at the bottom.

1. Resupply: $2,167.97

Includes	Does not include
– All food eaten on the trail – Food purchased before the hike for resupply boxes – Other consumables such as sunscreen, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.	– Food eaten in town

2. Lodging: $2,055.25

Includes	Does not include
– Hotels, hostels, and AirBnBs – Paid campgrounds – Thank you gifts for hosts	– Cost of tent

3. Gear: $2,024.82

Includes	Does not include
– Gear purchased before hike – Gear replacements purchased during hike – Shoes and clothes	– Gear I already had before prepping for the PCT

 

4. Town food: $2,010.22

Includes	Does not include
– Restaurants – Snacks in town – Beer, alcohol, adult substances – Coffee, soda, etc. – Groceries to be eaten in town	– Food eaten on the trail

5. Postage: $614.78

Includes	Does not include
– Resupply boxes sent from home – Gear sent home  – Bounce boxes – Package pick-up fees	– Shipping fees for new gear (included in Gear category)

6. Transportation: $368.38

Includes	Does not include
– Ubers/Lyfts – Gas money for hitches – Local bus fares – Shuttles to/from trail – Getting to trailhead from San Diego – Getting to Seattle from Hartt’s Pass	– Getting to San Diego (I was already in San Diego after another trip) – Flying home (booked with travel reward points)

7. Fun: $155.00

Includes	Does not include
– Casino in South Lake Tahoe – Bingo in Scott Bar	– Subscriptions such as Spotify and Netflix – The free fun that comprised 99.9% of PCT entertainment: watching the sunrise, swimming in alpine lakes, hanging out with friends, etc.

8. Laundry & Showers: $64.00

Includes	Does not include
– Laundromats – Laundry fees at hotels/hostels – Paid showers	– Laundry/Showers included in price of room

Other expenses not included in my total
– Health insurance or travel insurance – Monthly subscriptions (Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc) – Phone bill – My home bills (mortgage, utilities, insurance)

= TOTAL: $9,460.42

$9,476.28 over 164 days and 2655.2 miles. That’s $58/day, or $3.57/mile.

Compared to average

I believe the cost of a thru-hike varies wildly from person to person. Just like in real life, spending habits and priorities are extremely dependent on the individual. However, we can look at previous years’ averages to get an idea.

Pulled from the fabulous Halfway Anywhere surveys, the average reported cost of a PCT thru-hike for the last 5 years is listed below. (2024 data not yet available). As you can see, the amount rose dramatically between 2019 and 2023. When adjusted for inflation, the increase is not quite as dramatic, but still significant.

Year	Average amount spent	Adjusted for Inflation
2019	$6,561	$8,902
2020	$8,059	$9,818
2021	$7,995	$9,302
2022	$9,593	$10,335
2023	$10,216	$10,571

My figure of $9,476.28 is under the recent average, but remember I did not include my cost of getting to San Diego (because I was already there after a different trip), or the cost of my flight home (booked with travel reward points). If I had included these flights, my total would likely be much closer to average.

I’m looking forward to seeing this year’s Halfway Anywhere survey when it comes out.

Worth every penny

It was a lot of money, but I know it was money very well spent. Every dollar was an investment in unforgettable experiences, personal growth, and cherished memories.