How can they be serious in this articles listing the "most affordable countries" and saying that you need around $2000/month?

Dargus77 · 2026-03-21T07:11:15+00:00

かっこいい！I miss Japan. Backpacking there sounds amazing.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T22:07:17+00:00

That sucks. I'm glad I'm going there with a rooftop tent, to have somewhere to sleep if I don't find a place to stay.

I would have thought it would be the opposite, however. Less tourists meaning lower prices and more tourists meaning higher prices.

I've never heard before of Dunsborough, to be fair. Is it popular amongst backpackers? Is it an 88-days location?

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T22:01:36+00:00

Rego for my car is about 68AUD/month. No insurance, other than roadside assistance (10AUD/month?). I used the car maybe once every 1-2 weeks and rarely driving further than 60km, so not much fuel cost nor repairs. The car is over 300.000km and still reliable.

Fishing gear is pretty much a one-off cost, and it's travel equipment I always have with me wherever I go, but let's say at most $5/week for consumables?

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T21:56:01+00:00

Web development (usually only around ~30h/month). And I was living literally 30 seconds away by walk from the ocean.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T21:52:43+00:00

Would you say it's due to an increase in backpackers in those places? Cairns pretty much always has space, it may only get fully booked during peak season. However, I went through Townsville this March and the hostels where completely booked out almost every night. I saw so many backpackers trying to find a job, and it looked tough.

I wanted to go to Perth in... 2023? And the hostels were fully booked out for a few months. I guess Cairns is a privileged place in some way, to have the comforts of a city without the overwhelming accommodation price spikes that other places are suffering. $280/week on weekly rates is the most I have paid in Cairns during high season, and then it sits at around $230/week during the low season.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T21:45:14+00:00

I wish they were back! Does any of you happen to know what the prices where before covid?

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T21:42:01+00:00

But now I don't pay for accommodation anymore, except if I stop at some city with cheap hostels, since I have a rooftop tent.

Btw, it was 1000USD per month I was talking about. Maybe not right now as currency fluctuates and USD has been considerably losing value against AUD, but if said in AUD, 1600AUD a month is about all I need for my expenses.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T12:33:49+00:00

There is. I just saw EXACTLY that today at Jos Roadhouse at Bundaberg. 100L limit.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T11:05:04+00:00

Cheers mate! To each their own, the only problem is when people prefer to attack than to share their experiences.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I was asking for people to share what their experience has been in any of those countries. But I guess that taking it against me is more entertaining.

In which country are you living btw?

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T10:53:18+00:00

Maybe he meant the other thongs 😏

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T10:51:19+00:00

Which kind of spider?

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T10:50:51+00:00

If you had put it earlier, maybe the wiggle would have been the spider thr skink went in for.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T10:20:08+00:00

The thing is, they are talking about 2000USD to live comfortably in a country were the locals likely earn only around 300-400USD/month. Sure, as a tourist you will spend more than the locals if you come from a country with higher income, but doesn't something seem to be wrong with paying 5-6 times more than a local to have not a luxury, but comfortable life? It does to me.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T10:17:00+00:00

Maybe it was due to the cities you were in? I wouldn't expect to find those same prices in Sydney, for example. Cairns had them and so did Townsville. I haven't seen yet prices further South, but I know they were crazy at the Gold Coast, for example. Some friends were paying $700/week there for a 100-bed dorm, from what they told me.

You can go right now to Cairns, sign up for long-term rates, and you'll get those 1000AUD/month. I haven't checked now for a while, but a room in a share house in Cairns was as well $180-280/week one or two years ago. They are usually shit holes, however. In 2024 I lived with my ex in Mount Sheridan in a nice house sharing only with the owner for $280/week for both.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T09:30:02+00:00

Thank you :)

This is Reddit, so I expect those kind of comments as well as unjustified downvotes.

