Living abroad on 20k a year? (apartment, renting, insurance)

[HIF]

Some friends and I got to talking about what we would do if we could do anything. I would want to explore my creative side full time. To do so, I would need the following:

A place where a mom and teen could live on 20k a year that has good education and access to medical care (no medical issues, but I wouldn't want to be out in the brush someplace where I'd have to suture a wound or take an ox cart into town to get treatment for the flu.)

Is there such a place?

[anonymous88]

go to bulgaria. you can live for 2k a year.

[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. If we are talking about renting a modest apartment or other simple housing in a medium sized city, in an area that is not overrun with other foreign citizens (whose money tends drives up costs) it may be possible to live on US $20K to $25K per year. The world is a big place with huge variety in costs and conditions. You need to make a short list of places that you would consider (just like moving anywhere else in the US), except you need to toss in language issues and how easy it is to stay in a place longer than a normal tourist visa allows (typically 90 days).

Bulgaria on $2K per year? In 2007 US dollars? I'd be curious to see how that adds up with some details. I've been to a several other places in Eastern Europe and I found them to be maybe 20 to 30 percent less expensive than most parts of Western Europe, and no less expensive than living in non metro areas outside the high cost coastal regions of the USA, after you add up everything including food, housing, public transportation (no car), utilities, medical insurance, clothing and basic day to day essentials, no luxuries.

[ontheroad]

It would be impossible to live anywhere in the EU for $20,000. I'd say even countries that were once considered inexpensive, but are now in the EU, are more expensive than the US.

My last couple of visits to traditionally less expensive countries, or cities, cost about 3 or 4 times it did when I lived in Europe, but frankly even when I lived in Europe (more than 25 years ago) I don't think I found it less expensive because expenses varied greatly (i.e., food, clothing, etc..)

[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.
In these regards, Possibly Bangkok, Saigon, Jakarta, and Rangoon are in fairly similar situations.
India, Eastern Europe, and possibly some parts of Latin America too.
Latin America not so much though.
My top suggestions would be:
Manila
Cebu
Bangkok
maybe the largest city in Mongolia or even the Central Asian countries.
Such as Tashkent,Ulan bator, Bishkek, or Almaty.

[BlueWillowPlate]

What about Central America?
We met some Guatemalan families with well-educated children who seemed to enjoy a high standard of living. (Probably at some expense to others, but that is another thread.)
OTOH, these families seemed to live a sort of "gated" life. I did meet this cool young father who was running a hostel on Lake Atitlan. It seemed to me that his son was growing up in a somewhat isolated place, yet they were constantly meeting people from all over the world.

I agree that European expenses exist, they're just different.
When we were in Croatia in '06, a country that will eventually be joining the EU, the theme there felt like "all your kuna belong to us."

[ontheroad]

I have a good friend who is about to retire to Guatemala...but even she sees problems with it. The recent floods, for one. But, affordable, yes; remote, yes; amenities, few.

[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.

[HIF]

I could supplement that with a job, but I've looked at employment areas of some expat websites, but think that finding a job in another country would be difficult unless you had a skill in high demand or know someone. My son and I would love to spend a year or so in another country(s)... guess I will need to get creative

[Threestep]

Getting creative will not do - you need to get a visa no matter where you want to spend a year. This will considerably limit your choices.