How Much Does It Cost To Travel The World | Our Full Time Travel Budget Expenses And Income

We discuss our retirement travel budget for the month.
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We also give a breakdown of what our income and expenses were.
Our full time retirement travel led us to Japan for the month of May. We went over budget by a bit but we also made a lot on KZbin so we did splurge a bit.
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[@JenniferCronk]

How weird is it that I look forward to looking at your budget Waymore than I look forward to looking over mine??😂

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Haha 😂😂, June is going to be very interesting.

[@WorldWanderersUSA]

Love these monthly budget videos (and all your other ones!). You guys inspired my husband and I to start a travel KZbin channel. We’ve travelled pretty extensively over the past 13 years, but are planning our full time travel adventure for 2026 :) Videos like this make me feel reassured we can fund it and make it happen!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

That is awesome!

[@manhattanrats]

I show these summaries to my wife so that she can see for herself that this can be real. Thanks for showing us all how. Robert in NYC.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thank you! Appreciate your support!

[@susieh8103]

Thank you for sharing - being so open and transparent $$ . You are truly inspirational on how it can be done and live the Dream !

[@Chris-N916]

Agreed on the transparency. Other KZbinrs I watch tend to be vague or very secretive on their income source or what they did before slow traveling. Rob and Allie lay their numbers all out and it’s very inspiring knowing if they can do it, so can we.

[@theluxuryminimalistraveler]

another great budget breakdown video, TY❤❤!! and Allie is very video/photogenic, the camera loves ya❤

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks so much!!

[@30AndAWakeUp]

Love these expense vids! Thanks for sharing!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Just saw you are in Bangkok! We are headed there next! If you'll be there any length of time let us know!

[@30AndAWakeUp]

@@GroundedLifeFinances I am in BKK until August 1st, then Kuala Lumpur for 2 months, then 3 months in BGC Manila! Let me know if our paths cross!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Yes, we will be in Bangkok while you are there. We will message you on Instagram later to see if we can meet up!

[@manhattanrats]

Key Insight That You Guys Have Given Us All: That KZbin is still in its INFANCY, and there are billions of niches that are financially exploitable. Thanks to you and your example, I've bought your KZbin Channel Course. Already been a good value. I've found a cascade of niches that I hope to mine. Thanks again. Robert in NYC.

[@manhattanrats]

FWIW, the identification of "Manhattan" and "Rats" is purposeful. It's intended to mine yet another aspect of having a KZbin channel like @manhattanrats. It's baked into the fundamental SEO optimization, as well as capturing "stray" or "unintended" Google searches for Manhattan rats.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

That's awesome, we are still early!

[@travelbungalow6267]

This is so helpful. I find your budget is so much more realistic than others I watch. Love you guys! ❤

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thank you!

[@MargretRoberts]

GREAT BUDGETING! You guys are such good role models!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thank you so much!!

[@markandannette]

Really look forward to your videos and especially budget. My wife and I just started our full time travel journey and our budget is much higher right now as we are in Italy, which is amazing. We will be going to Croatia for a month before settling in the Balkans for 4 months, our budget will get a relief once we get to Montenegro and Albania

[@chatch909]

You guys are awesome. Thank you so much for the information and inspiration.

[@MeccaMakeba]

Thank you, guys, for this video.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Our pleasure!

[@bw5911]

Love your videos!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thank you!

[@DaveM-FFB]

We recently kicked off our "travel season" with a 2 week trip, mostly on hotel points. Four cities, five hotels, and suite upgrades for 12 nights, plus several hundred dollars worth of free hotel breakfasts from our Globalist status with Hyatt. Your valuable advice on cards and point multipliers has helped us to earn nearly twice as many points as before. However, I see an Amex Gold card on the horizon for grocery purchases and 4x points. Thx!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

That's so awesome! Your talk of globalist has inspired us too! We should be earning it in the next two weeks!

[@DaveM-FFB]

@GroundedLifeFinances It turns out that we need to keep our grocery spend on the World of Hyatt Visa to put us over the top for Globalist staus with Qualifying Nights ($5K spend = 2 Qual. Nights). So no Amex Gold for now. For us, Globalist status is more important (and valuable) than an extra ~40K points.

[@melindavictorson7973]

You guys are so inspiring! Thank you!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks!

[@JulieAdventureVlogs-sg7ih]

Thank you very enlightening 👍

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Very welcome

[@elizaC3024]

Great video guys.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks so much!

