During a walk around Playa del Carmen yesterday, I happened to pass by a small, colorful building down a narrow side street, a street that I had never been down before. In the front window of this building, hanging from some sort of rotting suction cup hook, was a handwritten sign advertising “Estudios En Renta Por Mes” (Studios for Rent by the Month). And even though I already have a place to stay down here, my curious nature led me inside the doorway where I soon found myself asking the woman behind the desk if I could have a look at her studio apartments.
Olga, the woman behind the desk, happily led me up two flights of stairs before opening up one of the doors and inviting me in. I walked around the cozy studio, inspecting the king-size bed, the small sitting area, the recently renovated bathroom and the new air-conditioning unit, before being shown the common area on the first floor, which consisted of a large, well-maintained kitchen and a pleasantly laid out space with a half dozen tables and a few old sofas.
The price for one of these studios? $300 USD per month, with wi-fi and all utilities included.
PARADISE IS CHEAP!
In all honestly, this wasn’t exactly the most amazing apartment I’d ever seen and if I was in need of a place, I’d still have wanted to continue my search. However, after I thanked Olga for her time and walked back out to the street, I couldn’t help but think how cheap it really is for anyone to live in this tropical paradise known as the Riviera Maya.
With a $300/month studio apartment (that is four blocks from white sand beaches and two blocks from the center of town I might add), one would be hard-pressed to spend more than a $1000 per month in total to live here. In fact, one could very easily live a good life here for closer to $700 per month.
Naturally, such a realization leads me to wonder why more people don’t take advantage of such opportunities. After all, so many of us speak often about our desire to make a change in our lives by taking an extended break in some exciting and foreign land. But too often we conclude that “now is just not the right time” and so we put off our goals for yet another year, usually because of a simple mis-belief that to achieve such a goal would require an extraordinary amount of money.
THE QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF IS…
How much do you spend per month on your current lifestyle, the one that you may be itching to break free from?
My immediate guess would be that most people are spending much more than $1000 per month once you take into account rent/mortgage, food, utilities, car payments and the rising cost of pet food.
Now consider this… I’ve almost never, during the past 11 years, spent more than $1000 USD in one single month of living overseas. And I’m not always a super-frugal nomad! If there’s something I want to do, I’ll pay for it without worrying too much about the cost and rarely have I had to skip out on something because it was too expensive.
Does this sound too good to be true? Well, for anyone worried that an extended overseas break will instantly drain your bank account, I now wish to share some of the places around the world where I’ve managed to live on less (and in most cases, much less) than $1000 per month.
*This is not a list of places I’ve traveled around for less than $1000 but places where I’ve rented a house or apartment, settled comfortably into the culture and unpacked my backpack for a while without moving around.
WHERE YOU CAN LIVE FOR LESS THAN $1000 PER MONTH
- Mexico – I’ve now spent 11 of the past 13 months living in Mexico, the first half living in the beautiful Pacific coast village of Sayulita and the second half in Playa del Carmen along the Caribbean Sea. The two apartments I’ve rented have both been modern, more than comfortable and within five minutes walking distance to stunning beaches. And they each cost less than $500 per month in rent. Good, fresh food costs very little in Mexico, public transportation is dirt cheap and most activities that I enjoy (swimming in the ocean, attempting to surf, exploring local towns and villages and walking wherever my legs will take me) don’t cost much, if anything, at all. I’d say that on average, I spend approximately $800 per month to live well (according to my basic nomadic lifestyle) in wonderful Mexico.
- India – On two occasions during my many visits to India over the years, I decided to stop traveling and actually stay put in one location for an extended period of time. First, it was the Tibetan village of McLeod Ganj, where I rented a wonderfully warm and cheerful rooftop room, with a view of the snow-capped Himalayas from my bed, for $120 USD per month. In all honestly, I could have eaten 10 meals per day, taken taxis everywhere I went (although I much preferred walking in the fresh mountain air) and signed up for as many yoga and meditation classes as I wished and I still would’ve had difficulty spending $500 per month. And last year, when I spent one month living in Calcutta, I found a decent budget hotel room for $5/night and spent a total of around $400 during my stay without once paying attention to what I spent. Of course, Calcutta is not on everyone’s list of places to live for a month, but it’s just an example!
- Australia – Yes, Australia. At the end of 2008 I spent five months living in Melbourne and it was an absolute bargain. Using the excellent Gumtree.com I found a room in a shared house, located only a 15 minute walk from the center of the city, for a mere $400 USD per month. And even with frequent pub visits, live music shows, festivals, day trips and a shocking number of meals at my favorite Indian and Vietnamese restaurants, I managed to keep my expenses under $1000 every month quite easily.
