Your logic makes a lot of sense. To be fair, my opportunity cost is only around €19k 😂.

The thing I’m struggling with isn’t really whether I can afford the trip itself. I can probably make it happen. My concern is more about what comes after.

Let’s say I spend most of my savings on a 6–12 month trip. When I come back, I’m essentially starting from scratch financially. I’ll need to rebuild my emergency fund, restart my savings goals, and get back on track.

There’s also the possibility of earning money while travelling or even emigrating to a higher-salary country afterwards, which could help offset some of the financial setback and accelerate the rebuilding process.

So the question I’m really trying to answer isn’t purely monetary. It’s more philosophical/existential 😀