Affordable Ways to Live Abroad for a Year or More

Let’s dive deep into CHEAP WAYS TO LIVE ABROAD BECAUSE I PROMISE THEY’RE OUT THERE.

Today, we’re talking about affordable ways to live abroad for a year or more. As someone who’s lived abroad twice, I recommend moving abroad once to everyone. It’s such an unforgettable experience, no matter what you do or where you live. It’s all the newness, including experiencing a new culture and making new friends. If you think international living is too expensive, this post is for you. Keep reading for various cheap ways to live abroad.

6 affordable ways to live abroad

1. Teach English abroad

Let’s start with teaching English abroad on a budget. It’s one of the easiest and most affordable ways to live abroad. According to The TEFL Org, an online TEFL certification costs between $250 and $500 USD. You can also choose to pursue a classroom certification. Either way, the next step is teaching English in an affordable region like South and Central America, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. I discuss the cheapest places to live worldwide below.

The TEFL Org also has a great resource highlighting the best places to teach English abroad and save money. You need a degree or teaching experience for some of these roles, but not all. I’ve heard particularly good things about teaching abroad in South Korea. Living abroad, absorbing a new culture, and saving money for your future? That’s a good deal!

2. Become an au pair

Another cheap way to live abroad is to become an au pair or nanny for a family overseas. Typically, an au pair provides childcare in exchange for accommodation, food, and pocket money. AuPair.com is a reputable place to start your search.

3. Do a working holiday

If you’re new here, I previously did two working holidays in Canada. As Australians, it’s relatively easy for us to pursue a one or two-year working holiday visa in Canada thanks to our Commonwealth connection. At the time, I had to have $2500 CAD in savings and travel insurance for my stay.

Now, Vancouver is an expensive city to live in (don’t even get me started on the real estate). So, while I wouldn’t necessarily say my particular route is an affordable way to live abroad, there are several destinations where Australians can live thanks to a working holiday visa or a digital nomad visa. Some more affordable locations include Cyprus, Estonia, and Taiwan.

Working Holiday Budget Hacks

If you pursue a working holiday, here are some budget tips for living abroad:

• Start in a hostel or Airbnb. When you first move to a destination, I recommend staying at an Airbnb or hostel while finding your new home. I did both in Vancouver, and you know what? I still chat with one of the girls I met staying in Samesun Backpackers when I moved to Vancouver over ten years ago!
• Live in shared housing outside the city. I personally lived in North Burnaby, Vancouver, both times and paid $600 CAD in monthly rent to share a two-bedroom apartment with one other person. It worked for me because my friends were close by, and there were buses to take me everywhere I needed to go. But if you find a place close to a Skytrain, even better! Sharing is always the most affordable housing option, no matter where in the world you are.
• Work more than one job. I worked multiple jobs both times I lived in Vancouver, and actually had so much fun! Round one was a mix of Starbucks and Aussie Pie Guy, a food truck. Round two, I worked from home, worked at Aussie Pie Guy and did bar work at Rogers Arena. I also spontaneously worked a couple of weeks at the Vancouver Christmas Market because why not? All the casual jobs added up to full-time hours (and then some, some weeks).
• Focus on cheap eats. I ate very well in Vancouver, and some of my favourite places were also the most affordable. Depending on where you are, eating at local markets like those in Southeast Asia is a win-win situation: cheap eats and embracing the local culture.
• Tick off all the free things to do. Every location has fun, free things to do. Here’s my post on the best free things to do in Vancouver. Google once you arrive and have fun ticking them off!

4. Volunteer abroad

Several organisations have programs available where you can volunteer abroad for a set number of hours daily in exchange for food and accommodation.

Workaway has opportunities in 170 countries. Choose from NGOs, house-sits, farm stays, boats, and sustainable projects. I scrolled the home page and saw that I could be an au pair for a family in France, work on an organic tea farm in Nepal, or work on a dairy farm in Istanbul. Seriously, there are so many interesting experiences and ways to travel the world cheaply for over a year.

Other similar options are Worldpackers and HelpX, while WWOOF specialises in Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (it’s all in the name 😅).

5. Move to a cheaper place to live

If you already work online, an affordable way to live abroad is to move to a cheaper city. Enjoy a lower cost of living while maintaining your existing income, saving money as you experience a new culture. Some cheap countries to live in include:

• Europe: Bulgaria, Albania and Portugal (particularly outside of Lisbon).
• Southeast Asia: Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
• Latin America: Costa Rica and Panama.
• South America: Ecuador (check out Guayaquil, Quito, Vilcabamba, and Loja).

Spotlight on Southeast Asia

I spent 6.5 months in Southeast Asia in 2023. I worked online and spent three months in Bali, a month in Kuala Lumpur, three weeks in Danang, and three weeks in Chiang Mai (among other places). My low living costs were thanks to cheap accommodation, only eating out once a day and focusing on free things to do.

6. Pet or house-sit

Funnily enough, I’ve been pet and house-sitting where I live in Australia for six-plus months. Essentially, you stay in someone’s home for free, and in exchange, you maintain it while the owners are away. Trusted Housesitters is a great place to start. But this is one of the most affordable ways to live abroad, especially if you’re a digital nomad working remotely. You get free accommodation while maintaining your income. How good does that sound?

I hope this guide on cheap ways to live abroad helps you plan your own overseas adventure.

Honestly, writing this post makes me want to live and work overseas again. I loved my time in Canada and travelling slowly through Southeast Asia. But for now, I’ll stick to house-sitting at home and saving!

FAQs

Thank you to The TEFL Org for partnering with me on this post.