How To Travel For Less Than Rent

Despite the common misconception, it is very possible to travel for less than rent. And no, you don’t need a remote online job.

Now, if you’re looking for a luxury holiday, this blog isn’t for you. But if you’re like me and you have a dream of traveling the world but little money to do so… you are in the right place.

How to Travel for Less Than Rent

In 2022 I dropped out of high school with NO degree, ZERO qualifications, and a wild dream to explore. Through my journey, I’ve met many people who have traveled the world for 3, 5, or even 10 years. And how do we do it? It might not be glamorous, but it works.

If you travel right, being overseas can be CHEAPER than staying at home. Here’s an example:

In Australia, the median rent as of July 2023 is $600AUD per week. With Sydney being the most expensive, where the average price is around $711. So if you take the national average of $600, you are left with $31,200 per year… in rent alone.

The Cost of Staying Home

This year, I am traveling the world for 8 months, and I am projected to spend $18,000 AUD ($11,500 USD). That is $4400 less than rent for the same period of time. But, keep in mind that that $31,200 ONLY covers rent, and no other living expenses.

So to make things even clearer we look at the average cost of living. Which, in Australia, is estimated to be around $34,328 for a single person, for only 8 months (and more in Sydney).

While on only $18,000, I went to Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, And North America. And the best part is, WITH these tips it is possible to travel with a budget of half as much as mine.

Note: Traveling alone for the first time? Read my post ‘31 Tips for Flying Alone for the First Time‘.

Travel with Worldpackers/ Workaway

One of the best-known strategies to travel for less than rent is using Worldpackers/ Workaway programs. These two platforms connect travelers with hosts that provide free accommodation (and much more) in exchange for work.

The work can be anything from hostel volunteering, to being a helping hand on a luxury sailing yacht (yes I’ve seen a few of these).

In 2023 I volunteered at a hostel in Mendoza, Argentina through Workaway. And not only did I make lifetime friends, but I saved a WHOLE lot of money in the process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Worldpackers/Workaway:

Accommodation is often what takes the most of your money when overseas, and while a Workaway isn’t a luxury vacation, it’s a great way to save money. Which ultimately means traveling for longer!

The biggest thing that sucks up your money when you’re budgeting for a trip is flights.

When I dropped $5000 on the CHEAPEST flights for my first trip, I couldn’t help but wonder how on earth people could afford to travel full-time.

And well… now I’m a full-time traveler. I’ve got all the secrets!

Tip: I use FareDrop to find the cheapest flights possible (Which you can find HERE). (US and Canada only).

Work seasonal jobs

This is a long-term solution that involves a cycle of working for periods in an overseas country and using that money to continue to travel. This is best done through Working Holiday Visa programs, which are available in 63 countries.

Popular Countries With WHV Programs

For example, hypothetically. If you had experience in hospitality, you could spend 6 months working overseas using that past knowledge. You could experience life in a foreign country while still saving money.

On top of this, many seasonal jobs that target travelers offer free accommodation, which is an AMAZING money saver.

Using the money you had saved, you could travel for the next 6 months without having to work. Only to return to working in a NEW country, and starting the cycle over again.

You can find seasonal work for nearly everything. Skills in snowsports, surfing, hospitality, retail, labor, trades, you name it!

There are multiple ways to work seasonally. But as I mentioned earlier, Working Holiday Visas are a great way for people 18-30 to travel overseas long-term.

Two things to note are that for most countries a WHV usually lasts for 12 months, and you can only apply once.

Working holiday visas allow you to be employed in a foreign country. Which means you can supplement your income without having to return home!

(For more information on working holiday visas and which countries offer them, check out: WHV information)

Be flexible and adventure to cheaper countries

Not all countries are created equal when it comes to budget travel. Being flexible about where you go really matters for your budget.

I could write a book on why solo traveling to places like Asia and South America are better than places like Western Europe. (And I kind of have, well I’ve written why I WOULDN’T go to Western Europe, which you can read: HERE).

In June-July 2023, I spent a month traveling around Indonesia. During my travels, I stayed in BEAUTIFUL hostels, went out often, on private snorkeling tours, ate the best food, and explored 5 different islands. The best part is that I only spent $1500AUD ($958USD).