- Thailand – When I spent a stretch of time teaching English in the northern city of Chiang Mai, I shared an apartment with a friend of mine. I believe we paid about $200 USD each for our seventh floor pad that had a clear view to the beautiful Doi Suthep mountain behind the city. We ate all of our meals out (most of them at a random place called “Mr. Smiley’s” that was indeed owned by the happiest person on Earth), took frequent day and overnight trips all around northern Thailand, enjoyed daily foot massages and again, never paid much attention to how much we were spending. In the end, I had an incredibly rewarding, fun-filled experience for approximately $500 per month. And if you’re yet to be convinced that living in paradise doesn’t have to be expensive, just last year I spent a month on the absolutely perfect Thai island of Koh Mak, where a simple but super-comfortable beachfront bungalow set me back only $300 for four weeks!
Of course, the above isn’t even close to being an exhaustive list of countries where one could live for $1000 or less per month. These are just a selection of my personal experiences in order to help debunk the myth that living overseas, even in a first-world country such as Australia, requires some sort of winning lottery ticket. Had I wanted this post to be any longer than it already is, I could have added Argentina, Indonesia, Nepal and a few others to the list.
I also know that there are other expenses involved with such a trip as well, most notably the flight from your home country to wherever it is you want to go, but even with that cost, chances are you’ll still end up spending less per month than you’re spending right now. And again, that fact alone should help eliminate ‘money’ from your list of excuses as to why you’re unable to do some traveling or live overseas for a while at this point in your life.
There certainly may be other obstacles standing in your way, but now that we’ve tackled one of the biggest ones, we’ll start to tackle the others in the near future as well!
Have you ever lived somewhere around the world on less than $1000 per month? Or perhaps you’ve always thought that such cheap international living was impossible?
There are some parts of the world (Southeast Asia comes to mind) where Dan and I have been able to live together for about $1000 per month! It really is incredible how you can eat like a king for a few dollars in many parts of the world. And, decent accommodation can be a bargain too (especially when you consider wifi).
Right now we’re trying to find a sublet in Central Europe to do some work for a few months. It’s pricier than we’d like. We’re wondering if it might be more cost effective to just pay the price of the ticket to Thailand and go from there. And, then you’ve got the benefit of Thai food every day…
Audrey´s last blog ..Panorama of the Week- Guatemala’s Most Beautiful Cemetery
Hey Audrey – I’ve always said that once the thought of going to Thailand enters one’s mind, no matter how many times you’ve been before, there’s no turning back! I imagine Central Europe would be a difficult place to keep a $1000/month budget, unless you chose a somewhat small, out of the way town in the countryside (which I did once outside of Brno in the Czech Republic). But if you weigh that option against the availability of cheap and tasty Thai food, I could see why Thailand seems like a good option…
Now I’m curious to see where you two end up!
Hey Earl,
Wow, I loved this post. I’ve never really traveled to any of these places you mention but would love to try it out sometime.
I’ve only traveled around europe and even then did not choose the backpacker way but rather stay in cheapish hotels and just enjoy it. It ends up costing me a few thousand per month traveling this way, which is indeed expensive.
Backpacking is definitly on my list soon:)
Cheers
Diggy
Diggy´s last blog ..The 7 Links Challenge
Hey Diggy – Backpacking is the way to go if you’re interested in traveling on the cheap. And if you decide to stay in one place for an extended period of time and rent a house/apartment, you’ll end up living more comfortably than when you stay in cheapish hotels in the end! You could turn what you spend in one month into a six month backpacking adventure without having to live ultra-cheaply. Of course, Europe would be a little more expensive but there’s plenty of other regions of the world to explore….
I hope you do get a chance to do some backpacking at some point and I really appreciate your comments here!
Wow fantastic. This gets me so excited because after about a year of building a business Its finally working so I can have this lifestyle.
I was wondering though, does anyone have any tips on how to find apartments? Craigslist seems over priced sometimes, is it best to just book a hostel for a week on and then walk around looking?
Hey Andy – I’ve always found for most developed countries you’ll be able to find a website to help you find apartments. As I mentioned in the post, Gumtree.com works well for Australia, as well as a handful of other countries around the world as well. But at the same time, it is always wise to check out a place in person before committing to paying any rent.
In the dozen or so places where I’ve rented an apartment overseas, it never took me more than about three days to find something, just by walking around, calling phone numbers on “For Rent” signs and just asking everyone I meet if they know of any apartments available.
Awesome! I’m wondering, what kind of internet access did you have at these places?
