Our TRUE Cost of Living!! (first 6 months of slow travel in Europe)

[@AnimaLibera]

Don't forget that you are going to spend money, even if you don't go anywhere. You have to eat, whether it's in the US or on a months-long trip. You may go to a restaurant once or twice a week. Add all those Starbucks coffees and fast food or whatever it may be on your way to work and the happy hour drinks etc. While you travel, you don't go to work and you don't need clothes for your job. You also don't need to drive to your job and back every day. Once you subtract these things, you'll find out that you are actually not spending that much money while you're slow traveling. I usually just count my airline tickets, public transportation/taxis entrance fees/sightseeing/museums etc. and extras that I wouldn't do or buy if I were at home. If you don't go overboard on touristy stuff, traveling for months on end is actually pretty inexpensive.

[@timmaloney6441]

Most people in the U.S. spend that much just sitting home watching T.V. you're Living Life and making memories . exciting way to live .

[@JayandSarah]

Actually most don't. Average Americans do not make that kind of money net after tax. Spending that kind of money monthly to travel will break most people. I suspect this travel budget shown, comes to an end very fast. Her facial expression when it's totalled sums it up. This is not long term affordable.

[@markreid7]

I wouldn’t say most but for 2 people in a 2 bedroom apt, most spend 3500 at least being very frugal.

[@force10jc]

@@JayandSarah Based on the median household income in the U.S., it is if that is your lifestyle and you aren't maintaining a homestead elsewhere while doing so. That said, I wouldn't want to sustain that level of spending for 6 months for 2 people.

[@rosaarodriguez9968]

If you have never decided coming to Ecuador you wont have the opportunity to live the life you are living! Im glad you came to Ecuador! A lot of BLESSINGS but still be careful, Ecuador is still dangerous with those mafias from Mexico and Colombia!! And that president! 😢

[@rosaarodriguez9968]

AIR B&B IN USA is $99.00 per day!

[@SJ-lt8mx]

Dudes, the best budget hack (obvious) is eating LUNCH out, and DINNER at home. Also, travel insurance: Get full coverage, not just emergency.

[@dollimelaine]

I had a 3 tooth crown done in Belgrade, Serbia (took over a month for all) pulling bad tooth ..cleaning... everything cost total: $430. The dentist was amazing!

[@nicolagomes5526]

@@dollimelaine if you can kindly share the dentist that you went to please

[@mdsju2mia]

That’s awesome! I needed a filling while in Ecuador. $35. With a promise it would never be a problem again!

[@Pixellava]

I need a few things right now, nothing huge. The estimate is $21k. Srsly. Completely insane.

[@truesouth4784]

I am slow traveling around SE Asia and it is affordable. My annual circuit consists of Malaysia for 90 days, Vietnam for 90 days, Philippines for 30 days, Cambodia for 30 days, Bali for 30 days, Thailand for 60 days, Laos for 30 days, and a week or so in Singapore. Not necessarily in that order. My average monthly spend is around US$1500. This includes accommodation, three meals a day, transport, entertainment, visas, insurance and even onward airfares. I don't think I could afford the same in Europe.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks for sharing! Western Europe is expensive compared to Eastern Europe, but even that is more expensive than SE Asia.

[@Belaziraf]

In Thailand and Laos, never ever go to groceries. Small restaurants and street food booth are way cheaper. Even with their foreigners price system. Groceries cost more than a meal in a booth or restaurant. As an exemple, chickens here in France is around 5-6€ for a 800-1000 grams chicken. In Laos and Thailand, they're a bit smaller and range from 6 to 8 euros. Born in Laos and grown up in France, I assure you you DO NOT want to eat Lao food from booths at any cost, especially as an American or any country that is used to highly medicated and sterilized food. It's far as bad as India and such, but you still do not want to eat there. In recent time, a trend from Vietnam has been adopted to save costs. So many dogs disappear, stray dogs and those with owner. Al I'll say is that you don't want to try what is sold as lamb or game. Especially in Laos, never ever use the ATM. Go inside the bank if you need cash even if it waste a little time. When the ATM have an issue, they will always say you already got the money as long as the machine says so. Thailand is the country of smiles in Lao and Thai. Laos is too. The difference between the two is honesty. Thailand is made up of a majority of scammer smiles. Laos is more honest. But don't let your guard down. Any foreigner there is only a milking cow. When I went there, Cambodia was much fairer. I haven't visited Vietnam and won't talk about it. There are many issues with Laos. But basic advice for Thailand, ignore all talks about their sovereign. Do not answer. In Laos, do not befriend or talk to people who talk about politics. It's a matter of life or death. Litteraly.

[@truesouth4784]

@@Belaziraf That's heavy man. Good luck.

[@Belaziraf]

@@truesouth4784 Good luck ? I spend almost a year in SE Asian, true. But I'm not living there. I'm back in France now. It was an interesting trip and an opportunity to see what my country of birth really is like aside sceneries. Nothing more, nothing less. I won't return anytime soon and I still don't understand why people would go there more than once.

