Is Long-Term Travel Actually Cheaper Than Staying Home?
A real family budget breakdown before we hit the road
The Question Everyone Asks (And Honestly… We Asked It Too)
When we started planning a year of travel with our kids, we didn’t just daydream about beaches and backpacks.
We also opened up a spreadsheet and asked:
“Wait… is this actually cheaper than staying home?”
Spoiler: it’s complicated.
But when we laid it all out our regular life costs vs. our planned travel budget, the results were surprising.
This post isn’t some dreamy, “we sold everything and live for $3 a day” fantasy.
It’s our actual numbers, before we leave, from a family who still shops at Aldi and owns far too many chargers.
Let’s break it down.
Our Life at Home: The Monthly Costs
We live fairly simply, but life adds up especially with kids.
Here’s a look at our average monthly expenses at home (rounded to make your brain hurt less):
| Category | Monthly Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Mortgage | $1,200 |
| Utilities (Gas, Electric, Water) | $250 |
| Council Tax / Insurance | $300 |
| Car (Insurance + Fuel + Upkeep) | $350 |
| Groceries | $800 |
| Eating Out / Takeaways | $200 |
| Kids’ Clubs / Activities | $150 |
| School-Related Costs | $100 |
| Subscriptions + Internet | $150 |
| Occasional Childcare | $200 |
| Misc (gifts, home stuff, Amazon regrets) | $300 |
TOTAL: ~$4,000/month
That’s before we go anywhere, do anything, or fix anything.
Our Planned Travel Budget (Per Month)
Now here’s our planned monthly budget for our year abroad (see our full breakdown here):
| Category | Estimated Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | $900 – $1,200 |
| Food (Groceries + Dining) | $600 – $800 |
| Transport (Local + Flights) | $300 – $400 |
| Travel Insurance | $150 – $200 |
| Activities / Excursions | $150 – $300 |
| Kid Expenses | $100 – $200 |
| Internet / SIMs | $30 – $50 |
| Miscellaneous | $100 – $200 |
TOTAL: ~$2,400 – $3,350/month
That includes rent, food, transport, and fun in destinations we’ve never seen before.
But Isn’t Travel… Extra?
Totally. It can be.
If you’re staying in hotels, flying every week, and eating out constantly it adds up fast.
But we’re not doing that.
We’re slow traveling. Renting places for 1–3 months. Cooking most meals. Skipping fancy stuff unless it truly adds value.
And when you compare it to our “normal” life?
We’re already spending thousands to live at home — for routines, commutes, and stuff we’re honestly ready to let go of for a while.
The Real Difference? What We Stop Paying For
When we hit the road, these costs disappear:
Mortgage + Council Tax (rented out our home)
Car + Insurance + MOT
Kids’ extracurriculars + school expenses
House maintenance (or at least… it’s someone else’s problem for now)
Home shopping (fewer shelves, fewer trips to IKEA, less “we might need this”)
Childcare (we’re together full-time)
And just like that, we’ve eliminated over $1,500/month in home-based living costs which now goes toward funding the actual adventure.
What We’re Gaining by Letting Go
Travel isn’t always “cheaper,” but for us, it feels more valuable.
Here’s what we’re investing in instead:
More time together (while the kids still want to hang out with us)
Real-life learning (for them and us)
Slower mornings, new places, fewer errands
Daily Spanish practice in real contexts
A chance to reset how we live and spend and what matters to us
Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Cheaper It’s About Choice
This isn’t about running from our life — it’s about reimagining it.
Yes, we’re budgeting. Yes, we’re still nervous.
But we’ve seen how much money we spend just to maintain a life we’re ready to hit pause on.
And if we’re going to spend thousands either way?
We’d rather do it while exploring the Andes than sitting in traffic on a rainy Tuesday.