Hey Doug – As internet is important to me because of my work, I’ve generally chosen places that offer excellent internet access. Calcutta is really the only place where I didn’t have any internet, except at a handful of slow internet cafes. Even McLeod Ganj in India has an internet service that you can purchase by the month. Here in Mexico, most apartments come with free wi-fi and there are dozens of cafes in every major town that offer free wi-fi as well. I generally found the same to be true in Thailand as well (just not on the remote island I visited!).
Yes… $1000/month is many countries is absolute luxury. If that’s all you need to live each month, it’s not much to earn either. So it makes you wonder what the point of earning $100,000/year is. There is just no need to put yourself under undue pressure.
Adam @ Sit Down Disco´s last blog ..Bali Travel- Kuta- Legian & Seminyak
Hey Adam – You’re right, it changes the entire formula! Instead of trying to earn enough money to afford expensive items (that we don’t really need), it is far easier and far more rewarding to live in a place that offers a comfortable lifestyle for an amount of money that we can afford. It also helps each person figure out what their true priorities are and what ‘luxuries’ are most important to them. I don’t want to spend my money on an expensive watch or car, but I’d gladly pay a little more for proximity to healthy local food and a white sand beach!
Wow! What an amazing post, Earl! I am so excited to see you sharing this information with the world. I am really curious to know how you fund your travels. Does your income come from blogging or another source? (I hope this isn’t too personal!)
I will definitely be sharing this post with my readers tomorrow.
Cheers,
Dena
Dena´s last blog ..I Am a Motivational Speaker
Hey Dena – Thank you so much for including this post in your weekly Carousel! I always appreciate being listed alongside those excellent posts you find!
At the moment, I fund my travels through eBook sales. My main eBook, which I wrote with a friend, is an insider’s guide to cruising that is based upon my 4.5 years of working on board cruise ships. And from the time I stopped working on board ships (about two years ago), that’s kept me going while I’ve been working on a handful of new internet projects to be released within the next few months. So hopefully those will work out as well!
What? As an avid reader of Travel and Leisure, I know for a fact that living overseas must cost at least $100/night and include an infinity pool and room service
All sarcasm aside, it’s good to see the McLeod Ganj numbers as that’s where we will probably land ourselves after Thailand. Good to know we’re going from one cheap spot to another!
@audrey yes, do go to Thailand! It’s where all the cool kids are!
Kyle´s last blog ..A Conscience Act of Serendipity
Hey Kyle – You won’t be disappointed with McLeod Ganj! Instead of renting a hotel room, you can also rent a small home in the area right on the side of the mountain, with unreal views, for not much more. That would probably be a bit more comfortable for two people. That area is perhaps one of the cheapest parts of the world that I have ever come across. There are even free daily classes on Tibetan Buddhism and the Tibetan language…
And instead of an infinity pool and room service, there is a community pool up there that is fed from a waterfall and the wild monkeys will enter your house and clean up any left over food or trash that is lying around!
Great post Earl – this is really useful information to share with people. I’m really glad to hear that Mexico is so cheap as we’d like to spend some time there, but had heard Mexico was one of the more expensive places in Latin America to travel. Isn’t Playa de Carmen quite touristy too?
We have found that we spend far less when we rent an apartment for a month or so rather than travelling around. We came across a modern 2 bedroom house for rent in a small town in Paraguay for under $100, so it is definitely possible to live really cheaply in some places. We are paying more like $800 a month in Argentina but our apartments have been really nice, and we don’t need much for food.
Erin´s last blog ..The Benefits of Selling Everything You Own
Thanks Erin!
I think Mexico can be as expensive as one wants it to be. You can easily find a luxury apartment for $2000/month and in the case of Playa del Carmen, you can also find a $300/month apartment on the same block! But I’ve yet to pay over $500/month down here and these have been some of the nicest apartments I’ve lived in.
It is a bit touristy in Playa, however, I do live about ten blocks away from the main tourist zone. So although I may pass a handful of tourists in the street every day, I’m quite far removed from the tourist shops, restaurants and Starbucks, and pretty much have a stretch of white sand beach to myself on any given day. I’m also forced to speak Spanish where I live as very few people speak English in this part of town. I think that in the end it’s always possible to have a completely local experience in Mexico even in an area that sees a lot of foreign visitors as being so close to the US, almost every region of this country has now become used to tourists.
I lived in Rio de Janeiro (Ipanema Beach near Leblon). Half a block from the one of the best beaches in the world, in arguably the best location in the city for $550/mo renting a room in a large flat.
