Mission Trip Cost Guide: What Churches Should Expect

Updated: October 2026

mission trip team members walking in the city

Chris Clum Founder/Executive Director, Experience Mission Chris Clum is the founder of Experience Mission, drawing on more than four decades of experience developing service-learning mission trips and working with local ministry partners. This article reflects Experience Mission's organizational approach to service-learning mission trips and was reviewed by the Experience Mission leadership team.

How much does a mission trip cost for a church group?

Experience Mission (EM) group mission trips cost $475 to $599 per person to U.S. communities and $855 to $1,595 per person internationally, before airfare and other travel costs. Longer IMMERSION programs for young adults range from $5,750 for 1 month, $7,550 for 3 months, up to $12,800 or more for 6 months, with international flights included. Your mission trip total depends on trip length, location, group size, and travel.

Published per-person trip costs are a starting point, not a complete budget. The sections below show each trip cost, what it covers, and what to add for a realistic budget.

What does each type of mission trip cost?

Total costs depend on where a team serves and how long you are in the community. This table lists EM's current per-person trip costs for group trips, which welcome teams of 6 or more, with some communities requiring a few more or fewer:

Region	Communities	Length	Cost per person
U.S. Group Trips	Chicago, New York, Portland (Maine), Savannah (Georgia), and rural communities in Kentucky, Texas, and Arizona	6 days	$475 - $599
U.S. Territories	Rincon, Puerto Rico	7 days	$795
Caribbean & Central America	Belize, Jamaica, Cuba, Costa Rica	7-8 days	$855 - $995
Southern Africa	South Africa (Pretoria and Cape Town), Namibia	12 days	$1,395 - $1,595

EM prices group trips per person, regardless of age. Compare every community, with open weeks and group minimums, on EM's group mission trips page.

IMMERSION and Gap Year programs are for individuals ages 18 to 30, not groups, and EM builds the team as applicants join. Per-person trip costs are higher because they run longer and include the cost of all international flights:

IMMERSION Program	Cost per person*
1-Month Mission Trips	$5,750
3-Month Mission Trips	$7,550
6-Month Africa Program	$12,800
6-Month South Africa / Costa Rica Gap Year	$15,000
9-Month Gap Year (Costa Rica / Africa, Peru / Africa)	$19,500
9-Month Missions & Discipleship Gap Year	$19,950

*Trip costs last verified October 30, 2026.

Open the Christian gap year programs page for dates and ages, and confirm the rate for your dates before you budget.

What does the group trip cost include?

Your mission trip cost covers the parts of a trip that EM field staff and local partners prepare in the community, so a team arrives to serve without having to plan logistics. This includes:

Food - All meals, from dinner on the first day through breakfast on the final day
Lodging - Housing arranged and managed by EM field staff and/or local partners
Work project materials - Supplies for the projects local partners identify
Local partner support - A share of your trip cost supports the churches and ministries hosting your team
EM field staff - On-site care and coordination for your team
In-country transportation - Included on international trips only

Trip costs also support EM's year-round preparation, from training resources to coordination with each community. Your team's leader prepares the team to serve and leads the group on the ground, while EM field staff handle lodging, food, and ministry project details.

Are airfare and local transportation included?

No. Airfare is not included in any group trip fee, and mission and relief teams book flights to the airport EM assigns for international trips. Ground transportation works differently by trip type:

U.S. trips - Your team arranges and pays for vehicles, fuel, and parking for the whole week, including rides between housing and work sites (buses are generally not recommended)
International trips - EM covers ground transportation once your team arrives, and your team covers round-trip airfare for every traveler

IMMERSION and Gap Year programs work differently. The program cost includes international flights and visas. Participants are responsible for booking and paying for travel to the U.S. training location (in Washington state or Michigan) and home after the debrief.

What other expenses should churches add?

You will always have external costs to consider when building your group's mission trip budget. Plan for these items:

Background checks - All team members age 18 or older must complete one, and teams run and pay for their own
Entry and exit fees - International countries may charge anywhere from $25 to $45 per person (research while building your trip budget)
Kids Club supplies - Teams assigned to participate in Kids Club (VBS-style lessons) will need to bring some of their materials and craft supplies, separate from work project materials
Travel-day meals - EM's meals begin with dinner on the first day, so budget for food costs on the days you travel
Passports and visas - Team members cover passports, and some countries require visas
Insurance and baggage - Include any coverage your church or group requires and airline baggage fees for each person
Processing fees - When making online payments for your trip, credit cards add 4.5%, and EFT (eCheck) adds 1% plus $5; paying by mailed check avoids additional fees

Add meals, lodging, and transportation for any sightseeing days your team chooses to add. These extras often decide whether a trip fits your church's budget, so price them before you announce a number to potential participants and families.

