Think You Need to Be Rich to Travel the World? Think Again.

What real life nomadic van-lifers, house sitters, and slow travellers actually spend each month

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“I’ve done it for $10k a year and visited 21 countries.” — Elizabeth, nomad for two years and counting

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When I first left the UK 15 years ago to start our nomadic journey, I had no idea how much it would cost. No spreadsheet, no plan, no savings to speak of.

Just a suitcase, a dream, a four-year-old, and a husband who was (thankfully) just as mad as me.

We leapt (hoping a net would appear), and figured it out on the road.

8 weeks in Cyprus, turned into 4 months in Australia, then 12 years in Thailand. And along the way we’ve visited, explored, or lived in more than 45 countries.

Some months we earned more than we spent. Other months, we lived on instant noodles and coconut water.

But through it all, one thing became very clear:

True freedom has little to do with how much you have in the bank, and much more to do with how you choose to live.

To this day I regularly recount the time my husband & I were floating in the Andaman Ocean one Thursday afternoon. With cold Changs in our hands, and the sun on our backs, we both realised that even if someone gave us a million dollars, we wouldn’t change a thing.

Freedom, Andaman-style…

We weren’t rich. But in that moment, we were free.

And yet, the idea of travelling, and in particular, becoming a master of your own destiny, still feels financially out of reach for so many.

The belief is that freedom comes after financial security, and that you need six figures and a perfectly mapped plan before you even think about packing a bag.

But that’s not the story I see on the road….

What Real Nomads Spend Each Month (It’s Likely Less Than You Think)

Rather than quoting cost-of-living charts or travel influencers with brand deals, I recently asked the brilliant humans inside my 50+ Nomad Facebook group a simple question:

“How much monthly income do you personally feel you need to live comfortably and happily as a nomad?”

A mix of vanlifers, house sitters, global explorers, and slow travellers, their answers were practical, honest, and rooted in real experience.

The responses ranged from ultra-frugal to high-comfort, but what stood out wasn’t the size of the budget, it was how differently each person defined “enough.”

Some are living on less than $500 a month. Others feel best around $6,000 or more. But nearly all have found a rhythm that works for their lifestyle, values, and stage of life.

Here’s a snapshot:

Under $1,000/month

These nomads are often house sitting, camping, or slow-travelling through low-cost regions like Southeast Asia or Central America.

“I lived on $450 a month in a minivan for 18 months. Now I spend about $1,500 in a camper van.” — Suzanne

“In Cambodia, I live comfortably on about $500 a month.” — Melisa

“I’ve done it for $10k a year and visited 21 countries.” — Elizabeth

$1,500–$2,500/month

This bracket includes budget-conscious travellers who still want a few comforts. Think simple apartments, eating out occasionally, and a mix of travel and rest.

“In Vietnam, we take home around $2,000 a month. Rent is up to $450 now, and food has gotten pricier, but it’s still manageable.” — Debra

“We’re living well in Southeast Asia on about $2,500 a month for two.” — Roger

“In Europe, I easily live on about $1,500 a month including stays, food, and flights.” — Judy

“I’d be comfortable with $2,000 a month. I can survive on under $1,200 if needed.” — Dale

$3,000–$5,000/month

Comfortable, flexible, and sustainable. This is where many digital nomads land when combining part-time work with longer-term stays.

“$4,500 a month in Caye Caulker, Belize. We rent a 2-bed apartment, eat out a couple of times a week, and live well.” — Jay

“We aim for around $4,000 NZD a month, or less if we’re in Southeast Asia.” — PJ

“Around $4–5k a month feels right — enough for flights, excursions, and eating out comfortably.” — Jane

$6,000 and up

This is often where retained home bases, luxury accommodation, fast travel, or full-service lifestyles come into play.

“To live comfortably and still enjoy life, I’d say around $8,500 a month. If I sold my house, that might drop to six.” — Susan

“We’re budgeting around $7,000 a month right now while slow travelling with insurance and taxes included.” — Trevis

“€10,000 net a month” — Olga

What Kind of Nomad Are You (or Would You Like to Be)?

Looking at those numbers, the takeaway isn’t just “some people spend more than others.” It’s that how you travel shapes what you spend.

Many of the under-$1,000 crowd are embracing van life, house sitting, or ultra-slow travel in low-cost countries. They’re keeping it simple, moving less, and often living closer to nature.

In the middle ranges, you’ll find digital nomads staying longer in one place, renting modest apartments, cooking at home, and balancing comfort with affordability.

At the higher end are people with property back home, faster travel rhythms, or a desire for more space, privacy, or convenience, whether that’s a beachfront condo in Belize or a fully serviced apartment in Lisbon.

There’s no one-size-fits-all.

Some people love the freedom of not owning much. Others feel more secure with a home base and take a few big trips each year. Some want to stretch their money and time. Others would rather spend more and stress less.

This is why your travel style defines your number.

Which one of these speaks to you the most?

• Part-time nomad/frequent traveller who loves long stays but wants a home to return to?

