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Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

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Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#491

Post by perryizgr8 »

India is perfect economically and internet-wise, but you may want to avoid major cities if $1000 is your limit.

I pay ₹1200 ($16) for solid 300Mbps (up and down), with a 3TB cap. Food is cheap, even in Bangalore which is generally an expensive place to live. For example, you can have a nice nutritious breakfast (dosa and idli) for less than ₹100 ($1.50). Wanna go out for a movie? A top-of-the-line recliner seat ticket will cost you maximum ₹500 ($7).

Rent is a problem in Bangalore, it is disproportionately expensive compared to other smaller cities. You can expect to pay ₹20k ($270) for a proper single studio apartment in a nice locality.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#492

Post by [deleted] »

burntoutfire wrote: post #19

Poland is doable if you stay out of major cities. You can rent a studio for $300 (incl. all utilities). Food, if you cook, will cost you $200-$250 ($300-$400 if you don't cook and want to eat out only). Wired Internet and cell phone will be around $20. State-provided health insurance is about $120 per month (this is "socialized medicine", so it provides everything with no deducible, up to treating cancer etc.), but c…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#493

Post by qeng-ho »

jobigoud wrote: post #479
finance_astroid wrote: post #327

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In a way yes. But its also using leverage to amplify your gains. Say I get $90,000 to go buy a house, I spend the $90,000 and have 1 door. I get a tenant in it and they make a $90,000 down payment. I then go buy another house and get another tenant in it and they make a $90,000 down payment. I now have two houses and still have the same amount of money I started with, I can continue this cycle and as long as property…

What happens if two or more tenants want to move out at the same time? With the strategy you describe the landlord only has cash for one reimbursement.

Sell both properties and realise (perhaps pre-maturely) the capital gains?

Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#494

Post by ddorian43 »

zucked wrote: post #163
keiferski wrote: post #17

I recommend the Balkans, in particular the less touristic countries. Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, Bulgaria are all very inexpensive, safe, have reliable internet, and an abundance of cafes and co-working spaces. Most also have favorable visa conditions for Americans (e.g. Albania lets Americans stay up to a year on a tourist visa.) In terms of cities, I recommend Belgrade and Sarajevo the most. Going further east, Tbilis…

I lived in Albania for three years - it's not at the level of the other countries on this list. It's firmly a developing country - water, electricity and other infrastructure are not great in the capital and degrade precipitously in the countryside and second-tier cities. It's a great place if you're adventurous - if you're looking for stability, it isn't the place for you. Upsides are that Albanians love Americans (…

That's one of the better places (Komuna e Parisit). The lake is literally 10 minutes walking. But if you're paying $500/month for 100m2 in this photo, 10 minutes walking away that you have a view of the lake it's 2x-5x+.

And in 3 minutes walking distance you have every type of service that exists in the city.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#495

Post by agent008t »

mattbee wrote: post #364
rwmj wrote: post #185

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The maths behind this is similar to UK leasehold. With a leasehold (which is a truly terrible system) you pay as if you're buying the flat, but actually you only have a lease usually with a very small annual payment and some management charges. The catch is the lease only lasts usually 99 years and for various legal reasons you have to renew it before it drops below 80 years, and that costs a bunch of money. Leasehol…

Usually 99 years? I bought a new leasehold in 2004 with a 999 year term, and I don't think that's unusual now. The government announced plans in January that leaseholders will have the right to renew leases for a standard term of 990 years, as well as capping ground rent. So I hope the worst abuses of UK leasehold are on their way out.

A 999 year term sounds like a long time, but time flies; before you know it, 980 years would have passed, and you would be wondering why you didn't buy a freehold instead...

Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#496

Post by wheels »

keiferski wrote: post #477
wheels wrote: post #383

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Low corruption is not a reasonable description of any of the Balkan countries. Croatia is a little bit better than Serbia, Montenegro and Albania, but on corruption indexes is still considered to be one of the most corrupt countries in Europe.

This is really not something that a tourist / remote worker will ever experience.

Not in Croatia, but I have experienced corruption as a tourist in Serbia and Bosnia:

- Serbia: Driving in Novi Sad, and another driver illegally passed me and hit my car coming back into traffic, causing a few hundred euro in damage to my car. He got out and yelled me and then drove off before exchanging any info. I had photos of his license plates, but multiple Serbian friends advised me to not deal with it because it would ultimately come down to who was more able to deal with the nuance of bribing the police. On the other hand, I once stupidly left my Macbook Pro on a flight landing in Belgrade, and it ended up in the hands of the airport police, who handled everything professionally.

- Bosnia: Driving into the country, with insurance that's valid in Bosnia (and every country in Europe), which it says right on my insurance form. The immigration officer denies this and sends me over to his buddy 20m away to buy "Bosnian insurance". Only €30, but definitely corruption.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#497

Post by Jommi »

postsantum wrote: post #233
FabHK wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just for the record, I don't think that South Korea is particularly cheap. As OP demonstrates, one can live there for USD 1000/month, but that really holds for most countries. While the US is in the top 5% in terms of nominal GDP per capita, South Korea is in the top 15%. For cheap, yet comfortable and safe, I'd aim around the median, eg Indonesia or Georgia. ETA: Nomadlist suggests €1,925/mo for Seoul, €1,530/mo for…

Nomadlist is often way off on their estimates. I'd suggest using it for inspiration only and then see prices on Numbeo

This is a common misconception of nomadlist. The cost of living that it presents is factoring 2-3 month stays and you being a nomad tourist.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#498

Post by smusamashah »

Try Pakistan, I am from there. And if you really consider doing it don't go to any city other than Islamabad. And live as near the center as possible. You will get amazing views, safety and nearly everything you probably want. May be even drinks if you find the right contacts (rich class). We have good fiber internet, 50Mb for consumers from Nayatel. Food is great on general.

Islamabad has best views, you better live in the E sector, that's where most foreigners choose to live anyway. And its most close to mountains and you will get amazing views throughout your stay. Also it's probably the greenest city.

For rest of Pakistan, that's the real Pakistan. You will get a lot more stares, and will be more prone to everything that attracts attention.

You can very easily live within 1000USD, in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#499

Post by t312227 »

hi,

imho. it heavily depends what you expect from "living", but you could easily live - read: rent a cheap room & eat healthy - with 1000 us$ which roughly equals 900 euro in a lot of cities within the E.U.

out of my head - starting with the most obvious & startup-friendly ones

# berlin (germany) # vienna (austria)

and whole countries # nearly anywhere in the eastern part of austria # nearly anywhere in the cheaper parts of germany - more in the north # anywhere in the central to northern part of portugal - imho. inculding lisbon # nearly anywhere in greece # lot of parts of spain (north, south, islands ... definitly not in catalonia/barcelona or madrid) # in the cheaper parts of italy (south)

east-europe: # nearly any country/place which was formerly known as "eastern-european" / behind the "iron curtain"

br, t

Re: Ask HN: Where can I live off 1k USD per month?

#500

Post by LurkingPenguin »

perfectstorm wrote: post #440
jt2190 wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In the U.S. it’s not enough to have health insurance: You also need to make sure that the healthcare providers you care about accept it. Furthermore, there’s a wrinkle to watch out for where “renewing” a policy is actually “buying a new policy”. A new diagnosis under the current policy then becomes a disqualifying “pre-existing condition” when trying to get the new policy.

I thought pre-existing condition was outlawed by Obamacare.

These are international plans designed for Americans living abroad. They might offer coverage within the US for temporary visits home, usually at additional cost, but they are not ACA plans, do not have to comply with the ACA rules, and do not meet the requirements for minimum essential coverage under the ACA.
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