How do we build a budget for our whole group?

Multiply the per-person fee by every traveler, including leaders, then add the team registration fee, travel, and a reserve amount for extras. Replace estimates with actual quotes before you collect money, and tell families which personal expenses are not covered.

This example outlines a team of 20 people driving to serve on a mission trip in Chicago. The program and registration fees are EM costs, while other amounts are planning assumptions:

Budget item	Group amount
Program fees: 20 x $495	$9,900
Team registration fee	$450
Vehicle rental, fuel, and parking estimate	$1,800
Travel-day meals estimate	$600
Other preparation costs allowance	$250
Contingency allowance	$1,000
Total / average per traveler	$14,000 / $700

An international budget starts higher because of airfare. Here is the same method for 15 people serving in Belize, before airfare:

Budget item	Group amount
Program fees: 15 x $855	$12,825
Team registration fee	$450
Entry and exit fees: 15 x $25-$45	$375 - $675
Subtotal (before airfare and other costs)	$13,650 - $13,950

Then add your airline quotes (common sites include Google Flights and Kayak.com) for 15 round-trip tickets, background checks, and a reserve amount. Fixed costs spread across fewer travelers, so a smaller team pays more per person even when the program fee stays the same.

How much should each participant pay or raise?

Subtract confirmed outside contributions (from your church, school, or other supporters), any shared fundraising amount, and scholarships from the full budget. Decide how you will cover leader costs, then divide the remaining amount among the people who pay. Explain any individual adjustments in writing.

For example, a $2,000 church contribution toward the $14,000 Chicago budget leaves $12,000. If all 20 travelers share it equally, each person pays or raises $600. Calculate this number before fundraising begins, so every supporter and team member can see the real total.

How can a church make a mission trip more affordable?

Churches lower the cost per person by choosing a nearby community, sharing vehicles, setting aside a missions budget line, offering scholarships, and fundraising as a team. U.S. trips cost less than international trips and don't require passports or flights. Whatever you choose, budget a trip's full cost rather than comparing organization trip costs alone, since airfare can outweigh a lower program fee.

EM's Mission Trip Fundraising Guide offers ideas for teams, and a mission trip support letter is a common first step. IMMERSION participants receive help from an IMMERSION Fundraising Coach and access to a personal fundraising page. All donations made through EM's website are tax-deductible because EM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Why do volunteers pay to serve, and what should a church ask?

Volunteers pay because hosting a team requires real costs, including meals, housing, project materials, support staff, and pre-trip preparation. EM's trip costs also support local partners and year-round coordination, so a visiting team never becomes a burden to the community it joins. We believe financial support should not give visitors control over a community's priorities.

Before you commit to any trip, ask what the stated trip cost covers, who identifies the service work, and how the amount to fundraise supports the host community. EM's 10 questions to ask before choosing a mission trip walks through these and others.

Mission Trip Cost FAQs

Do adult leaders travel for free?

No. EM prices group trips per person, so every traveler, including leaders, must pay the per-person amount. Decide whether leaders will pay their own costs, receive church support, or have the group share their costs as an incentive to get leaders on board.

Is there a family or youth discount?

No. EM charges the same per-person fee for minors and adults, with no family rate. Church and youth groups often lower the cost by sharing fundraising across the whole team.

Learn more about family and youth mission trips

When are payments due?

Registration requires a $100 deposit per person and a $450 team registration fee. The balance follows a cumulative schedule: 50% of the per-person balance 120 days before departure, 75% by 75 days, and the full balance by 30 days. Deposits count toward the total due. Read the registration and payment policy for more details.

What if someone cancels?

Payments are generally nonrefundable, but you are able to transfer funds paid to a replacement team member. Some withdrawals qualify for a partial credit toward a future trip, and no credits are issued within 30 days of departure. Review the policy before your team commits.

Plan your church's mission trip with EM!

Explore church mission trips to compare communities by cost, open weeks, and group size, and let EM staff help you confirm your team's costs and responsibilities.

For our best advice on all mission trip planning, check out How to Plan a Mission Trip.

About the Author

Chris Clum is the founder of Experience Mission, drawing on more than four decades of experience developing service-learning mission trips and working with local ministry partners. This article reflects Experience Mission's organizational approach to service-learning mission trips and was reviewed by the Experience Mission leadership team.