Heard a guy in a Lisbon cafe say he's 'done with cheap countries'

He was telling his friend he spent 6 months in Thailand but felt like he was just saving money, not really living. Said he's moving to Barcelona next, even though it costs more, because the community and events are better. It made me think about how we pick places. Is chasing a low cost of living sometimes a trap that keeps you from a better experience? Anyone else made a move to a pricier city and been glad they did?

3 comments

3 Comments

mary6145d agoMost Upvoted

My budget in Prague was half what it was in Sofia, but I finally felt plugged into a real scene (you know, like live music and art shows that weren't just for tourists).

anthony721mo ago

Totally get where that guy's coming from. I did the same thing in Vietnam for a year, just pinching pennies and it got old fast. Moved to Tokyo even though my budget was tight, and man, the energy and stuff to do was worth every extra dollar. Sometimes cheap just means you're counting coins instead of actually enjoying your life. You can't put a price on feeling connected to a place.

riley_king161mo ago

Yeah but how do you actually find that balance though? Like Tokyo's crazy expensive compared to Vietnam, so did you just accept having way less savings? I'm always torn between living somewhere with more going on and watching my bank account drain faster.