I was a digital nomad from 2015 to 2020, with a home base in Costa Rica. I regularly spent hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars less each month than I do now that I live in the US. And it wasn't just because I lived in affordable places.
While I spent a lot less in regions like Mexico and Central America, my cost of living was still lower when I spent a few months traveling through Europe or Asia.
When I lived abroad, I barely had any bills, and I found it easier to keep rent low. But my mindset while living abroad really helped me save: I didn't feel the need to spend money to enjoy myself.
My fixed costs were 2 to 3 times lower when I was traveling
When I moved back to the US, to my hometown of Portland, Oregon, my fixed costs skyrocketed. I've spent anywhere from $1,000 (with a roommate) to $1,700 on rent since moving back in 2020.
I lived in various parts of Costa Rica, where I paid $300 to $600 a month to rent furnished homes I found via word of mouth. I found the best deals on housing by booking a cheap hotel or hostel for a week and waiting until I got to a new place to look for rentals in person.
The most I ever spent on housing while traveling was around $800, the month I traveled through Japan and Vietnam and stayed in a mix of hostels and capsule hotels that ranged from $5 to $10 a night in Vietnam and $15 to $50 a night in Japan.
To keep housing costs low, I did a lot of what's called "slow travel." I tried to spend at least one month in each place rather than hopping to different locales every few days. You can get better deals by renting a furnished house or apartment for a few months. Even Airbnb hosts will often offer a steep discount if you're willing to stay for at least one month, especially in the offseason.
I also had far fewer bills and no debt when I was living abroad. Utilities and internet were always included in the short-term rentals I stayed in. I didn't own a car for most of my time abroad, so that got rid of a car payment and car insurance. I could also afford to pay for medical and dental care out of pocket in Costa Rica, so I opted for a cheap travel insurance plan instead of US health insurance.
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I did work exchanges in more expensive areas to save money
I also subsidized my housing costs in more expensive areas by doing work exchanges for room and board that I found through Workaway International. You can browse the website for vetted hosts all over the world who are looking for "volunteers" to help on their farms, at their hotels, and more, and they'll offer a free place to stay and sometimes meals in exchange for part-time work.
In fact, I went down to Costa Rica to do a work exchange on a sustainable ranch for a few months, but I ended up staying for five years. It was the perfect introduction to a new country I'd considered moving to. I got to know locals, learned more of the language, and gained a better understanding of the culture before fully moving in.
During the summer I spent traveling through Europe, I offset the cost of staying in different cities every few nights by doing a work exchange for one of the three months. I stayed and ate for free on a vineyard in a small medieval town in Tuscany owned by a sommelier. In the mornings, I would spend an hour or two cleaning the owner's natural pool and weeding her garden, and then another hour or two helping her build a website for her wine tours.
I had afternoons, evenings, and weekends free to do my own work and explore the area. My costs for that month were minimal, and I learned a lot about wine production and Italian culture through my host, who even taught me a few family recipes.
I spent one summer living in New York City thanks to a work exchange I found on that same website. I hopped around the city doing in-home pet sitting gigs for a couple of New Yorkers who owned a pet sitting business. In exchange, I got free places to stay all summer and a stipend for food, and I had plenty of time to do my own work.
I didn't feel the need to spend money to enjoy myself when I lived abroad
I found it much easier to fill my days with fun, free activities while living abroad.
In the US, I often find myself feeling the need to buy tickets to a show, look up upcoming events, or go out to eat out of boredom. But when you're living in a new country, there's so much novelty and challenge in everyday life that you rarely feel bored.
I could walk around a new city and look at the unique, unfamiliar architecture, or hike through the forest and marvel at all the plants and wildlife I'd never seen back home, and feel satisfied. Basic exchanges at the grocery store or trying to figure out which bus to take had me practicing a new language and learning new things, and that felt like entertainment enough.
Going on road trips in the US pushes me back into that traveler's mindset. The past couple of summers, I've gone on monthlong road trips to various national parks and cities, car camping in free or low-cost spots along the way, and I've spent less on those trips than I do at home.
The traveler's mindset I had while living abroad encouraged me to explore, get creative, and find fun in the simplest activities. It's possible to have that mindset in the US if I push myself to approach my own country like a visitor.
This article was originally published in October 2024.
