Can you really live on 350.00 to 500.00 USD a month in the Philippines, Mexico or Guatemala in 2022? And why would you want too?

I still get this question a lot and so want to write on if this is possible and why you may want to live on a small budget like that if you are from the western world.

Usually if you search online for information like this and you find a forum to ask a question on this you will be met with derision scorned laughed at and made fun of, so most people don't really talk about it much.

With the rise in inflation in 2022 I would say the days of living on 300 to 350 USD a month are over in the developing world but if you are creative you can find a way. One way that's easy is to just do house sitting gigs and go house to house. Another is to volunteer and get room and board included in exchange for 4 to 6 hours work a day. In this article I wont be explaining those opportunities. 

Why would you want to live that frugally?

Well maybe that's all you have to live on although now days most pensions are above that. Another reason is you are in the process of building up a business and you enjoy living in Mexico or the Philippine's or even Guatemala.

If you have an online business but no saving for emergencies or doing fun stuff you may want to live your first few years on a tight budget of 400 to 500 USD a month and save your earnings to fund a retirement account and or an emergency budget and prefer not to do that in a western country and want out now.

Ideally before you leave the Untied States you should have more than 5k to 10k saving just to have a longer burn rate or if you don't have that already have an income of 300 to 500 USD a month from your online work.

If you choose to live in Mexico and wish to live on 300 to 500 USD then you will have to go local and live like a local. To do that you will need the help of a local to help you find cheap rent in a safe place. To do that you will need to live in a small community and not a big city. One example of that is Calderitas beach, which is by Chetumal, Mexico.

Their you will be near the beach and there are many cheap houses to rent for 50 USD and up. Of course these wont be luxury houses or even super middle class, but you will have a few rooms and a kitchen and internet connections and everything else you will need to work online and function. Its such a small community where everyone knows everyone that crime is little unless you piss someone off.

In communities like this it will be best to be introduced into the community by someone who lives their and has a good reputation, it is why you will need help from a local to introduce you around and help you find a place to rent. Your biggest expense will be rent and food and wifi but I have come across gringos who are doing it for under 400 USD a month but of course they are young and building up a business and aren't really to old to enjoy a lifestyle like that.

Another gringo does essentially the same thing in Puebla, Mexico and his rent is something like 600 USD a month, hes on a pension and am not sure why its that low but does just fine on that budget. Of course youll not be living high off the hog but will have high speed internet and sometimes a pretty big house compared to the studio I have in Guatemala. 

I live in Guatemala in the second biggest city in Guatemala and have a studio for 250USD and with my food and booze budget never spend more than 600 USD a month but have other income sources from online business and dividend shares that help build up my savings.

When I lived in the Philippines my rent was 80 USD a month and at that time I had a partner so spent more than the 300 to 500 USD per month budget but even then I didn't spend more than 600 a month. Food and beer their is cheap eating out in local places wasn't much either and its cheaper than Mexico or Guatemala as far as eating out.

The hardest part of finding cheap places to rent?

The hardest part to getting cheap rents is not speaking the language and getting gringo prices. That is why you will need someone trust worthy to help you find cheap places and normally that will be your girlfriend or partner who lives in that area and understands cultural norms their and can help you negotiate a cheap rent. 

If you cant do that it will take time building up trust with locals who will then help you find a place and it all takes time and is or can be frustrating when you as a gringo are in a hurry to find a place.

Right now in 2022 there are foreigners in the Philippines rent houses or small apartments for under a 100 bucks a month and if you watch them you can see how tough it is to live on 350 USD a month and will really have to love being their to enjoy it but it can be done and more money is better and as things wind down in the western world you better leave now and find yourself a cheap place to hunker down in.

So if you want to have a lower cost of living and a second chance of finding romance head out as soon as you can.

Good Luck!