[@truesouth4784]

@@Belaziraf The fact that you can transition between Laos and France affords you a perspective that many of your countrymen can only dream of. Aren't you the lucky one!

[@tutornotepad]

I am staying in a private room (shared bathroom and kitchen) at the Banana Hostel in Bogata, Colombia for about $13.50 a night. It is quiet , and the internet is great!. Hostels are ideal if you want access to a kitchen. Hotels often do not provide the kitchen.

[@sirgalahad1470]

By staying in an AirBnB for 1 month, I routinely get a 35%-50% discount on the rental. Even if I know I only want to be there for 3 weeks or so, I book the entire month to get the discount. Then, I just notify them that I am leaving early due to change of plans, and the host is all too happy to relist their property for those days that I left early on.

[@AquarianConspiracy]

Oh! Thanks.Its true.

[@dollimelaine]

I always do the same. Many hosts have become my friends.

[@jeffcaplan1]

When you leave earlier than 4 weeks, do you get a refund for the extra time you paid for? My alternate process is AirbnB for 2 days, arrive, verify I like the place and then negotiate and pay less through cash with the owner, who just blocks off all the days I want to stay or extend

[@sirgalahad1470]

@@jeffcaplan1 that is a great idea also. With the monthly discount being so large, I never ask for a refund if I leave 3-4 days early. For example, I rented a flat in Brussels that was $80 per night, which of course would have been $2400 for a month with no discount. I got it for $1140 for booking for a month, which works out to $38 a night. By leaving early, there is really no "refund" to get back considering how large the discount was.

[@denisefitzgerald7653]

I had a Dental implant in Boise, Idaho and paid $3,500 out of pocket with insurance. I had titanium (best you can get) crown done in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and it was $800. A regular crown was $500. I did not use insurance. The work was superb.

[@janethiggins2725]

Zirconia implants are the best of the best. Do your research on it. They are ceremic and does not release any toxins in your body over a period if time like the ones you have.

[@makeyourlifeeasier5794]

Nice! Maybe you can recommend a good dentist there?

[@nomadjim]

​@@makeyourlifeeasier5794 Would also be interested to hear what dentist @denisefitzgerald went to in Kuala Lumpur. However, a personal recommendation I can make is for Dr. Fauziah. Her clinic is located in Publika shopping center (Solaris Dutamas). I had my teeth cleaned there last month and it was superior to any cleaning I've ever received in the US. The cost was $65 USD out of pocket. I know that it is possible to get teeth cleanings even cheaper than that in KL, but the high quality of the cleaning and the excellent staff at the clinic made it worth the higher cost. It was such a great experience I'm actually looking forward to going back for my next cleaning!

[@jgconnelly]

I traveled to Tirana, Albania in April for a chipped front tooth zirconia crown. $200 cash. Superb!

[@jgconnelly]

Lela Dental, Tirana, Albania

[@Livinglikealocal431]

You are going to love Argentina! We slow traveled Chile and Argentina and housing and dining out was very affordable.

[@michaelsix9684]

it's better to spend your money making memories than stay at home missing out on life

[@morganstubie]

Thrift stores for me!!! Globally. Bought a great coat for $2 in Asia and I still use it!

[@grennglant]

My wife had a crown replaced in Valencia, Spain, it cost her 360 euros after her Sanitas insurance coverage. In NY a crown replacement she had in 2022 cost her $4,500, which she got reduced to $4,000. After her insurance coverage of 60%, she paid $1,600 dollars. Dental care in NYC is not cheap and insurance only covers a small portion of the price. In Spain the coverage expense is less, covers more and the out- of -pocket expense will not leave you destitute.

[@MR-pr8tp]

Valencia Spain is where I have decided to move to and am 73 years old. I once attended the University of Valencia. I loved Spain way back when. So spending almost $3000 for my recent root canal and crown, it has pushed me out of the US. Done with this place so to speak. Loved Spain and have decided I will return to enjoy life as I should. Thanks for your comment.

[@CaliWeHo]

Great video! I had a dental cleaning in Trebinje, Bosnia & Herzegovina for 40 KM (20 euro, $21.95) and a visit to a Dermatologist for 50 KM ($27.43 today). Both were very professional.

[@jwinters9974]

We tend to travel on the frugal side. I just crunched our monthly average numbers for travel for 2, over 6 months in Europe: Aug - Feb, to include 30 days ea. in Lisbon, Barcelona and Paris and came out to: Lodging: $1190, Grocery: $229, Eat Out: $109, Transportation (including one transatlantic flight): $344. The crazy thing is, out of all the places we've been, Costa Rica is probably the most expensive! Total surprise..

[@thyslop1737]

That was the total cost for two for six months. So, this was approximately, 1500 tl 1800 a month?

[@jwinters9974]

@@thyslop1737 Our total monthly expenses averaged $2580...

