Cost of Living Abroad After 50: What We Really Spend as Senior Nomads
Our Cost of Living Reports
Our First-Year Budget and Expenses
These posts share our real numbers from countries where we lived for at least a month.
- Cost of Living in Vlore Albania: Our April 2026 Expense Breakdown
- A Real-World Cost of Living Report: Our First Year in Albania
- Travel Expense Tracker Template for Full-time Travelers – designed by Full-time Travelers
- Cost of Living in Sarandë, Albania: What We Actually Spent
- What was our Cost of Living in Pogradec Albania? (2025)
- Our Cost of Living in Durrës, Albania for 61 Days
- Cost of Living in Chile: What We Spent Living Abroad for 6 Weeks as American Expats and Nomads
- Cost of Living in Mexico for 6 Weeks: Our Detailed Breakdown
- Our Cost of Living in Buenos Aires Argentina for Two Months Report
- Port to Port: Our Journey Getting from Italy to Albania – A Step-by-Step Guide for Budget Travelers
- From Chile to Guanajuato: Why Mexico City Was the Perfect Stop for Nomads Like Us
- Retirement Abroad on a Budget: Our Real First-Year Costs as American Expat & Nomads (Age 60+)
Why We Share Our Real Cost of Living Numbers
When we started looking into life abroad in our 60s, we kept running into the same problem:
There was very little honest information written for people our age.
Most “cost of living abroad” content was:
- written by younger backpackers
- based on unrealistic spending levels
- missing healthcare, comfort, and mobility considerations
- light on real numbers
- lacking personal experience from older travelers
So we decided to share our real-world budget as senior nomads. The goal is simple: give people 50+ the practical information we wish we had in those early planning stages.
This page is the central hub for all things related to budgeting and the cost of living abroad on The Mobile Retiree.
What We Actually Spend Each Month as Senior Nomads
After two years abroad, our monthly spending usually falls between:
$2,200–$3,500 per month for two people
This range reflects:
- housing
- groceries and eating out
- activities
- healthcare
- transportation
- visas or travel days
- occasional splurges
We’re not trying to live at the absolute minimum. We’re also not luxury travelers. We aim for a balanced lifestyle that feels good at our age.
If you want to see our full breakdown with real numbers, month-by-month variations, and our biggest surprises:
What Actually Drives the Cost of Living Abroad
One of the most surprising things we’ve learned is that your habits matter as much as the country itself.
Here are the major factors that make the biggest difference:
1. Housing Costs
Housing is our largest expense everywhere we go.
Expect housing to be 40–55% of your monthly budget, depending on the neighborhood and season.
2. Groceries and Eating Out
Groceries abroad are often more affordable than in the U.S.
We cook about 70% of the time and eat out selectively.
3. Walkability
Walkable neighborhoods reduce transportation costs dramatically.
Durres, Mexico City, Lisbon, and Buenos Aires are great examples.
4. Transportation
Some cities have excellent public transit.
Others require rideshares or longer travel days.
5. Healthcare
Healthcare abroad continues to be one of the biggest financial reliefs.
The expats that we’ve spoken with all agree that routine visits, dental care, and prescriptions are significantly more affordable than in the U.S.
Total Cost 7.60Lek or just over $9.00US for two
Living Abroad on Social Security
We hear this question often:
“Is it possible to live abroad on Social Security alone?”
For many countries, yes. These destinations offer comfortable lifestyles with manageable budgets:
- Mexico
- Albania
- Portugal (outside Lisbon)
- Panama
- Argentina (depending on inflation)
- Costa Rica’s smaller towns
Many Americans do receive their Social Security benefits while living abroad, it a straightforward process. Your monthly deposit continues to go into your U.S. bank account, just as it would at home, and you can withdraw or transfer money as needed. A few countries have restrictions, but they’re places most retirees wouldn’t be moving to anyway.
We talk more about early Social Security decisions here:
How to Build Your Own Budget for Living Abroad
Here’s the exact process we used when planning our move abroad.
Step 1: Estimate Housing
Look at long-term rentals in safe, walkable neighborhoods.
Step 2: Price Groceries
Check the cost of staple items: eggs, produce, chicken, bread, cheese, and rice.
Step 3: Evaluate Transportation
Walkability affects the entire budget.
Also factor in buses, metros, taxis, or rideshares.
Step 4: Plan for Healthcare
Most medical care abroad is affordable and high-quality.
Include prescriptions and routine visits.
Step 5: Consider Visa or Long-Stay Fees
Some countries charge more for extended stays.
Step 6: Add Lifestyle Extras
Cafés, local events, day trips, gyms, wine, hobbies, SIM cards, etc.
Comparing Costs Around the World
While we focus on sharing our own real-world expenses and experiences, there are excellent tools out there that compare cost-of-living data across cities and countries globally. If you’re looking to contrast destinations or explore average prices beyond our reports, we recommend:
- Numbeo – User-sourced global cost-of-living data
- Expatistan – Side-by-side comparisons between cities
- WorldData – Structured cost-of-living stats with purchasing power and economic context
How We Save Money Without Feeling Deprived
We summarized two years of lessons in these two post:
- Our Top International Travel Hacks for Couples to Save Money while Traveling
- Stretching Our Travel Budget: Finding Affordable Places To Stay
Some of the habits that help us stay on budget:
- choose walkable neighborhoods
- travel slowly between countries
- cook most meals at home
- avoid peak seasons
- prioritize comfort, not luxury
- stay longer in each location
- stay in apartments instead of hotels
These changes feel natural, not restrictive.
We use Skyscanner to Find Flight Deals
Countries That Offer Great Value for Senior Nomads
This fun, lighthearted quiz is a good starting point if you’re curious about where to begin:
Which Budget Friendly Country Should You Move To First?
We’ll be publishing a more detailed country comparison soon, focusing on:
- healthcare
- cost of living
- safety
- weather
- walkability
- senior-friendliness
- visa simplicity
Tools We Use to Track Our Spending Abroad
We keep our budgeting simple. After trying a few apps, we realized what works best for us is a straightforward Google spreadsheet that we update during each stay.
It’s easy to use, easy to customize for each country, and easy to access from anywhere.
Alongside our spreadsheet, we also use XE Currency Converter (to understand prices quickly)
These tools keep things flexible and senior-friendly without adding extra tech we don’t need.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Cost of Living Abroad
Is living abroad cheaper than the U.S.?
In many countries, yes – especially for housing and healthcare.
How much do senior nomads typically spend per month?
On average, we spend around $2,200–$3,300 per month for two people depending on the location.
What about healthcare?
Medical care abroad has been high-quality and affordable for us.
Do we need health insurance abroad?
It depends. We mix travel insurance with cash-pay local care.
Can Americans receive Social Security abroad?
Yes, in most countries.
Want More From Our Life Abroad?
We share our ongoing budget notes, daily-life experiences, and the realities of senior nomad life as we go.
If you’re planning your own move abroad, feel free to send us a question or share what country you’re considering. We love hearing from fellow travelers navigating the same journey.