The real cost of living while travelling: monthly budgets in Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America
No "live on 300 a month" myths: realistic ranges for housing, food, coworking and fun for a working nomad, by region.
Social media is full of "I live in paradise on 500 a month". It might be true for someone, but not for a working nomad who needs good internet, a quiet spot for calls and some social life. Here are honest, indicative ranges for one person on one-to-three-month stays. They are approximations: each city has its own page with detailed figures in Zabel's City guides.
The five spending categories that really matter
- Housing: usually 40 to 60% of your spending.
- Food: depends hugely on whether you cook or eat out.
- Workspace: coworking or cafés.
- Local transport and connectivity (eSIM or local SIM).
- Fun, trips and surprises.
And outside the monthly budget: flights between destinations, travel health insurance and visas.
Southern and Eastern Europe
Cities like Lisbon, Valencia, Porto or Barcelona have become much pricier. A studio or room in a shared flat for a month usually runs 800 to 1,500 €. In Eastern Europe (Sofia, Budapest, Belgrade, Brno) it drops a lot, often 500 to 900 €.
Indicative monthly budget
- Southern Europe: 1,600 to 2,600 € a month for a comfortable lifestyle.
- Eastern Europe: 1,100 to 1,800 € a month.
Southeast Asia
Chiang Mai, Da Nang or Kuala Lumpur remain among the most affordable places with good infrastructure. Bali (Canggu, Ubud) has gone up, especially in high season. An apartment with a kitchen and good wifi can cost 400 to 900 € a month, and eating out every day is cheap.
Indicative monthly budget
- 1,000 to 1,800 € a month, including coworking and some fun.
Latin America
Medellín, Mexico City, Buenos Aires or Florianópolis combine nomad community and moderate costs, although foreigners' favourite neighbourhoods (El Poblado, Roma or Condesa) cost far more than the local average. A furnished apartment usually runs 500 to 1,100 € a month.
Indicative monthly budget
- 1,100 to 2,000 € a month.
Five tricks to make your budget last
- Stay longer: monthly rentals are much cheaper than nightly ones.
- Travel in shoulder season: lower prices and fewer crowds.
- Cook at least one meal a day.
- Keep a buffer of three months of expenses.
- Ask in the city chat: Zabelers already there know where the good and cheap stuff is.
FAQ
Which region is cheapest to start with?
For a first trip with good infrastructure, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe usually offer the best value.
Do these figures include flights?
No. Budget separately for flights between destinations and health insurance.