[@jwinters9974]

@@thyslop1737 There were additional expenses. Our total monthly average came to approx. $2580..

[@angepicillo2780]

@@jwinters9974 that’s awesome! May I ask what kind of lodging and how did you find it? We’re currently in Panama for a year for $1200/month.

[@judymckee5992]

@@angepicillo2780 , I payed about $4k a month, booking through airbnb, around Europe.. This year I booked directly from owner to Lanzarote for 3 months about $1200 a month, nice lodging. Rental car $600 a month ( u don't need to) as the location is great but I like to have a car and visit different places everyday. Food , I eat in Mercadona , as they had fresh ,delicious food and they provide seating area with microwave. The food for 2 comes out $15 and I like real orange juice with it and salad.

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

From other slow travel influencers that I've seen, yes, the initial expense for clothing can be high, depending on where you buy them. Europe is more expensive than Asia overall. Also, Influencers say that they buy high-quality clothing because living in a suitcase, there's only so much clothing, and you wear them over and over. Same for shoes, which see a lot of wear. As far as "seasonal" clothing, like jackets for fall and winter, they go to thrift stores to buy these and then re-donate them when they leave.

[@CaliWeHo]

That's what I tried to do Bosnia & Herzegovina, but my literally three-week old winter jacket was refused because "the paperwork" hadn't been approved. Yes, there's paperwork that must be filled out; it's a government thing and the shop owner has no control over it. So, I had to leave my gorgeous jacket next to the garbage bins, hoping that someone who needed it would find it. That's what they told me to do. Same thing happened in Montenegro. Perhaps it's a Balkan thing, ha! Anyway, I was shocked!

[@marcietownsend3635]

@@CaliWeHo Wow. I just returned from the Balkans and saw a lot of discarded clothing around garbage bins. It was odd just as many things were odd in the Balkans. Thanks for the explanation.

[@seashell4327]

I was visiting friends in Bulgaria and they left many things by the garbage bins and whatever they left wasn't there for long. (Dishes, linens, etc.)

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

@msjannd4 Since it's happening to others, my guess is that it's a legal scam to aquire nice, unaffordable things from the decadent West. Best keep your jacket close to your vest! 😉

[@suen5006]

@@CaliWeHo Wow, that's insane that you can't donate your clothing without paperwork!

[@Zoltanthemystical]

I prefer a condo or room with kitchenette as meals really add up fast. Also if I buy groceries and prep/eat most meals at “home”, I plan ahead for groceries and grab items like protein bars, drinks, etc. to have handy when I am short of time, and am heading out. That is much cheaper than buying stuff in corner shops on the go. I also do as JP mentioned and book cheaper places a bit away from tourist areas, and walk, rent a bike or use the local transit system as needed, and I save a lot. For example, when visiting Venice I managed to originally to book an Airbnb outside of Venice and just took public transit which meant that I could significantly say versus getting a hotel inside Venice. It was also quieter and larger than spaces inside Venice and it was kind of nice to get away at the end of the day. On the flipside sometimes it’s a hassle if you miss a bus or something and have to wait because you lose time visiting those tourist attractions. So it’s kind of a balancing act finding a place that’s not too far but which is a little bit cheaper because of distance.

[@JohnSmith-SdTkt]

$2,100 for a months lodging while traveling is really reasonable. My daughter pays $3,100 a month for a dinky place in So Cal

[@JayandSarah]

We are currently 250 feet from the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro. We have an ocean view in a stunning apartment. It's $800 USD per month. In Albania we had an ocean view right at the sea in Saranda... $450 USD a month for an apartment. When vacationing you might pay $2100 USD a month for lodging but if you are travelling long term as retired, no way do you need to pay that unless you are staying in a very expensive country, or in a peak tourism town during peak summer. Our average monthly rent across an entire year is $450 USD a month.. and a total monthly spend for both of about $2600 and we live very, very well.

[@nikkibaldwin384]

So true! Our last US rental (during Covid, 1 year lease) in Prescott AZ was $2500 a month plus utilities. We literally could not find anything smaller. We’d sold our home on Flagstaff and were downsizing for a year. Now we live in Mexico in upscale housing for less than half of that rent on a year lease - and it includes utilities and internet (and a gardener. And a community pool next door). Not cheap, but definitely cheaper.

[@HannaRojas-eb2pg]

Could you share where you book such cheap stays. Just checked Airbnb for next year June/July and nothing sharper than $1100? Is there other places to look?

[@JayandSarah]

@@HannaRojas-eb2pg you are way too early to be booking

[@laurelwetzork5822]

Yea for sharing that you’re plant based - we are too - so happy to soak in your travels and the wonderful foods and markets!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Great! 🥳

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

I really liked your idea of staying in Dijon and taking the train to Paris. Even going to and from, day trips to Paris are probably a lot cheaper than staying in Paris. You can pack a lunch and see some sights before heading home. Maybe splurge and stay a night or two if you want the Paris nightlife vibe? Otherwise, it's very expensive. As you said, you can explore Lion, and ( I believe you said Stuttgart?) part of Germany. If at all possible, using public transit is the way to go!