It was an eye opener, I stayed there for a year. The best time of my life.
maverick´s last blog ..Why Computer Programmers Can’t Pickup Women
Hey Maverick – Thanks for sharing another example of a cheap (but amazing) overseas living experience! Renting a room in a shared apartment or house is definitely a great way to save money, especially in a typically more expensive location such as near a beach or in the center of a major city. And as a bonus, it makes it quite easy to meet people, helping one to adjust to new surroundings much more quickly.
On a side note, I’m always interesting in living near beautiful beaches so thank you for giving me another option to consider!!
Earl, I’m spending way over $1k for rent alone, in SD
The picture of your bungalow: absolutely stunning! And to think for that cheap? Holy S*&%
Moon Hussain´s last blog ..Are You Creating Weak Backlinks
Hey Moon!! How’s it going out there in SD??? Honestly, I fell in love with that bungalow on Koh Mak and didn’t want to leave at all. I would probably still be there today if there was a better internet connection on the island as I wasn’t able to get any work done during the time I spent there. But that was one of the most magical places I have ever stayed!
Another post that everyone should read! Keep spreading the word.
Brian´s last blog ..The Kroschel Film Wildlife Center
Thanks so much Brian! I appreciate you taking the time to help pass this post around!
Ahhh, this post is a keeper to re-read before the next move. This village at the Mexican Pacific sounds like my thing.
Of course, you are completely right, Earl. An acquaintance of mine recently rented a flat in Germany for 3000 euros a months. Just the flat. And he’s doing a boring (although well-paying) manager job. 3000 EUROS. I couldn’t believe it, and that’s in a small, kinda boring city.
As for me, I experimented a little with “How low can you go”, and lived for 200 dollars a month in Colombia and in Venezuela. I couldn’t get any lower, probably, and am now spending probably some 300-400 dollars a month. If you’d want more luxury, you’d still be fine with 700-800 bucks.
Fabian | The Friendly Anarchist´s last blog ..Balance
$200 per month?? That’s impressive Fabian…and the fact that $700-$800 is enough for a comfortable life down there is exactly what I’m talking about. I know that not everyone wants to travel, but for those who do wish they could spend more time overseas, you’ve shown another example of how very realistic that goal is for many people.
As for the 3000 Euros…I can’t even comprehend that really. That’s almost enough to live well for a year in many of these interesting parts of the world that are being mentioned in the comments here!
Great post, very informative & encouraging for those of us who are considering a life change like this. Thanks for sharing & providing so many great details for us!
Hey Ali – Thank you for commenting and I’m happy that you found the post useful! I’m also glad to hear you’re considering such a life change and if you ever have any specific questions, feel free to send me an email…
I’m a huge fan of this type of post. They get me really excited to work for the day, so I can get one step closer to being able to live abroad! Thanks for putting some great work into this. Now I’m off to get this business up to $1,000+ monthly revenue
Nate´s last blog ..damm- that’s a fine name
Hey Nate – Every step counts and I can’t wait to hear of the day when you take that step and move overseas! And keep in mind that there’s plenty of place where you can live for less than $1000. It might pay to start in one of those because once you make the move, you’ll find yourself even more motivated to work on your business so that you don’t have to return home!
Hey Earl
I am currently living in Nuevo Vallarta, about 30 minutes away from Sayulita! Surfing is my main hobby here, did you master it eventually?
Cheers,
Federico
Hey Federico – I’m definitely familiar with Nuevo Vallarta as I passed by it on my bi-weekly trips from Sayulita to Puerto Vallarta for a night on the Malecon. As for surfing, I wouldn’t exactly say that I mastered it, but I could definitely ride a few waves each time I went out! I think Sayulita is one of the best places to learn surfing – perfect waves, warm water, friendly (and helpful) local surfers and not too crowded. I had an absolute blast over there!
I knew that Asia and Mexico were pretty cheap but I was surprised at the prices in Australia! My hurdles to traveling are not money so much as the desire not to leave my pets for too long, and some health issues that haven’t resolved as quickly as I’d like.
Jennifer Barry´s last blog ..6 Life Lessons from a Murder-Suicide
Hey Jennifer – Many people think Australia would cost a lot more, but Melbourne is actually quite an affordable place. You can really do so much for so little over there, especially with the variety of free events that seem to take place every week throughout the city.
And I can see how pets would get in the way of long-term travel but I’m sure you’ll get out there and do some traveling when the time is right! And I do hope that your health issues are resolved soon so that you’ll have one less hurdle to climb…
True to all of that Earl! For the last two years of travelling in Africa, South America, and Asia, I have managed to spend around the same amount per month as rent for my room in University in the States (about $500). I also don’t try to be a super stingy saver either, but just avoid unnecessary things like impulse buys.