• Perpetual traveller always on the move, country-hopping year-round?

• Van-lifer chasing road trips and quiet nights under the stars?

• Comfort-focused explorer who values space, privacy, and occasional luxury?

• Frugal adventurer who travels light, stays long, and lives close to the ground?

• A mix of some or all of the above (like me!)

Each path comes with different rhythms, costs, and choices.

So if you’re planning your own journey, don’t start with a spreadsheet. Start with your lifestyle.

What kind of rhythm do you want? What matters most day to day? What would make you feel both free and grounded?

Once you’re clear on that, then it’s time to think about how you’ll fund it, in a way that suits your lifestyle goals.

Portable Income = Portable Peace of Mind

The good news is, you don’t need a massive savings account or a six-figure business. (Although either, or both, are a bonus 😉)

What you do need is income that moves with you. Something simple, sustainable, and flexible enough to support your rhythm.

For some, that might be a remote job with predictable pay. For others, it’s a mix of freelance work, teaching, house sitting, or digital products. Some use rental income or pensions. Others run part-time businesses or build as they go.

“I live in Vietnam and earn around $1,500–$2,000 a month from teaching. It's enough, but I sometimes dip into my business funds for holidays. Still grateful that I have other avenues of income.” — Debra

My personal favourites are fun, low-stress online side hustles, like freelancing, newsletters and communities (hello, Substack!), digital products, and simple e-commerce.

The goal is to find a way to earn that gives you real freedom. Not just financially, but in how you spend your time, where you live, and how much energy you have left for what matters.

What you’re aiming for is income you enjoy earning. Something that fits your lifestyle, moves with you, and still leaves space to actually live.

How Much Is Enough for You?

If you’re craving more freedom, whether that means full-time travel, a few months abroad each year, or simply the space to live on your own terms, give yourself permission to imagine it.

Start by asking:

What would your ideal life actually look like?

Not the version you think you should want, but the one that excites you. The version where your days feel like they truly belong to you.

Once you’ve pictured it (mornings in the mountains, a desk by the beach, long lunches in the sun), get curious about what it would take.

• Research the costs. Use tools like Numbeo. Ask in Facebook groups. Talk to people living the life you’re dreaming of.

• Look at places you’d love to live. Search apartment listings. Check local grocery prices. Browse travel forums.

• Begin to build a picture. You don’t need to calculate the perfect budget, just get a sense of what your freedom life might really cost.

Then, consider how you could fund it.

• Could you negotiate to work remotely in your current role?

• Would a side hustle give you the margin you need?

• Do you have assets you could rent, sell, or simplify?

• Is there a new direction you've always wanted to try, but never felt ready to begin?

Once you’ve explored your vision and started thinking through how to fund it, begin mapping out the first step.

• Maybe that’s talking to your employer about location flexibility.

• Maybe it’s researching visa options, or building a basic budget for three dream locations.

• Maybe it’s setting aside a quiet hour each week to sketch out your business idea or explore freelance platforms.

You don’t need to uproot your life tomorrow. But the moment you start acting on your dreams, even in small ways, things start to shift.

The possibilities grow. Your fears shrink. And the life you thought belonged to someone else… starts to feel like it could be yours too.

So, Do You Really Need to be Rich to Travel the World?

Not according to the nomads who answered my question in the group.

Some are doing it for less than most spend on a car payment. Others are spending more, but doing so with intention, balancing comfort, flexibility, and the lifestyle they’ve chosen.

“I easily live in Europe on $1,500 a month. That covers food, accommodation, and even flights.” — Judy

“On Caye Caulker (Belize), you could pay $3,500 for a swanky condo, or much less for a rustic wooden house” — Jay

“€15k a year covers everything, including emergencies and misfortunes.” — Rob

“It all depends on what standard you think you need. For me, lifetime is the most precious thing.” — Dušan

Even if your dream life sits at the higher end of the spectrum, say $120k a year for flights, fine food, comfort, and a home base. That’s still a far cry from the “you need to be a millionaire” messaging we’re bombarded with online.

The hustle culture tells us to wake at 5am, meditate for 30 minutes, down a green juice, build a 7-figure brand, and grind until we earn the right to rest.

But the goal isn’t building a bigger life, it’s building a better one.

The kind where your work supports your lifestyle, not the other way around.

Where your days feel like yours, rather than being dictated by Zoom calls, commute times, or someone else's expectations. And where your version of success includes peace, purpose, and the occasional swim on a Thursday afternoon.

You Don’t Need More Money You Need a Clearer Vision

Every single nomad in this piece made choices. Some bold. Some more quiet, and most messy and unplanned.

But all in service of living with more freedom, not just more money.

That’s the shift.

You don’t need millions, or perfect routines, or a productivity guru whispering in your ear.

You need a clear picture of the life you want, a realistic number to support it, and the willingness to build something that works for you.

And from the stories shared, the paths taken, and the places explored, that number is probably far less than you think it is.

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NB: Thanks to all the amazing 50+ Nomads who responded and engaged with that question in the group. You can find the original thread here.