Comments on: How To Live On $30 A Day

By: Al

Al — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 00:20:14 +0000

I am living on $29.23 (US) a day in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, of call places. I say that because it’s well known that PV is among the more expensive cities in Mexico because it’s a tourist destination. The key to living modestly (not luxuriously, I hasten to add) in any country is to learn from the locals. Find out what they buy, where they buy it, how much they spend on it. It’s a learning curve. In the beginning you will probably spend more than you need to on start-up costs, etc., but consider that “tuition.” In retrospect, I spent way more money than I needed to, but I chalk it up to two things: ignorance and the temptingly lower costs here in Mexico. Remember that many things are cheaper outside the overdeveloped West, but if you buy a lot of those cheaper things, it will still add up and break your budget. I live in a nive 1-BR apartment 7 minutes’ walk from the ocean; I walk or take the bus; I don’t run A/C in the summer; I shop at the local markets; I have high-speed Internet; etc., etc. And I don’t freeze in the winter! It’s a good life…even on less than 30 US bucks a month. If it can be done in a resort town like PV, it’s doable.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 01:18:34 +0000

“Remember these are not hard and fast numbers, they are just a guide to be refined to suit your situation.”

I took these percentages for income expenditure from a couple of personal finance sites, I can’t recall which ones as its been a while since I wrote this post now. This was really written with living in a developing country in mind, as I mentioned in the post I think transportation is high in these calculations. I don’t even spend that much now, so that could go to whatever other category you wanted it to. There is also the 10$ leway it allowed to go wherever you think it is needed.

By: Kaye

Kaye — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 01:33:17 +0000

yes I also thought the food amount was way low. I am very budget conscious, rarely eat out and my groceries cost about $280 per month for one person (in USA).

By: Dan

Dan — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:55:54 +0000

@Dominique It really depends on the person more than anything, these are just rules of thumb and allow for spending more or less on things.

By: Dominique

Dominique — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:09:22 +0000

This is way off. Food costs more and housing less.

By: Dominique

Dominique — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 09:24:09 +0000

You can live on $750 per month easily in Penang, or about $400 per month in a nice fishing village.

By: John Bardos - JetSetCitizen

John Bardos - JetSetCitizen — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:16:44 +0000

Hi Dan,

I think living on $1000 would even be possible in many developed countries. I know that my Grandmother lives on about $600 per month in Canada.

The biggest expenses are for technology and travel. Upgrading computers, cameras, iPods, monthly high-speed internet connections and air travel are where most of your budget goes.

I would say that anyone blogging about their life abroad and traveling regularly would probably need to double the budget to about $2000.

By: GotPassport

GotPassport — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:07:05 +0000

Dan,

Good post. We were in Thailand for over a month this past summer and some days, it was less than $30 a day. We are relocating to Chiang Mai in 2010 for say 2 yrs then possibly South America and working our way to Europe with trips back to the US where we will be living in an RV. We plan to do all this with our 6 yo daughter in tow!.. The best part of all this, like you said, we’re not waiting until we retire. We want to start now, while we’re young. Maybe we’ll meet up in Thailand!

By: Nomadic Matt

Nomadic Matt — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:04:07 +0000

30 usd a day is easy in Asia but not even close for Europe! Location plays a big factor into where this budget could work!

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:11:34 +0000

I haven’t the best track record staying on budget while traveling so my next trip I’m going to have to be as strict as possible. If not there is a good chance it will set my plans back a couple of months, plus I want to prove to myself that I can do it.