An Australian remote worker has cut his living expenses by 70% by relocating to Vietnam, spending under $1,000 USD monthly while maintaining what he describes as a higher quality of life than back home.
The 34-year-old digital nomad, who has spent 18 months in Thailand and 6 months in Vietnam, shared a detailed breakdown of his monthly expenses in a discussion on the r/digitalnomad community that has sparked widespread interest among remote workers considering Southeast Asia.
The Real Numbers
Rent for a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment with air conditioning, WiFi, pool, and gym access runs $350 per month in what he describes as "a good area, not out in the middle of nowhere." Food costs between $200-250 monthly, with local meals running $2-3 and Western food options available for $7-10.
Transport via Grab, Southeast Asia's equivalent to Uber, costs $50-80 monthly, with a 20-minute cross-city ride running just $2-3. A gym membership costs $25-30, while entertainment and going out runs $100-150 per month, with local beers priced at $1-2 and cocktails at nice bars around $5-6.
Perhaps most striking is the wellness category. Weekly one-hour massages cost about $15, totaling $60-80 monthly - a service that would cost over $400 per month in Australia.
The Dental Work Revelation
The traveler highlighted dental care as a particular value. "I've gotten more dental work done here in 6 months than I did in the last 5 years in Australia," he wrote. "Full checkups, cleanings, cosmetic work like veneers. The clinic I go to has treated thousands of international patients and honestly the experience was more professional than any dentist I've ever been to back home."