Migration Mark´s last blog ..Carnivorous Meat Platter in Montevideo
Hey Mark – Even with all of the eating you do you manage to keep your expenses under $500?? I guess you have your spending priorities all in order!
Impulse buys are a major budget killer. These days I never buy anything the first time I see something I’m interested in and usually by the next morning I’ve forgotten what had caught my attention. So I’d much rather save that money!
It’s surprising how people don’t realize just how cheaply you can live in other parts of the world. And if you’re strapped for cash, you can live much cheaper than $1000/month. You can just rent out a room or get roommates, or heck even live in a dorm for a bit. While not the most luxury of lifestyles, it’s a cheap way to see the world!
Laura´s last blog ..Likoma Island- A Little African Paradise
Hey Laura! That’s the thing, $1000/month is actually much more than one would need in many parts of the world. There have been quite a few comments here showing how $500/month (and less) is possible as well. And there are always ways to cut down travel expenses even further like you mentioned. Having roommates is perhaps the best way as it offers a cheaper place to live and an instant social life wrapped into one! And if you’re sharing a place with local people, it’s even better of course…
Thanks for your comments Laura!
Indonesia is also very good value for money.
Hey Mike – Indonesia is indeed an excellent value. The month that I once spent in Sumatra barely cost me anything and it was one of the most rewarding travel experiences I’ve ever had. I’ll never forget the lakeside bungalow I rented (at Lake Maninjau) for about $3/night. It was basically a small house only 5 meters from the water and views of the surrounding volcano crater from my bed.
I am really eager now to settle in and reap some of the benefits of living in a single place once I make it back to Asia! Although in many of the places you mentioned you can also travel for under a $1000, Australia was actually pricey for the backpacker versus living somewhere!
You’ve also intrigued me with how cheap Thailand is…I’m considering bouncing every couple months between Thai and Bali!
I guess it can’t get much better than alternating between Thailand and Bali for a while! And I agree about Australia, backpacking around the country costs a lot more than staying put in one place. Once you eliminate those long bus or plane rides that are needed to get from one place to another, expenses drop drastically.
Looking forward to hearing more about your adventures in Bali and your well-deserved extended day over there!
I’m going to do my best to live in Kigali, Rwanda for under $1000. But this city is a lot more expensive than I thought and full of tempting Western restaurants and cafes. Rent is $400 in a shared house and internet is about another $60 (expensive, but it’s a modem so I can take it with me everywhere). Besides those expenses my only costs will be food, socialising and transportation Moto taxis are under $1 per trip and I’m hoping to cook for myself a lot. There are cheap restaurants and bars and Western ones so I’m going to have to hunt out the bargain spots. I think I can do it… I’ll let you know in a month!
Thanks Kirsty for sharing those details about Kigali! I don’t have too much experience with Africa myself so I was definitely wondering if $1000 would be reasonable over there as well. Of course Rwanda is just one small part but it seems like you may be able to pull it off…especially if you cook for yourself often. Avoiding restaurants is an excellent way to save money in most places, although in India or Thailand it always seems cheaper to eat out.
Is the shared house you’ll be staying in quite decent? Please do let us know in a month how it goes!!
Great post, Earl. The initial obstacle of getting somewhere cheaper is the biggest hurdle of them all – life in many places on earth can be cheaper, tastier (street food, FTW!) and culturally fascinating. SEA draws me back consistently, but there are a slew of other places to live if you just tae the time to see where you feel comfortable. I’ve told people asking for advice that they should make a list of the ‘must haves’ in a new location – is good internet a must? do you need to have your own bigger kitchen to cook? etc – and then start narrowing down destinations with that list.
Safe travels! Was great to meet you (albeit briefly) in NY.
-Jodi
Hey Jodi! Your advice is spot on. Taking some time to find the most suitable location ahead of time is the way to go and like you said, depending on one’s goals, it will probably be easy to eliminate certain places. Otherwise, how does one choose a destination out of the hundreds of places where one can live quite cheaply?? For example, while the Thai island of Koh Mak that I mentioned above is AMAZING, it’s not so good for anyone trying to get some work done on the internet, just as I found out the hard way. (It’s also not a good place for anyone who is bothered by giant spiders sharing their bungalow either.)
Had I followed your list of must-haves advice earlier in my travels I would have avoided quite a few disappointing experiences!
And hopefully we’ll meet again somewhere out there…perhaps in SEA as I am drawn there quite often as well!
