How Much Does It Cost to Travel Full-Time?

People often assume you need to be wealthy to travel full-time. In reality, our monthly expenses on the road are often lower than our previous cost of living in a major US city. Here is a breakdown of our typical monthly budget.

Accommodation: $1,500 - $2,500

This is our biggest variable. In Southeast Asia, $1,500 gets us a luxury villa with a pool. In Europe, $2,500 might only get a small two-bedroom apartment. We use Airbnb for monthly stays to get significant discounts.

Food: $800 - $1,200

We cook about 60% of our meals at home and eat out for the rest. Street food and local markets keep costs down, while occasional Western-style meals drive the budget up.

Transportation: $300 - $600

This includes local transit, scooter rentals, and the occasional domestic flight or train ride. We travel slowly (staying 1-3 months per location), which drastically reduces flight costs.

Insurance: $250

We carry comprehensive global health insurance. This is non-negotiable for us.

Activities & Education: $400

Museums, tours, online curriculum subscriptions, and the occasional splurge like a snorkeling trip.

Total: ~$3,250 - $4,950 / month

By geo-arbitraging (earning in USD while living in countries with a lower cost of living), we are able to save more money now than we did living a traditional lifestyle.