[@Jennifer-ps7zt]

I love your sweater, Allie!🙂 Thank you for the excellent info, as always.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thank you!! 😊

[@maximac222]

Love your vids! I also love how astonished you appear at the fortunes you're making here! LOVE IT!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks! 😃

[@TheSicilianLife]

Oh, nice! Japan is gorgeous! What beautiful views!! Congrats on doing so very well. 😍 What a blessing!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thank you so much!

[@NomadNikkiMobileArtStudio]

I LOVE you two wonderfully informative folks! With every single one of your videos you provide useful information, wisdom and hope. Thank you! Over the course of the last year, I sold everything I own to travel full-time and I am just two weeks into my epic journey. My amazing flying hound-dog Duncan and I have taken off in the Hotel Prius and are headed to North Pole, AK to live in a yurt for a month. I have taken so much of your advice over these many months and I found a trick. A few months ago, I took your advice and got started on earning points even though I was not yet traveling. Applied for the Travellers card to avoid the annual fee, because my house had not sold yet and I wasn't travelling yet. That card gave me a huge amount of points as a bonus offer. Then nearly the next day, my house sold and I was going to be travelling 'like' now. So less than a week after applying and receiving the Travellers card, I applied and received the IHG Chase Business Premier card and received another whopping amount of points. Hallelujah!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks and amazing! Enjoy your travel!

[@robertweisberg5570]

Right now the USD is fairly strong in Japan. It is at least 35% more than the last time I went to Japan. Thats a huge difference. Japan is not inexpensive but it all depends where you eat etc. Ramen and such is pretty reasonable. On eoms oe these places the value of the dollar will matter and in a number of countries there can be buying power like Africa.

[@LaurieGeissler]

I love you two!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks!

[@sharonwalshthompson8185]

Thank you guys! Always enjoy your videos. Subscribed to your daughter’s channel, I’m always looking for book recommendations.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@gg13308]

very helpful and I would like to visit Japan. Good information!!!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

You should! It's awesome!

[@OurRetireEarlyJourney]

Thanks for sharing. We are interested in how other couples share their finances! Appreciate the insight.😊

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Our pleasure!

[@John-fh3yp]

Thank you for sharing your adventures and valuable insights. We are planning to visit Taiwan and Japan next year. Looking forward to your reviews on Taiwan!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Oh great! They'll be up next!

[@brendamichals4376]

Great job in the income- living the best life ever!!!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks

[@jacangal01]

Love your content, so motivating and gets me excited to start our journeys! What was the weather like in May?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

It was very pleasant, better than July when we were there last year.

[@SabrinaHClifford]

Thank you for answering my question about American Express not being accepted!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Of course!

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Thanks for sharing your journey through Japan. 😊 Well done on the channels 👏 👍 When will be your next repositioning cruise?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

We are cruising in a few months but it is Alaska, the repositioning dates didn't work for us this fall, coming home too early.

[@itsnotme07]

Thanks very much for sharing all this awesome info! For sure makes me think once I fire my boss...haha, little joke he and I have....that I'll be able to get some good travel in and not just stay a week like I did in Cork, Ireland back in 2008. It was a GREAT week and I squeezed a LOT in, both work and play, but it's better to have the time to play when you want. I took an 8 month sabbatical (sadly unpaid) back in 2020/2021 and I LOVED it!! Did some local travel...and it sure was fun to get up and decide what I want to do today as opposed to "I've got 2 days to get all this done". Keep doing what you do! Until the next video...

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

That is the best part, having extended time in places to not rush

[@laura_and_shanman]

GREAT video! How do you reserach the different airlines available to you in various countries? I love the concept of SHIPPING your bags!!!! That's a steal vs checking them. Thanks in advance!!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

We use pointsyeah to check the flights, it's a website

[@samkeino6810]

Remarkable watching you holding a fork and knife in the wrong hands on the plane!

[@brucebelcher4995]

I would like to see a video on the Queen Mary 2 Britannia Class. The food and amenities on the Queen Mary 2 are much better than other cruise ships. Other youtubers have done cruises on Queen Mary 2 Queen Class and Princess Class. They were great, but the cost is much more than most people would want to spend. Britannia Class is a bit pricy, but not through the roof. I bet that you would get a lot of views, and you could really enjoy the crossing.