Great post and oh so true. It’s been a few years, but I had a room for $65/month in Guatemala, renting from a local pharamcist with a couple extra rooms. I lived a year there off the sale of a $4000 used car back home. Truth be told, I easily live for under $1000/month in the US too (when I’m here) thus making it easier to put aside that pesky plane ticket money.
Kevin´s last blog ..My Lucky Thai Car Accident-
That’s quite incredible Kevin – $4000 spent in one year! That certainly confirms the idea that you can live overseas for MUCH less than what most of us spend at home. I see rooms advertised for rent everywhere here in Mexico and if you can get an apartment for $300/month, those rooms can’t be much more than $100. If one doesn’t mind living simply, there’s no limit to how cheaply one can live in many countries around the world.
1000/month seems reasonable to me. Funny how I was rarely able to achieve that when I actually had a corporate job! Now without a paying job 1000/mo is my goal. Here’s to hoping I can make it work in Tel Aviv while I soak up the culture and political history.
Adam´s last blog ..Out of the Loop when Abroad- Missing Movies
Hey Adam – I’ll be interested to know how it works out in Tel Aviv and if you stick to your goal. I’m sure it’s possible! $1000 is more than doable in many places, especially after spending some time on the road and figuring out what one’s travel priorities are. As soon as I realized what expenses I could easily eliminate without negatively affecting my experiences, my costs dropped and I was able to keep on traveling.
I have to add that living in the Philippines is just as cheap. You can get a fully furnished place in a high rise condominium for just about $300/month. Food is cheap as well.
Australia sounds interesting. I have always thought that a developed country would make me bleed at least $1000 a month! Will definitely be there next.
Mela´s last blog ..Almost there
Hey Mela – You did a great job of promoting the Philippines with that comment!! I was actually just talking to a friend today who told me the exact same thing. He lived there for a while in a completely modern apartment for $350/month and said he didn’t even come close to spending $1000 per month. That’s good to know for my future travels!
I think Australia is cheap (for a developed country) if you stay in one place. As soon as one starts to travel around between states and cities, it suddenly becomes expensive because of the bus and flight costs involved to cover such long distances. But one month in Melbourne definitely can be done for less than $1000…
Thank you for sharing your comments!!
Rock on dude!
I’m not living in typical “paradise,” but I’m in Wroclaw, Poland (my birthdplace, a bit of a “homecoming”) right now and I love it. I rented a room (I have a flatmate) for about $125/month USD including all utilities.
I’m struggling to spend even close $1k/month.
Cheers,
Karol
Karol Gajda´s last blog ..How To Learn Absolutely Anything and Everything
Thanks so much for reading Karol!
Your setup at home seems to be an amazing deal and much cheaper than I would have imagined for Poland. Hmmm…perhaps it’s time for me to visit my good friend in Gdansk who’s been asking me to visit for the past few years…
And I definitely don’t think ‘paradise’ always has to be about white sand beaches and palm trees. If we’re loving wherever it is we may be living, then I’d say that’s our paradise until we decide to move on. So I’m happy to see you’re loving your homecoming at the moment!
I live well in the U.S. for $1000 a month. I suppose I could live even better in some of these countries. When I visited Panama last year I wasn’t able to find a cheap apartment although I’m sure they exist. In some locations it is hard to find the places that aren’t aimed at tourists.
Andy Hough´s last blog ..Shower in the Dark
Hey Andy – That’s an excellent point as it does take a little work sometimes to find a more local (and affordable) place to live in many countries. Every time I called an apartment rental agency here in Mexico, they would always try to convince me to check out some $2000/month place in the center of the tourist zone. Finally my friend and I started knocking on doors of apartment buildings, asking for the owner’s or manager’s number and calling them directly. With this method we started finding places that were along the lines of what we were looking for.
And living in the US for $1000 per month is of course very realistic as well, just as you’ve pointed out. A big key, whether you’re living in your home country or overseas, is having your spending priorities in order. Once you know exactly what you want to spend your money on, it’s much easier to keep spending under control.
Thanks for commenting!
Nice article! I’m going to pass it along to my more “stationary” friends and maybe get them motivated to start moving about!
I stayed in a rooftop hotel room in McLeod Ganj for a month as well- with those amazing snow-capped views! I miss it! Dinner next door was .50 cents and a cappuccino down the road for another .50 cents a pop. Heaven!! Your article now has my nomadic wheels spinning on the next “home”.
Thanks again and travel safe!
