Posted by Maneesh Sethi :: April 21, 2009 @ 6:20 am

In a previous article, I talked about how traveling right now might be a good idea because of the strong US dollar. In this article, I'm going to talk about how to move to another country. It's not as crazy as you think!

Before reading this article, you should know about my history. I've been living abroad since January 2008, in Italy, Spain, Buenos Aires, and currently Brazil. Ever since moving to South America, my standard of living has shot up, and I have been able to afford things I never could before. Thanks to the awesomeness of currency conversion, you'll find that traveling can be surprisingly cheap if you do it the right way. However, you should also know that I am single, without any rent or mortgage to pay in the US.

But first, let's talk about what you shouldn't expect to do.

What not to do while traveling affordably

If you've ever traveled before, you probably think of it as a serious expenditure, with pricey hotels and expensive food. However, if you intend to travel for a longer period of time (say, for a month or so), you can make your money stretch a lot farther by acting more as a traveler and less like a tourist. Therefore:

• Don't expect to eat out for every meal
• Don't pay for hotels, as they are much too expensive
• Don't take taxis everywhere
• Don't buy expensive souvenirs

Acting as a tourist can be very expensive. If you plan ahead, however, you can save tons of cash.

How to travel cheaply

Choose your location wisely! Europe is pricey, northern Europe even more so. However, South America is very cheap right now, and you can generally get around with knowledge of English. Consider other locations as well, such as Iceland (very cheap right now), the Caribbean, or Australia.

Research your city well. Also, wikitravel.org has great guides to most cities, with information on prices and almost everything else you need to know.

Consider your lodging choices carefully. A hotel in Buenos Aires runs about $100/night. If you rent an apartment, however, the price can be less than $500 for an entire month! If you are traveling alone and are willing to live with roommates (which is excellent for meeting new people in the city), the price can be less than $300, even in the nicest areas. I lived in an excellent apartment with roommates in the nicest area of the city for $330 per month in Buenos Aires.

If you eat out at restaurants every night, the prices can add up---especially at fancy ones. But if you eat out once every few days, and cook for yourself for the majority of the time, you can save some serious cash.

Taxies can also be pricey (not in Buenos Aires though!), so look into public transportation.

By researching the city you are moving to, you can save tons of money. I found that I actually spend less, even after taking into account any bills I have to pay in the US while traveling, simply because the cost of living is so low! To live in San Francisco, I needed to spend almost $100/day, but in Buenos Aires, $30 is more than enough.

Would you consider traveling for an extended period of time? Where would you go?