[@DestinationRetirement]

Thank you for the honest accounting of costs. I have a house in Mérida Mexico and the restaurant scene is booming. People complain of the higher costs of dining out there now but It is all relative. My house is in the historic Centro and there are options. The market in the morning for fresh juice and produce is amazing and there is an "economic kitchen" two blocks from my house where I can pop in for the meal of the day and a beverage for around 6USD.

[@jasonwatts_wattstraveling]

Cleaning and check up....$8.10cad, x-rays are $2.70cad. If you need dental work Vietnam is the place to go, we're currently in Da Nang.

[@binkysteaver9880]

Ye, very affordable, I had a broken crown replaced in Da Nang 2 weeks ago for 170.00 US, the service was excellent, extremely modern equipment at the Australian Dental clinic in the Hai Chau district.

[@BrentKelly5]

We just got back from being on the road full time for 4 years, including Europe - the most expensive of our travels. You can’t treat this way of travel like a vacation - it’s costly but I wouldn’t trade what we did for a minute. Planning our next travels as I watch this. Enjoy! ❤

[@kimsadowski4058]

You're speaking my favorite language..."cost per"...thank for the peek inside your travel!

[@kennethkilpatrick3758]

Found a nice room in Oaxaca, MX. Private entrance, private bath, everything included for a little less than $150 a month. Good wifi. I can see the attraction of visiting some of the places you've been but on a limited budget I'd gravitate towards the bargain countries.

[@thyslop1737]

Grocerys, as you know, Stateside are now obscenely expensive.

[@jaimegarmendia3590]

Dental work in the States is expensive and continuously increasing. We live in Tucson, Arizona, where a crown can go from ~$600 to $1500, depending of the practice and the specific tooth. However, many Tucsonians go to Nogales, Mexico for that type of services, usually paying 30% or less of the US cost.

[@traveler65]

We are in Costa Rica right now and I am currently having dental work done. The crown I am having done is $600.

[@user-ti3vp9mt3z]

Dental care is a total racket in the US. Dentists earn more on average than doctors do.

[@dagmarvandoren9364]

But we. Allow this....therefore? They can. And do....its,a skandal

[@nikkibaldwin384]

We’re from AZ (Tucson-Flagstaff-Prescott-back to Tucson) and now live in Jalisco. A surgical (“reverse”) root canal cost me $1000 out of pocket for the dentist, 3-d X-rays, oral surgeon). US estimate was over $7500 with insurance

[@kriserts]

I live in NYC. Sounds like I should fly out to Tucson for my dental. ;)

[@web3tel]

Thank you for sharing these real life numbers. Now we need to work another couple year before starting travelling :)

[@NomadicRootsJourney]

We (fam of 6) slow travel, usually go to places where we can stay at least 3 months spend about $1500 a month

[@hideawayhomesllc5103]

Here in Breckenridge it's almost $40 per person per meal (burger and beer, tax and tip). It has gotten truly outrageous.

[@lauras8674]

Colorado is out of control!!

[@flutingaround]

One bar of Dr. Bronner's soap in a Colorado Walmart is $5.00. I just said no. Thankfully, some bargain staples can still be found at Big Lots.

[@malcolmnicoll1165]

Californicated.

[@SEVENTHREEANDNINE]

@@hideawayhomesllc5103 Toronto $138 is a shared meal at a fusion restaurant on edge of city.. $300 my friend shared a meal for down the road from our condos. It’s insane here.

[@MR-pr8tp]

I just had dental work done. Had a root canal, tooth broke off and will have a crown: $2906.00. A cleaning cost $139.00. I could have taken a vacation in Mexico and had dental work done. I live in central Georgia in a small town . When you shared your expense, it really frustrated me. I continue to question why am I putting up with the US and the cost of living and all other problems. So I imagine returning to Spain and being able to sit in a nice park vs cooped up in my house to avoid the heat and humidity of central GA. As I speak it is 100 degrees. Thanks for the push to make changes! Perhaps your video is the kick in the butt that I needed to make changes.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

You can do it! 🥳

[@SnapCrackleRetirement]

Fantastic video - thanks for sharing all the cost breakdowns. As for a crown, my husband is just getting one done this week and it will cost $1450 Canadian - we live in Ottawa. Dental care in Europe is affordable and highly recommend that anyone travelling to Europe to get procedures, cleanings etc. done there. I’ve had dental experiences in Portugal, Spain and Greece and all great experiences and super affordable.