[@laura_and_shanman]

BEAUTIFUL VIEWS out of your hotels!! How do you keep track of all the various hotels/chains/which city is best to use which points/etc. Any tips on how to research and learn tips? Do you offer a course on this at all? Thanks!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks, we are putting something together on that, hopefully soon!

[@kamsable]

Thanks for the good content, guys! A have a question though - what do you do with the address in the US? It's still needed sometimes, right? For the cards, etc.

[@2GoAwandering]

Very inspiring! We are hoping to travel full time this year. Unfortunately UK cards are rubbish and don't offer the same perks as the US cards. 😕

[@pinkmoonrisin]

Love all the info! Do you still use a permanent address in the US for billing/ credit card etc?

[@druiz012]

Im staying at the Hyatt Place in Kyoto in September.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

It's very nice!

[@lindadorman2869]

Chase will ship your replacement card(s) nearly anywhere in the world but it takes 7-10 business days. No matter how many cards you have, make sure you have accounts at different banks. Some banks will put a freeze on ALL your accounts even if only one is compromised, so you need a back-up just in case. I had this happen with Chase so now I have accounts at 3 different banks plus a Wise card. Japan looks amazing - I haven't been there since 2010...maybe it's time to go back.

[@DaveM-FFB]

Yikes!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Chase will ship, we got one in rural Vietnam, but you need to be stationary for a good chunk and time in right.

[@mississippiapple1078]

Love your content!! Question: is your media under llc? If so, do you deduct expenses?

[@druiz012]

Not a bad month spending! Have you guys made a video with your itinerary for the year?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

We did 6 months ago, but it's changed drastically so we need to update it.

[@rhondamcgee2114]

I would love to take your KZbin course, but I’m not doing anything unique or exciting right now. My husband and I are both teachers, both “retire” “rehires” in the state of Texas. He’s 59 and I’m 57. We have been fortunate enough to spend about 6 weeks total in Europe the last two summers. We based out of our son’s home in Cambridge, England, and took budget airline flights to several different countries during those times. However, we only stayed 3-4 nights in each location, so it was not slow travel. We plan to continue to work for another 2-3 years and then seriously consider the lifestyle you are living. Our son will also most likely be returning to England within that time frame, so that will gives us a “base” again. But…next time it will be slow travel. I had no idea you could get a month at an AirBnb for less than $1500 a month in so many places. I would love to do that in Italy and I just added Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland, to my bucket list. Also going to work on acquiring the credit cards you recommend and building up points. Thank you for sharing so much information. I am learning amazing things. Best regards and happy travels from Texas. 🇨🇱😊🇨🇱

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Thanks so much, you will love Lauterbrunnen!

[@kevinevers7031]

How do you plan and when do you plan for the places you visit?

[@kellinipper5492]

I was very curious about this topic since Japan is one of the more expensive places we want to visit. Good info! Just a quick observation. I heard you mention that you earned points from one of your stays this month and you considered that as a discount on the stay, and then you mentioned using points for another stay. From the listener perspective, that seems like double counting the points. I would think either count the points as discounts when you collect them or when you redeem them, not both.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

It depends on how the points were aquired. If we pay a cash rate we usually consider them as a discount. Then when we use them we treat them the same as points we buy. But we also earn points other ways without spending money, in which case we consider those free nights when we use them.

[@twbird18]

I just booked roundtrip tickets from Seoul to London on Asiana in premium Economy for ~$1K. Asiana gives you welcome coupons so I got a discount on an international flight & on the upgraded seat with my sign-up coupons. Last minute tickets to meet my sister for her birthday. I just couldn't find a good last minute point deal that wasn't an insane route. Award flight over to Seoul. Curious why you're down to 3 cards. You stay in places for a while. I've had no problem shipping my cards from my mailbox to Japan with tracking. Pricey, but pretty fast.

[@twbird18]

As an adventure next time you need a low price last minute room, a few options, try out a capsule hotel, cheap and an interesting experience. Also love hotels are actually pretty fancy, you generally don't need to book ahead, and you don't interact with any staff. If you were younger and really wanted to experience Japan life, you'd get a Karaoke room overnight, super cheap, often used by young office workers who stay out too late drinking and miss the last train.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

We've been moving every week or so in Japan, so we haven't been anywhere long enough to get a shipment.

