I am vacationing in Portugal for two months now. I did not sublet my studio in Wageningen because my boyfriend and I don’t know exactly how long we will stay. When I tell people this, I am almost always faced with the reaction: ‘But how? Aren’t you a skint student? How can you afford a vacation of this duration and double rent?!’
Well, dear readers, I’ll let you in on my little secret: Portugal is not at all expensive. A small Airbnb apartment in Porto, where we are currently staying, costs some 800 euros a month in the low season, going up to 1200 a month in the high season. As there are two of us, it costs each of us between 400 and 600 euro’s a month. Not bad, is it?
The other expenses are the same as in the Netherlands (groceries, for example) or cheaper (dining out). We also continued working during the two months we are now here, so our incomes continue. Money is no reason not to live abroad as a digital nomad!
Money is no reason not to live abroad as a digital nomad!
For us, with work and studies still mostly online, this was the perfect time to give living and working abroad a try. Our days are largely similar to the ones we have in the Netherlands: In the mornings, we stroll to the bakery to buy bread for breakfast, followed by a few hours of working or studying. At the end of the day, we go out or enjoy the weather in the apartment’s communal garden. Wonderful! Safe to say, we are fans!
And, should working abroad be a step too far for you, but do you want to take an extended vacation on a budget? I have a tip for you: book Airbnb’s for exactly four weeks instead of 3 or 5 weeks. In many cases, you get a 50% discount when booking for four weeks, making it a much cheaper option than booking for three weeks, even if you decide to return home after three weeks.
Have a great vacation!
Emma Mouthaan (25) is a master’s student of Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology and is also taking a master in Writing at the VU. Emma blogs on studying and finances on the website The Stingy Student. Previously, she wrote about fashion and food.
