Living abroad on 20k a year?

[lovelongboatkey]

The weakening dollar makes foreign spending a higher cost to Americans, but it is also bad for countries like the UK where most of our exports are sold in the US, and therefore become more expensive.[/quote]

Case in point: I went to my local grocery store to buy some of my favorite, Cheshire cheese. Usually they stock a wonderful selection of European cheese but not right now. I found no French cheese other than Brie and three small wedges of Cheshire each about $8.00. I bought one but probably won't again for a while.

[Beliy Plashik]

I think it is possible to live in Eastern Europe for 20K a year without any extravaganza. Just a regular life with no financial hardships. Kiev is the capitol to Ukraine. It is VERY similar to Moscow life. Most people make about 10K to 12K average.

Moscow -- the world's most expensive city. I think it is possible to live there on 20K. But you would live in a studio/1 bedroom runned down apartment. With a minimal social life. But can still live on that salary. Barely.

And Western Europe is a lot harsher with money!!

[RoadWarrior]

Why not go to Korea to teach English? Bunch of my friends are doing so because they don't wanna go into Corporate America, at least no yet. They pay you a decent salary and covers room and board and maybe some extra allowances too. The hours are also not long. There is a huge demand for native english speakers in SE Asia, great way to see the world

[LoveHaightorg]

Go to Prague, you'll love it there... and a home outside of Prague can be bought for 20k, even less!

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by LoveHaightorg

Go to Prague, you'll love it there... and a home outside of Prague can be bought for 20k, even less!

I stayed in Prague in 1999. I had a flat that was $15 a week, drank $.07 pints of beer and ate $.50 plates of food. $20,000, could've lived like a king. Poland was ridiculously cheap as well. Both countries are in the EU now, so not sure if it is possible anymore, but I bet Poland is still really cheap.

You can always try Mexico as well. If you live frugally, $20,000 can last for a few years there.

[leroy slater]

I am American, retired USAF and social security about $36,000 a year. I live in Cebu City Philippines. I love it here! lots of public transportation, grocery stores, department stores, The people are friendly and will talk to you AS A PERSON, lots of things to do beaches, movies, drugs (meth-shabu), girls for hire about $20.00, gays. You can spend all day just having fun and enjoying life, I have time to think and am reading books (bad things about greedy rich people in the USA, about the BAD things I had to do in the USAF that where never in the newspapers. email: leroy_slater@yahoo.com

[hkgal]

Originally Posted by momma4

I was going to say New Zealand because when we were there the dollar was about 2 -1, but I just checked the rates and they are at about 1.35 ish (you get 1.35 NZ dollars for 1 US) so not bad compared to the euro or the pound but still not great and probably not doable on 20K, although saying that New Zealand wasn't expensive when we lived there, on the South Island outside of Christchurch, not Auckland.....that would probably be more expensive.

You'd be right there - if you tried to live in NZ on $20K a year (maybe $26K when converted) you'd be eligible for government benefits!! The average salary in Auckland is around $50K so you wouldn't have a great life.

Would definitely have to be an underdeveloped country for that sort of money.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by CMDallas

THE PHILIPPINES, in MANILA. Stuff there is DIRT cheap, and there is a US school there. There is a sticking difference though, you are either Dirt poor or Filthy Rich. Like no middle class. Manila is a very fast paced city with AWFUL traffic, very Modern and big.
CEBU would also do you nicely.

Originally Posted by leroy slater

I am American, retired USAF and social security about $36,000 a year. I live in Cebu City Philippines. I love it here! lots of public transportation, grocery stores, department stores, The people are friendly and will talk to you AS A PERSON, lots of things to do beaches, movies, drugs (meth-shabu), girls for hire about $20.00, gays. You can spend all day just having fun and enjoying life, I have time to think and am reading books (bad things about greedy rich people in the USA, about the BAD things I had to do in the USAF that where never in the newspapers.

I am building a vacation home and possible future full time home in Cebu right now. I always enjoy my time in the Philippines.

Originally Posted by recycled

The weak US dollar has made it more expensive to live almost anywhere outside the USA than it was just 2 to 3 years ago. The dollar has dropped about 35 percent against the Euro. The dollar has dropped 20 to 30 percent in value against some "minor league" nation currencies also.

I was getting around 56 Philippine Pesos for $1 just a couple years back, now I am getting about 40 per $1.

[Acuda]

Originally Posted by leroy slater

I am American, retired USAF and social security about $36,000 a year. I live in Cebu City Philippines. I love it here! lots of public transportation, grocery stores, department stores, The people are friendly and will talk to you AS A PERSON, lots of things to do beaches, movies, drugs (meth-shabu), girls for hire about $20.00, gays. You can spend all day just having fun and enjoying life, I have time to think and am reading books (bad things about greedy rich people in the USA, about the BAD things I had to do in the USAF that where never in the newspapers. email: leroy_slater@yahoo.com

Well, if they don't put that explanation on a travel brochure, they're crazy.