Money isn’t everything, but it can have a big impact on your quality of life as you travel abroad.
For example, 5 US dollars is enough to buy you lunch in some countries, while in others it barely covers a cup of coffee!
That’s why one of the first things to consider when visiting or moving abroad is how much things cost. Whether you’re admired for your meticulous spreadsheets or envied for your ability to hop on a cheap last-minute flight and play it by ear, sooner or later you’ve got to wrap your head around the local prices.
This can be challenging in places like Vietnam, where you can be a millionaire (in Vietnamese dong) with less than 50 US dollars!
Below you’ll find 5 infographics that show how the prices of various essentials compare across 40 countries.
And by essentials, we mean Coca-Cola, lunch in a restaurant, internet access, rent for a studio apartment, and cheese. (Yes, cheese!)
If you’re stuck between two possible destinations for your holidays or move abroad, knowing the local prices might be the tie-breaker you’ve been searching for!
Contents
Always Coca-Cola
If there is a sound more satisfying than the metallic pop of cracking open a can of Coke, it’s got to be the cheerful fizzy bubblings that begin immediately after. Your mouth begins to water before you even lift the can!
Here’s a taste of what prices you can expect to pay for a 2-litre bottle of Coke, depending on what country you’re in.
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Lunch in a Restaurant
Travel with your tastebuds! A wonderful and delicious way to experience a culture is through its cuisine. Depending on your budget and destination, you may be able to afford restaurant prices for every meal, or you may prefer to space out the times you treat yourself.
Low-budget tip: Visiting the supermarket is a cheap way to gain surprising insights into popular local food products and the rhythm of everyday life. While you may not join the queue for live frogs, you may be tempted to try some new flavours of crisps!
For when you do eat out, here’s a look at how much you can expect to pay for lunch in the business district, where prices are usually on the steeper side.
Keep in mind that in some countries, lunch is the biggest meal of the day, while in others it’s just a light meal.
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Renting a Studio Apartment
Thinking of sticking around for a while? Housing costs can take a significant chunk out of your monthly budget. Here’s a quick look at rent prices worldwide.
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Keep in mind that rental prices vary widely within the same country. It usually costs much more to live in the centre of a large metropolis than it does to live on the outskirts of the city or in a small town.
When planning a move abroad, keep in mind that areas with low rents may have a high crime rate. It’s important to research the neighborhood you’ve got your eye on — or better yet, explore it in person. You’ll also need to take into account the price of utilities and transportation as well as your commute time before settling on a location.
Monthly Internet Bill
In today’s digital world, having an internet connection at home is widely considered a basic necessity. When moving into your own place, one of the first things you’ll want to do is set up your Wi-Fi.
Let’s take a look at how much being connected will set you back each month. Note that these prices are for 8 mpbs, which is on the low side. Depending on your situation, you may need a faster speed, especially if you’re going to work from home or have multiple people in the same household. Still, this gives you a baseline for comparison.
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Say Cheese!
Fellow cheese fanatics, we know what’s on your mind: how much should you set aside to satisfy your creamy, crumbly, nutty or tangy cravings as they arise?
If you need to factor cheese expenditures into your travel budget, here’s the graph for you:
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Other Factors That May Tip the Scale
While local prices have an important role to play in your travel decisions, there are other questions that need answering before you settle on your destination, including:
- Do you need a visa to visit your destination?
- Are there any vaccinations you should get before you go?
- How much will your flight (or other transport) cost, and how long will it take?
- Do you want to get travel insurance?
If you are planning a move abroad, you may also want to consider things like:
- Do you need a visa to live or work in the country?
- Do you speak the language?
- Are you willing to adapt to the cultural norms and laws?
- How does the local healthcare system work?
- What is the job market like?
- Should you visit as a tourist first before making a long-term move?
That’s a lot to think about! Budgeting your trip is just one piece of the puzzle.
But wait, there’s good news! Once you fit all the pieces together, you’ll have paved your way to a new beginning in another part of the world.
And that’s something you can’t put a price on.