Hey Crystal – That’s the idea! Spread the word around and hopefully some others will realize that such travel isn’t that far-fetched of an idea after all…
I’m curious when were you in McLeod Ganj? I typically return every year when I visit India as I just can’t get enough of the peaceful vibe up there as well as the spinach momos!
Thanks for the commenting and let us know when you decide where your next home will be…
Hey there!
I was in McLeod the summer of 2006 for the month of June. Just across the street from the LHA @ the Tibetan Ashoka guest house. Loved it! And I miss those momos too!
Awesome that you get to head back there often. I haven’t been back, but its on the list!!
Take care!
crystal street´s last blog ..Photographer
That’s excellent that you were up in McLeod for a month. It’s a hard place to leave! And I know the Tibetan Ashoka, I stayed there once when the Drepung Loseling Guesthouse (where I normally stay) was full. It’s definitely a good place.
All this talk about McLeod is dangerous, I might just drop everything and head straight there!
I love seeing how cheaply I can live for months on end (in the USA that’s not always easy), it’s nice to know that when I can finally pack up and move away it will be incredibly easy and inexpensive. Thanks for the many suggestions. I will probably pick one of them for my first adventure in overseas living. Most likely Playa del Carmen.
Osborne
Hey Osborne – Whenever you start deciding where you might want to go for your trip, let me know if you have any questions, especially if any of the places above interest you. Mexico is definitely a great place to start and there’s no shortage of culturally-interesting, affordable places to live around here!
This is great information. Thank you! India surprises me, as does Australia. I am temporarily living in NSW Australia, and I find it to be quite expensive. My accomodations are free, thankfully (housesit) but the prices of petrol, groceries, etc. is a loooot more than home (the U.S.) I’m glad you got to make it on $1,000 or less a month, though.
Thanks for the comment Sabina! I think Melbourne was cheaper for me because I lived so close to the center of the city and so I didn’t need a car and I didn’t even need to spend money on the city trams as I could walk almost everywhere. If I needed to use public transportation, my expenses would have increased by another $100+ easily per month. And Melbourne also has a HUGE farmer’s market where fruits, vegetables, even breads and cheeses, are incredibly cheap. It’s definitely quite an affordable place to live…
I hope you’re enjoying your time in NSW, even if you’re spending a little more money than normal!
You make an excellent point and it’s actually why I’m considering extending my passport [it expires when the world ends...
] so I can travel even longer! I’ve been in the Philippines for about 6 months and I can seriously see myself living here for a couple years, if not more! Average monthly earning is only about $200/mo.. which isn’t actually enough to live on which is why in Asia, I assume, the model here is more about family/community than the individualistic American culture. It’s nice though… I REALLY am tired of the American way of life, and consumption. I’m a minimalist at heart and even more so as a traveler! The only thing holding me back from taking this mental plunge of being a (permanent?) expat is my darn traditional notion of wanting to find someone and maybe one day start a family. I’m not married to that idea though… Expats, fellow travelers, are definitely looking attractive lately. Maybe I can find someone as crazy as I am with that seemingly permanent wanderlust 
Janet´s last blog ..What Do You Do With a Philosophy Degree
Hey Janet – The good thing about being a nomad is that it doesn’t have to be permanent. You can stop at any time, whenever you feel that your life needs to change directions, so why not go ahead and extend that passport! And I’ve always believed that as long as you stay true to what you want out of life, the right person to share it with will come along at some point, no matter how unconventional your lifestyle.
I love reading posts like this! When I was sitting in my cubicle these types of posts got me excited and motivated for the future. Now, as I prepare for my upcoming journey I get a surge of excitement in anticipation of finding my own way as I travel through the world. There is this stereotype that you need an incredible amount of money for long term travel. Often it’s much cheaper than living in one’s home country and city. These places you listed are just a few of the many that you can live comfortably for under $1000 a month. However, the list is diverse and backed up by real world actual on the ground experience. I wish more people realized how possible this all was!
Hey Mark – I think it’s great that you’ve already moved from the cubicle to the travel preparation stage! That’s a huge step, perhaps the toughest one to take. And it sets another great example for potential travelers that such a change is possible.
I shall look forward to reading about your upcoming journey!
Hey Earl,
I am interested in going to Koh Mak. How did you find the place you rented, and what is your rick to find accommodation? Do you stay in a hostel or hotel until you find the right pad?