[@friscoeddie3223]

Been to Europe a few times in the past, but nowadays it’s Latin America. The tourist crush in the more popular destinations has ruined the allure for me. I have lived in Cuenca for 15 years and travel all over SA, CA, and Mexico. Not even close to half way through my bucket list. I truly think slow travel through Latin America would be considerably cheaper. We have a great AirB&B here and offer a 40% discount for a month’s stay. Many Europeans have come through here for a month’s stay, or more. And the remote workers from the US make up a bunch more. And of course the lookie-loos US retirees. You two know about the dental costs here. Before it was always way cheaper to take a vacation down to Mexico and get my teeth done there as opposed to the US. Had 4 crowns done at one go in Merida. Can’t remember the price, but probably a $100 each. Still working after 30 years. When you two hit SE Asia you’re going to be shocked on how affordable it is! And that’s the place where you’re going to do a deep dive in to the street food scene. Probably better and cheaper than grocery shopping and pretty much veggie. You’ll love it there. Guaranteed.

[@dlwilliamson5644]

Frisco Eddie, Have you spent considerable time in Viet Nam yet? Thailand?

[@friscoeddie3223]

@@dlwilliamson5644 Yes. Did a trip for 3 months through Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia. Been to Thailand a few times for diving trips. Viet Nam and Cambodia were my favorites. The people, the food, and the culture were outstanding. Not to mention the costs of everything being so reasonable. Highly recommend SE Asia for traveling.

[@dlwilliamson5644]

@@friscoeddie3223 Thank you so much for your response. After living in Shanghai, China for a little over 5 years I came to love love love SE Asia. I have been to Thailand several times and Viet Nam once but only on a cycling trip. Yes, the people were lovely. Ultimately, I would love to find a school that needs a not so young (read: retired) Chemistry / Physics teacher and sports coach. I am fortunate enough to be free to find a teaching situation that resonates. I loved living in Spain and China and want to explore more cultures.

[@brianshay6836]

My wife just had two crowns replaced. After insurance, the cost was $1200 total (about $600 each). We live in Washington state on the east side.

[@kevinhobbs3543]

$1800 per crown in Atlanta.. Costa Rica $500 per Crown/Veneer.

[@makeyourlifeeasier5794]

My brother moved to the West Coast of Mexico a few years ago. His total budget is about $1500 a month...but he is very frugal!

[@tidalcreeku2b]

Getting a crown (for a cracked enamel) in NYC costs $2,500.00. Your crown in Albania was a bargain! I'm probably going to get a crown... abroad! :)

[@anitamendez116]

Great Content as always. This really helps with my travels. I’ve been traveling through Mexico and I really had to budget with the different areas. Prices very a lot throughout Mexico so I had to be mindful of where I was all the time so not to over spend. Thank You for all your hard work in compiling this information for us. 😊

[@WendyWilliamsLiving]

Seems like a bargain considering the rent on our average home in SoCal is almost $4,000! Love your videos, keep 'em coming! 🙂

[@HereThereInbetween]

Another fantastic video! As someone who is considering doing slow full time travel with a reluctant partner, this was super informative! Wait to you get to Asia-particularly SE Asia. You’ll be able to keep to your budget and then some.

[@richardzelinka9411]

Growing up in NYC, taking public transportation was a given, so I have taken public transportation, mostly subways, everywhere I've traveled, from Bucharest to Tokyo. And that includes from the airport into the city. Far cheaper than private rides. Never had a problem. Looking forward to taking the metro in Delhi in a few months.

[@pauladuncanadams1750]

Renting more than 28 days will reduce the cost for accommodations.

[@ronnie9187]

Thanks for sharing, very interesting figures. We also mostly stay out of larger cities. Not only due to costs, but also much easier for parking. Just look at the possibility for train connections. 2. If you book a week or even a month, you find better deals. Many B&B's are offering discounts for longer stays. A good example is in Italy Verde. It is in between Venice and Trieste, you stay at a lovely beach site and you have good connections to both cities and one week is not to long. Another tipp. In a lot of countries in europe people eat their main meal at Lunchtime. Many restaurants offer special lunch deals. Even here in Switzerland you can eat often for 20 Euros.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks for the tips!

[@bltanner69]

Hey guys, I'm in Gulf Breeze, Florida. I got a crown replaced last year, and it cost me a little over $1400. Big difference in the cost you paid. By the way, enjoy the channel.

[@ElizabethBidinger]

I live in Las Vegas and just paid over $5000 for laser cleaning, whitening, exam and filling. I asked about veneers and it would be be $10,000 for 4 teeth! My dental insurance paid $440. I thought hell no. I’ll wait and go to Turkey or elsewhere for less including the trip and save money. I can’t wait to move abroad but that’s 4 years away.

[@judymckee5992]

I was in Playa de Coco in Costa Rica and it was a lady dentist, her work is amazing and reasonable .

[@rosaarodriguez9968]

Go to Ecuador!

[@rosaarodriguez9968]

Thats crazy!