Then in July-August, I went to Europe. I only stayed 1.5 months and spent roughly $5000AUD ($3,200USD). And the craziest part is… I only paid for 1 week of accommodation.

I didn’t pay for my accommodation for 5 weeks. And I would estimate that accommodation included, my spending would have been more like $7000- $7500AUD ($4800USD).

This is all to say that it is absolutely possible to travel for less than rent if you’re flexible about where you go. There are many places today that you can travel to extremely cheaply. I’ve included some below!

It all depends on how you change your money and how you pay. If you use the Blue dollar rate through exchanges like Western Union (where AUD, EURO, and USD, are all exchanged at the same rate) and pay in cash, it is extremely inexpensive.

To put things into perspective, my estimated monthly budget is $1100 next month, (and $500 the month after… thanks to Workaway!). Meaning my daily spend is around $35 AUD. But Make sure to support local businesses and tip well if you choose to visit Argentina, it is much needed.

I could not recommend MORE to explore past Bali. Islands like Lombok, Java, Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, The Gili’s, and the Nusa’s, are just within reach.

A delicious local meal (and they are not shy on portions either) costs on average around $2-3 AUD ($1-2 USD).

Furthermore, a hostel will only cost around $10 AUD ($6 USD) per night. With no strict budget, I spent $30-50 AUD ($25-$32 USD) a day in Indonesia.

Guatemala is very accessible for a great price. Consider $15 AUD for a bed in a shared dorm!

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And, if you’re traveling on a budget you can eat a large meal of beans, rice, corn, and meat at a comedor for around $7 AUD. On the other hand, street food can be less than a few dollars.

As a backpacker, it is common to pay around $50 AUD per day to travel to Guatemala.

The suggested backpackers’ budget when traveling to Nepal is $35-$40AUD. To make your stay cheap, it is best to sleep at local tearooms and eat at local food stops (but don’t eat the street food!! Just trust me on this, your stomach isn’t as strong as you think.)

Note that if you plan on trekking and hiring a guide, you’re prices probably won’t be so low. Consider $50-$70 per day with a guide.

Buy and sell vans/ cars

If you’ve ever wanted to get out on the road and Van life, this might be for you. Buying and selling vans and cars is high risk and high reward. The risk is obvious, there’s a chance it won’t re-sell… but the reward? The adventure of a lifetime.

Living in cheap vans and cars is definitely not a glamorous lifestyle, but it is an amazing way to make your money last longer while having a crazy adventure.

Although it costs a larger amount upfront, anything from $3000 up to $10,000 AUD. You have your accommodation and transport covered for however long you want to hit the road.

There is also the option to renovate. Spruce up the inside a little and you can often sell the van for a higher price than you bought it for!

Otherwise, the likelihood of re-selling vans and cars is still relatively high, especially if you post it in traveler and backpacker spaces. Facebook is wonderful for that!

The best part is if you do resell… you get most of your money back!!

Fun fact: this is the option I’ll be using next year when my cousin and I road trip for 2 months from Sydney to Perth and back!

Stay For LONGER

And to sum everything up, the cheapest way to travel… is to travel slowly. All but one point on this list was related to slow travel, and that’s because it is the ULTIMATE money saver.

So, one of the best ways to travel for less than rent… is to rent somewhere else.

Very often it is significantly cheaper to lease a room through local rental organizations than it is to book any kind of tourist accommodation. And leases can often be as short as one month.

Through my travels, I found that even rent in PARIS is around half as much as it costs to rent at home. And of course, Paris is by far not the cheapest city.

Cities like Buenos Aires, Lisbon, Florence, and the island of Grenada are just a few places with surprisingly, incredibly cheap rent.

One thing to note is that solo travel can get lonely especially when you’re living alone. Read my post all about beating travel loneliness: HERE!

Otherwise, options like Worldpackers/Workaway, Seasonal Work, and Van Life, are incredible slow travel options to help you save a whole lot of money.

How to Travel for Less Than Rent

If travel is a dream of yours, it is COMPLETELY possible to travel for less than rent. For less than it would cost you to stay where you are, you could explore the world.

Traveling on a budget is not easy, it is not glamorous, and sometimes the path is uncertain. But it is life-changing nonetheless, and it is an experience you will treasure forever!