[@Angela-ne9cy]

I'm curious about your taxes. Are your travel expenses considered a write-off since you're generating income from the KZbin channel? Do you stay outside the country (330 days) long enough to get a tax exclusion? Do you have an accountant or do you prepare them yourself?

[@5by5truckingbusiness41]

Did you guys want to try Cebu, Philippines?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

We will one day

[@ErickKen-ix3rb]

Please how?

[@Ctboosts]

Very random and specific question: Are you able to write off your points redemptions similarly to how you’d be able to write off flights, accommodation, etc, if you used cash?

[@martinguldner3990]

What about merchant codes outside the United States? Will you earn 4% on dining and groceries on you r American Express card outside the United States? While traveling in the US thinking I was I going to earn 3% in a travel category paying for museums; several museums did not use the correct merchant code so I only earned 1%.

[@kevinevers7031]

Have you found hotels/rooms, especially the furniture, in Kyoto that are designed for a person who is larger in size?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

No, we haven't found any yet. It would have to be a pretty high end hotel

[@revmd621]

Hey, my Traveling Peeps! 🥰😍♥️

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Hello!

[@lesliewilliams9072]

Do most places accept digital versions of credit cards, especially Chase Sapphire Reserve? That’s my favorite card!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

They don't all, it just depends on the country

[@EzzyDT]

Have you considered taking a ship relocation trip?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Yes, we do it all the time

[@EzzyDT]

@@GroundedLifeFinances, Thanks for all your videos and for taking the time to respond to my video. I will have to watch some of those videos.

[@MelissaC269]

Did they say why they didn’t take metal cards?

[@DianeLanglois7744]

Hello Allie & Rob! I have watched so many of your videos, I lost count. One question I do have regarding the course you have put together is; as a non US citizen, how relevant would the information be? Some of the info you share on this channel, ie the credit cards you use, I cannot benefit from. Hence why I am wondering if the content of your course is geared more towards other Americans? Thank you for your time!

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

It would be of benefit yes, the distinction of the course would be English vs. non English speakers. If you plan to do the channel in English it would be of benefit.

[@Jerry-oj6zm]

Hello -are travel price quotes cheaper when using the Amex gold travel services department vs booking directly with airlines or hotels, if you don’t have available points?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Probably not, but it could happen

[@zcavaricci]

Is your income gross or net? Your expenses are “net” but out of the total KZbin income, what was net?

[@PamandLarry]

I have been contemplating your KZbin course for a few months… did it go up? I was thinking it was only like $100, but I just took another look (just to confirm editing training because I just can’t figure it out) and saw it’s $200?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

It's always been the same

[@Reno-4570]

When you use your ihg points are you booking through IHG or do you book directly with hotel.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Through the IHG app

[@cribby2971]

Hi Rob and Allie, I know you spoke of living very affordably in hotels of Asia buying points etc. but is it still possible to do so if only living in American hotels?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

It's possible but more expensive and it would help to have a car. The city center hotels in the US are what makes it tough compared to other places, they require lots of points.

[@cribby2971]

Oh ok, thank you for replying.

[@Every_State_Park]

I'm not following the housing costs. If you used 92,000 IHG points and you bought those points with cash at the end of the year for the double points, shouldn't they be counted somewhere as a cost? I think you said you got 800k points for $4k, so shouldn't there be a cost this month of $460 ($4k / 800k * 92k)?

[@MelissaC269]

You mentioned you transferred Amex MR to Eva, but when I look at the transfer partners, I don’t see them there. Did you use Citi or Capital One points?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Amex points, we transferred to Air Canada and got the EVA flight through them

[@MelissaC269]

@@GroundedLifeFinances ahhh. Got it. That makes sense. Ok. I’ve been looking for EVA air business but only find one, ever, through Air Canada out of US. So I’m looking to get a credit card that transfers directly to EVA. Good to know that you can find two seats outside of US routes. Thank you. Love your channel. It’s inspired me to start something too. Keep up the good work.

[@frenchiemomma201]

$1,100 a night? I think I know why it's called golden week! 💲💸💲

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

No joke! The cheapest hotel we could find the next 2 nights were not cheap!

[@gennyjustdownthelane8967]

Did Chase say why you couldn’t use their card there??

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

It's because the Japanese stores card readers couldn't read metal cards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve was too thick.