[@SamanthaSmith-tv1jl]

£320 UK NHS root filing and crown

[@michaelsix9684]

don't do veneers, I did them cost me about 10K, after 6 yrs. they got cavities and had to be removed and replaced with crowns, wish I'd never done it, total cost for both jobs about 20K, crowns go bad too, and are costly to replace

[@DaleOsmun-zm9tu]

Thank you guys for the finance aspect of Slow Travel! Have started to build our National Lampoon's style European vacation. We've decided to try Riverboat tours. I mean then we don't need a car , and our room and board is set for the whole trip, plus transfers, and such.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

That would be fun!

[@dpporlando]

Tip. If you buy some high quality walking shoes not only will they last longer but you can also buy relatively cheap adhesive sole plates to make the bottoms wear longer. My favorites are New Balance 993s.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@VolcanoGroupie]

I also recommend the New Balance 990.

[@chriskasprzyk6235]

@@AmeliaAndJP After two injuries to one of my feet that was so bad that they both required surgeries that were classed as reconstructions, I can basically wear almost nothing except New Balance 928 walking shoes. Thing about the higher end New Balance is they expect you to remove the flimsy insole they have and put in a better orthotic insole, which is something else I do. Aetrex makes the best price/performance I have been able to find for my specific needs. The 928's and the Aetrex insoles are not cheap but they are comfortable and they last a long time which makes them cheaper over the long haul.

[@timanderson2376]

I’m never a fan of stuff but I really like you guys. Authentic. And it really inspires us to do this. Keep up the great work!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@TheKelly1925]

I recently had a $6,000 quote from my dentist office in Tucson for a dental implant I opted to go with a dentist in Portugal For less than half

[@danielalonzo7445]

@@TheKelly1925 In Tijuana, the price is $1200 to $1500 for per implant

[@alcw625]

it's the cost of insurance....different legal system

[@HGills]

Ok so I’m actually so glad you did this video as your lifestyle and way of travel probably aligns most closely to how we would compared to the other channels we follows who are slow traveling for under $3000 pm. Your numbers really help give a realistic view of what it’s like for us who actually do go out for meals and explore the areas as a tourist, get your hair done, buy clothes etc… I get the concept of slow travel, budget traveling, holidaying and tourist mode. We are a mix of all of those with the exception of slow travel in that we probably don’t want to spend a month in one place at a time all the time - sure I could easily spend a month in London, but I don’t want to spend a month in Madrid for example. BTW I’m an Aussie and had a crown done last year for AU$1500 of which my health insurance covered $600

[@jabow1878]

Next time you go to Italy, stay in Tivoli. Take the bus to Rome. Wonderful. BTW- a single traveler only spends less if you choose to live in substandard places. If they use the same quality- the costs are much the same. Also, it is cheaper to buy clothing (especially shoes) in the US on a home stay.

[@NickP-n5l]

Vancouver Canada - dental cleaning - 2 visits per year (X-rays every other visit) total cost is a little over $700cad which is currently around US$520-$540 per year. Getting crazy. US$42 (Albania iirc) for a cleaning would be a major relief!

[@bruce6641]

Just had mine and my wife's done last week in Vancouver for Cdn. $565. Too much.

[@JMK-r8s]

Thank you for this detailed summary and sharing again on your website. I don’t usually post but wanted to say thank you for all your valuable information and transparency. Enjoying following you both as we get inspired and consider a similar journey. Best wishes! Thanks!!!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks!

[@David-os9ej]

Expensive hotels, really nice restaurants---good thing you guys hooked up with the Nomad Capitalist.

[@lisas44]

Wow that must have taken a lot of time to put all those numbers together. Thank you very much.

[@Zoltanthemystical]

I really like this video guys, and in particular I’d like the fact that you’re using software to display things on screen as a supplement to your explanations and the video of yourselves. I find that really informative and it helps maintain interest for myself at least. This is also wonderful information because it allows us to look at the places you’ve been in the experiences you’ve had in past videos and then see how much it all cost. For myself that’s wonderful because it helps me determine if I can afford to go to certain places and then I can use the numbers to plug into a Draft budget. I realize I have to adjust season and so forth but really you guys are in high season and a lot of those places so that means that it might be cheaper if I plan to go in the fall or early spring and the weather is OK. I’m curious though, if JP included tips in the meal calculations? Tips add up quickly and I find they are often forgotten when holding up expenses later on.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

The restaurants included tips, but most countries don't expect them or add them into the bill automatically.

[@DenLD]

I had a crown replaced in Mérida, México for about $250 US, and I have to say it fit like a dream. I love the idea of Slow Travel, but I have pets, and I own a home in México so I don’t have rent. I don’t think those costs are crazy and you’re making memories and a business from it.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks!

[@LawrenceStevens01]

I had 2 crowns in the Asheville area of North Carolina. Each about $1,100 to $1,200. I needed 3 implants. Getting that done in Costa Rica for about $4,000.

[@dlwilliamson5644]

Fox Dental just past Biltmore Village is super expensive and good. Who did you use in AVL? (to be fair, I broke a molar in a bike race so that is probably why the price is more than $5000?)