@pixeltrek – Koh Mak is actually quite a small island with basically two main beaches, so I just showed up, checked out a few places and chose the one I liked best. Ao Kao Beach has about 15 different places for accommodation, ranging from resorts to mid-range bungalows and a handful of budget places, but the beach wasn’t so nice. I stayed on Ao Soun Yai which is an amazing stretch of beach. There are only two places to stay there – the Koh Mak Resort (which isn’t really a resort) that offers a range of bungalow from about $30 – $100 US per night and Suchanaree, a friendly, family-run place that has six simple, but comfortable bungalows for rent. I stayed at Suchanaree. The rate was about $13 USD per night but they gave me a discount for a longer stay. Here’s the link to Suchanaree’s page on Travelfish.org: Suchanaree Bungalows
When I travel to places that are not as isolated as Koh Mak, I do usually stay in a hostel for a few nights until I find a place. It rarely takes more than a few days to find something and normally, talking with the staff at the guesthouse/hostel will give you some good leads for places to rent!
Thanks alot Earl, Big Help. I am planning out my looonnnggg trip for departure in OCT.
Question: How do you support yourself? I am a photographer/filmmaker/web designer and am looking at providing my services to get accomadations etc. I would be curious to hear your thoughts on this.
pixeltrek´s last blog ..Wenatchee BlueGrass Festival 2010
Hi Earl, interesting, especially the Australia one!
I’ve lived for less than a thousand a month, when I was still studying back in Indonesia. I lived in a sharing house with other 20 or so people, and the monthly rent was only about $60. It was about 10 years, ago, so I can expect that price to be doubled or so now. The room was not bad, 3×4 m. The kitchen don’t have permanent roof, and there are only 2 oil stoves to serve more than 20 girls. They exploded once or twice. There were only 3 bathroom so we had to wake up early if we wanted to shower before we left for school.
Dina´s last blog ..Top 3 Pieces of Traveling Advice by Travelers Around the World
Hey Dina – That sounds like one interesting place to live. I can only imagine the challenges involved with living with more than 20 other people in such conditions. But, hey, for $60 per month you can’t complain too much! Hopefully you and Ryan are living more comfortably these days…
It could be even much cheaper than $60
At one point, Ryan stayed there when he visited me. Ryan got bitten a lot by the bedbugs there – something I didn’t realize before existed on my bed! Ryan’s guess was, my legs was short enough to be tucked in completely under blanket, while his were not. Or… at that time I was just so used to it, I don’t even care when I woke up with bites…
(yeah, it’s more comfortable now
)
Dina´s last blog ..Top 8 Animal Street Signs from Australia and New Zealand
Thanks so much for this post! I’m planning on a big backpacking trip starting next yea – and I’m definitely looking at ways to live on less than $1000 a month. Thanks again!
Hey Earl,
$300 for a studio a month??? AMAZING! I’m just starting to get into traveling. I just completed a semester abroad in France and needed to be on a budget. You don’t really mention transportation at all. I don’t know where you are coming from but a flight to Mexico from where I live would be incredibly expensive. What do you recommend for finding cheap flights? I’ve used studentuniverse.com a number of times and I think they are the best but I like to look at all of my options. Thanks for the article!
Hey Rach – Thanks for visiting the site! And it is amazing that one can live down here in this part of Mexico for so cheap.
As for flights, I’ve been flying to Mexico from Florida the past few times and so my flights have been relatively cheap (under $100) on JetBlue. I pretty much fly with them if I’m headed to Mexico or Central America as they are often the cheapest. Other than that I normally check as many different airfare sites as possible to find the best fares, but I also have a ton of frequent flyer miles at this point and so I usually use those for longer flights!
I’m so glad I found this post. Most of the people here are relatively young, but I’m a 63-year old who was laid off over a year ago and not finding work. Thinking of doing what I always wanted to do and live abroad for a few years. Nice to know I can do it for under $1,000/month since my SS Retirement is just a little over that. I’ve traveled alone to Europe several times as well as to Central America and Israel, so I’m up for the adventure and love meeting new people. Thanks for all the suggestions. I’m thinking either Poland or Greece to start with. I’ve been to Greece twice and love it and it’s a cheaper European option. Any other seniors out there considering this?
Hey Susan – Thanks so much for your comment and I think it’s wonderful that you’re considering to live overseas. There’s no reason for age to be a factor at all and if you want to experience Greece, then there appears to be nothing stopping you at the moment. So I say go for it! You might want to have a read of the following post as well as it might give you some ideas for finding cheaper accommodation in an otherwise more expensive place. “How to Rent an Expensive Apartment for a Budget Price”
Hey Earl, thanks for alot of your info!!! I have my fight booked and the apt rented for OCt. I’m going to Chacala, MX to help build a school and get my Spanish up to par. I also have a gig for Nov in Santa Cruz, MX where I provide filmmaking services to a resort for rent. It is all good…
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