[@joethecomputerguy1]

Don't know if you saw my comment on last weeks video on credit cards and how hard it is (from my first hand experience) it is for nomads to get credit cards. I did not see a reply. Anywho with much follow up and persistence I was able to get approved for the IHG via Chase. Step one for my travel internationally like you guys. After a few more months I will try another card. I need to spread the apps because of the initial spend requirements. I want those bonuses! I've done 20+ cruises in the last year. Up until now I have talked myself out of a YT channel. I have friends on teh rv community who do have channels and they always talk about how much time a video takes to do. But they are professional types and their stuff is well professional. I don't want to do a lot of editing. I know that. What' kind of time commitment would there be to do a cruise channel? Do you ever run specials on your course?

[@no2mob889]

He said he does not read the comments

[@joethecomputerguy1]

@@no2mob889 That's a bummer.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

We don't read them on the cruise channel, but we do on this one.

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

The time it takes to do a video depends on the channel. On a cruise if you are doing a room tour it's literally just walking around the room for 8 minutes and talking. Almost no edits, and a thumbnail. That takes us less than 30 minutes. People that spend lots of time are usually too concerned about perfection.

[@joethecomputerguy1]

@@GroundedLifeFinances Thanks for the reply

[@Goldwest]

Why do you recommend the Amex gold and the platinum? I have the premier.

[@maybelline888]

I thought they were recommending Amex platinum. Now they say gold in this video.

[@Chris-N916]

@@maybelline888I believe Amex Gold gives you great points multiplier for grocery spending.

[@aairsick]

@@maybelline888it depends on your spend categories

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Gold for groceries and dining! The Platinum is mostly for perks and status, so both are valuable together.

[@permaculturemom9848]

Where are you staying in Taiwan? Is it less expensive than Japan?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Yes, it is, Taipei

[@permaculturemom9848]

Thank you for replying! On the scale of affordability, is Taipei on the same level of Thailand or Malaysia?

[@jodiehebert8285]

I might have missed this, but why couldn’t you cook in Tokyo? I’m thinking because you had a hotel stay there?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Hotels yes, the Airbnb's in Japan are quite expensive so we used mostly points. We used club lounges quite a bit in the hotels.

[@LeahLeah222]

Are you all still contributing to your retirement accounts? Or you just use the cash flow as you go?

[@jennagle5554]

Is this from last year? You say "entire month on June" but it's only June 3??

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Meant May

[@harnesshouse]

Do you still have to pay US income tax?

[@frontiermusings]

Of course! Americans have to pay income tax regardless of where we are in the world.

[@karens6053]

Do you still make money from the photos you sell on adobe and shutterstock?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Yes we do

[@karens6053]

@@GroundedLifeFinances you should share what the photos still pay you too. I wondered if it was profitable. I know someone who works processing the photos people submit

[@no2mob889]

Give some back to those less fortunate in those poorer countries as you travel. Leave large tips etc.

[@HGills]

Wait .... so you guys earn 20K a month (=around $240k a year thats a pretty decent income) and budget $4k a month to live ? What happens to the rest ?

[@GroundedLifeFinances]

Invested

[@rioseventytwo1121]

You guys have WAAAAAY too much money.

[@gregjor]

From 10+ years experience f/t travel, mostly in Asia: American banks and credit card companies need an actual residential address on your account (Know Your Customer/KYC laws), but they will let you add a mailing address on their web site or app. Use a mail receiving service for that, one that will forward mail to you by FedEx/UPS. If you need to get a card replaced because you lose it or it expires, first call the card company and tell them you're traveling, ask them to send a new card to your apt or hotel, or to a local facility in the city you're in (or will be in) and hold for delivery. Pick up at their office with your passport. Premium cards and banks with good customer service (e.g. Schwab) will usually send for free, if not you may have to pay for FedEx/UPS. Open a free account with FedEx/UPS so you can get direct billing and track/redirect your shipments. Set calendar alerts for card expiration dates, then a month before that happens call the card company, tell them you need a new card shipped to you overseas. I have never had a credit card company refuse to do that, they want you to use their card. ApplePay is widely accepted in Asia (every 7-11/Family Mart, for example). Smaller businesses usually want cash, they may accept local prepaid cards you can get for transit (IC card in Japan, Rabbit in Bangkok, etc.), buy those at train stations or convenience stores. You can get balances refunded when you leave the country. You may be able to pay for those cards with a credit card, I've had mixed success with that. You will usually need your passport to get a prepaid card and the refund.