[@LawrenceStevens01]

@@dlwilliamson5644 I use Fletcher Great Smiles locally. Great staff.

[@alpinerpeter1]

Well done on your monthly expenses. As a Brit living in CA, I return to the UK every year on my own. With the flight included in my expense figure, with a good hotel in Stratford upon Avon plus food, intenal flights to Scotland, and ground travel I expect for to be at least $4000. plus. Great videos thanks

[@purtler]

Maybe a short video on technology in slow travel. What did find useful and why, and things you or others thought would be useful and were not

[@monkeysue2442]

I spend $130.00 on athlete shoes every 3 months. We pay$100.00 every month for dental insurance in Florida but we’re old so… I think you’re doing great on your budget.

[@DenLD]

Super cool you’re doing this. Four years ago I sold everything in the US and moved to Mexico. I love it so much. I will nationalize in about a year and then may also consider adding a third residency in South America or Europe.

[@TheDeadbone1961]

Thank you for the informative video! Much more detailed than other slow-travel youtubers - we appreciate the realistic breakdown in the numbers :)

[@johnnytx45]

Teeth cleaning and cavity filled costs me $18 each in the Philippines.

[@chasingtheAmericanDream]

Great price!

[@bobk381]

You are learning and passing along your actual costs of slow travel in Europe. My guess is that you will become more proficient as you go. Wondering if renting furnished apartments by the month will be less expensive than hotels. Also, living in an apartment will help reduce food costs.

[@sbkpilot1]

This is actually pretty good for Europe... now if you stay the other 6 months of the year in a lower cost region like SE Asia or South/Central America that could be half what you spent in Europe so for the year the averages would be quite reasonable I think.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Exactly!

[@robvann]

Excellent insight to slow travel costs, which is what we do for 4 months of the year, for similar costs to similar places, as Canadians.

[@UnlockedVistas]

This lines up very similarly with our experience as well. Especially our rule of thumb of lodging being ~45-50% of total slow travel costs (for Airbnb rentals). We also eat plant based as much as possible - it’s so much easier and more affordable to do outside of the US!

[@brianferguson6278]

The one thing you forgot to state... Cost of living to just stay at home, I would guess your Ecuador costs at $2,500/month. So subtract this figure from your expenses of $4,700.00 and you are spending an extra $ $2,200 per month or $36.00 a day per person to live your dreams. That's is pretty inexpensive in the Grand Game of Life. We only get to go around once and you can not take it with you after the end of the Game. My travel cost are about $2,500.00 a month extra as I travel and that will allow an endless adventure if I wish. I recall going back to work after a two year slow travel adventure, I received my first return to work professional scale pay check, a BIG check and I never felt so poor, I am back in the working class! Enjoy your Adventure and stay safe!

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Great perspective!

[@virsapiensfortisest922]

Well said!!

[@Factsmatter626]

We have been slow traveling since January in the UK and France. As pet lovers, we are using Trusted Housesitters to extend our budget. We’ve done three month of pet sits in England equaling $0 in rentals for those months. We are on pace for about $2500 per month annually.

[@deebee2603]

I know from a previous video, you talked about finding a European city to make your home while away from Ecuador. I get you have to travel around before you find where you want to be, but if you do settle down someplace with occasional train (or inexpensive plane) travels to other countries, costs will go down. I was reading last night that rent in Italy is about 151% cheaper than renting in the U.S., with an overall cost of living that is around 45% less. I am sure these cheaper rents do not include Rome or Milan however!

[@Constellasian]

A US retiree made a comment on a KZbin video for overseas living in retirement. He uses a method of "slow travel" to save money on taxes and prevent visa problems. He said to pick 2-3 countries you'd like to live in, and buy a home in one of the countries. The home can be used to store your things as you travel to and live in the other 2-3 countries. His rotation was something like this: spending 90 days in Italy, 90 days in Vietnam, 179 days (1 day shy of 6 months) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and 6 days in the US to visit family and friends. Have you two heard of this method? He apparently saved a ton of money doing this and puts it into an investment account.

[@chrismacky7548]

Living in Chiang Mai is relatively cheap. Staying less that 180 days in Thailand voids any potential tax, which has become quite a big issue for foreigners living in Thailand. Spending 90 days in Vietnam and Italy, great thinking

[@PelicanNorth]

I don't understand the need to buy a home just to store "things". Why not sell the things and forego the cost of storage? When you want to slow down and have a permanent home again, just buy the stuff you need. All the "things" we have are, of course, used. So we sell all the old stuff, and later we can re-buy even better used stuff if we need it.

[@ronvincent5645]

Great overview. These are very realistic numbers and jive with my travels. Also, these are much more realistic if you are there to enjoy the place. Some KZbinrs come in with lower costs but they aren't realistic. So, I applaud your realism.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Cool, thanks!

