The Cost of Discovering America.

In the archives of an old Spanish town, the city of Palos, scattered documents were found which, taken together, can be cataloged under the name Christopher Columbus's expense book. It is easy to understand, thanks to this book, the cost of discovering America.
Christopher Columbus spent approximately 17,000 francs to equip his fleet of three ships; he devoted 2,000 francs to food for his staff; each man was paid approximately 6.25 francs per day, the sum with which he was to provide for his own food. Thus, the cost of the crossing rose to nearly 5,000 francs. Add to these expenses about fifteen thousand francs for ammunition, rifles, and all kinds of equipment, and you will see that the discovery of the New World cost approximately forty thousand francs. It's really not expensive, because for that price it's barely possible for an American family today to make the crossing in luxury seats from New York to Cherbourg.

Palos de la Frontera in the province of Huelva

Christopher Columbus, his origins, his life, his voyages, his family and his descendants, based on unpublished documents from the archives of Genoa, Savona, Seville and Madrid, by Henry Harisse (1884 - in French 20Mo)