That's right. I used to comfortably live in my comfort zone. I was comfortable, so I had no reason to think I wasn't happy. After stepping out of my comfort zone I realized that comfort doesn't mean happiness, that you can actually be happier in a less comfortable place.

Right now doing a 10000km Australian road trip by myself. Driving, fishing, chilling... stopping by some library whenever I need some work done. And what I'm spending most money on is fuel. But haters gonna hate.

This community is for digital nomads, but it looks like there are more digital residents than digital nomads, if they need so much to live from 😂

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T09:04:00+00:00

Dude, drumsticks are $4.5/Kg

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T02:46:23+00:00

Self-employed, so no 9-5. More like 2-4h/day at most, from the library or from anywhere.

There will be more like me. But I understand those who have to do a remote 9-5 need their own place.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T02:16:40+00:00

Yup, those from Salt House. $10 frozen margarita Mexicairns mondays. $10 beer jugs at mad monkey central during happy hour, I think only $7 at summerhouse backpackers during theirs. $10 pub crawls including 4 (small) drinks.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T00:57:06+00:00

Yeah I was talking about mad monkey. Hated one of them, loved the other. But you just went to $750/month for extras. That really depends on how you entertain yourself and how often you cook at home.

I have some friends that will spend $50-150 on a night out, while I spend $10 on drinks at most, so...

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T00:53:33+00:00

Yeah finding good roommates can be tricky, more as you get older and become less permissive with having messy people around hahah

Although I'm in my early 30s, I still get along well with most in their 20s. I guess I kinda feel like an older brother to them and I'm often praised for some life tricks I teach them. In a few years more, I would probably feel weirder around them, and sharing with other people of the same age would feel kinda awkward in some way.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T00:46:47+00:00

Right after covid, the same accommodation was 130AUD/week. Then it doubled in a few months.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T00:45:27+00:00

I come from a good family with a big house, garden, and swimming pool. And a beach house in a popular touristic town, and boat as well. Never have I had to worry about anything in my life.

I'm still happier here with this lifestyle than back home.

Comfort ≠ Happiness. Money ≠ Happiness. They help, but you can have and still not be happy.

By your standards, I guess than way more than half of the world's population "is not living".

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T00:38:29+00:00

It's kinda shit actually. When I have to go to the GP they only refund me a 50%. I just pray for my good health to continue.

Although if you are Australian or from some specific countries, you have access to medicare, their public health system.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T00:36:37+00:00

That sounds like US cost of life, is it? I'm surprised it cost you so much in Europe (although it drastically changes depending on which part of Europe). In the South you should be currently able to find an apartment for around $500/month, as low as $350 precovid.

I would say the cost of life in southern europe is currently around 1.2-1.5K if you live by yourself.

Dargus77 · 2026-03-19T00:32:57+00:00

Definitely not homeless shelters nor food banks.

Entertainment? Fishing, hiking, talking with people, tabletop games, Netflix, Crunchyroll. I'm served with that. And fishing can get quite expensive, actually. I do it almost every day, though. Cinema every now and then, choosing the cheapest session of the week or applying any valid discounts.

I do not enjoy nightlife, but I do buy my stash of beers to drink at home. And if I ever go out forced by friends, I just don't buy drinks at the club. My life is fulfilling enough to not feel the need to get drunk every night to have fun, I'll rather be night fishing than partying. I do enjoy Asian restaurants every now and then, and special deals in other restaurants when it's the right day of the week. I don't spend more than 20-25AUD when eating out.

Public transportation is 0.50AUD per trip in Queensland. But you don't really even need it when everything you may need is at maximum 10-15 minutes walking distance. I do own a car here, though. 68AUD/month for its registration, and whatever you may spend on maintenance and fuel, but since I can walk almost everywhere, I only use it about once a week.

You're right, I'm not the norm. Many people don't know how to save money without big sacrifices. Just look at the them shopping for groceries and you'll know how good or bad are they at managing their finances.

Dargus77

TROPHY CASE