[@joannacurran8475]

When you go on an aeroplane get some antiseptic lozengers and suck a few. I do a lot of long haul and no longer have those cough/sore throat problems

[@bradj6985]

From an Aussie's perspective $21 per person to eat in a restaurant is completely awesome - especially when you see the quality of the food you're eating. WOW.

[@cee_bee_creates]

Agreed! Plus the exchange rate kills us in Europe (I say as I'm planning a France trip for next year 👀)

[@KylaandAlexJordan]

Love the video! In Bangkok my replacement crown and all work equated to $490 USD. And that was 2 weeks ago.

[@pedrozatravel]

Thanks for sharing the costs, it is good to have real numbers

[@amberallen7809]

A cleaning at my dentist in Thailand is about $22 per cleaning. They also do it the 'old school' way, in that the dentist still does the actual cleaning, which I kinda like. Also, a word about eating out. Idk about Europe, but in some places, like here in Thailand, eating out at local street food vendors often is cheaper than cooking at home- especially if you're single. I can go down the road and get a plate of pad thai or pad see ewe for about $1.50, and its still decent, home cooked quality. That said, eating street food is not advisable if you have any serious dietary restrictions or allergies. But if you're someone traveling alone with no food restrictions, street food is a great choice! I often can't get through all the groceries I buy before they go off if I try to cook everything at home. So I keep a few staples at home (rice, oats, coffee, milk, eggs, various types of fruit) and go out for the rest.

[@w_w_whitey]

Thanks guys, really enjoyed your breakdown and analysis. Always fun to compare our expenses to others.

[@justwhenithought]

You keep track of everything. Great info on the expenses. Thank you.

[@kristinaexpat3843]

I hear you about eating out too often when traveling, but I think it’s justified because for me having food new to me cooked so perfectly is a very large part of the joys of travel!!!

[@suen5006]

I live outside of Seattle. Just basic expenses is about this much for many people. You're going to eat, rent, and buy some clothing, wherever you are most likely, so you guys have done very well!

[@HerselfProductions]

I had a crown replaced in Austin TX while traveling - $1500. I wasn't shocked because I had been living in Los Angeles.

[@moebeing1190]

Algodones Mexico by Yuma AZ : 320 dollars for a root canal , then 200 for a crown on that tooth. 110 for an extraction and x-ray 800 for an implant , plus 500 to crown that implant

[@godisallaroundus]

First comment you guys are the best keep it coming. Thank you.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Thanks! Will do!

[@davidchilton4301]

Very interesting. As we're planning long term travel in Europe next year, the accommodations have been something of a revelation with costs averaging about $2,200 - $2,300 a month and that's off season, although we're seeing some more expensive places with no lower cost areas like Albania thrown in.

[@espesq]

I like seeing a realistic budget.

[@dawnfoster6530]

You (a couple) can reserve private rooms in hostels where they're available - privacy, practical, inexpensive

[@susans7091]

Yup - in Denver I was quoted $1500 for a crown. So $320 there is very low.

[@danielreigada1542]

Just my 2 cents. . . I really liked the gray hair on Amelia! Enjoy the videos!

[@warrenphelps5342]

Staying closer to city centers may increase lodging, but allows you easy access to touring, less time traveling to sites and makes it easier to take a break to rest up for the evening ( since dinner dining is later in Europe). The video is very helpful. Thanks.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

Good point!

[@johnschieffelin3226]

Thanks, interesting data. Looking at how you travel, I'd have to bump the $4700/month by 20% for us but your data gives me a good idea of travel costs in certain parts of Europe.

[@morningstarfromdawn6764]

Thanks for sharing. With full time traveling schedule, this cost is reasonable. Normally I budget $150 per day per person, not including airfare in west Europe.

[@veramentegina]

I had 14 teeth done (two bridges, crowns and veneers plus fillers etc) in Izmir Turkey. Paid only 3K.. Work is amazing. Not one of those tourist dental factories advertised in Istanbul or Antalya. They were diligent and dental work is just beautiful.

[@johnwakefield9378]

Excellent video, clear and fun to hear you two banter about it.

[@Bigd0gg]

Great update and travelogue for slow-travel itinerary! Thanks!!

[@Walk-retirement-travel]

Not bad price honestly for 6 months of traveling avg 17 days a month eating out. For that price. Especially if you enjoyed the food and service

[@johnandsharon5785]

We actually add a day on to the beginning of our Air BNB rental to allow us to go to our accommodation right from the airport. We let them know when we will arrive.

[@AmeliaAndJP]

We did that once. It worked well except for the extra cost.

[@starmaze3250]

Very informative. Thank you for taking the time to share. ❤

[@trevisthomas]

Love it. Thanks for sharing the numbers. I always want to see the numbers. Our time to launch is shrinking every day and I’m always very interested in the budgets of people who don’t do house/pet sits because I have no intention of doing that either.

[@starmaze3250]

Thanks for the restaurant break down. Some give you their food cost but they mainly eat street food. I’m with you. I want a sit down meal. 😊