- Jun 17, 2025
The Broke Girl's Guide to Moving Abroad Without Going Into Debt
Let's be honest: most of the 'move abroad' advice out there assumes you're sitting on a pile of savings, a flexible remote job, and parents who paid your college tuition in full. You know, the kind of advice written by people whose version of 'broke' still includes first-class flights and a sponsored suitcase.
This guide?
It's not like that...
This is for anyone staring down a $27 checking account balance, fighting off panic attacks every time they check the prices of groceries, and still thinking:
There has to be something better than this.
You're not wrong.
If you're broke, burnt out, and done with trying to survive where people are increasingly hostile to your basic existence, this one's for you. Let's talk about how to move abroad -- legally, realistically, and without selling a kidney on Craigslist.
First: The Myths that Keep Broke Girls Stuck
Myth 1: You need to have at least $10K saved or more to even consider moving abroad.
Truth: Most Americans don't have $500 in emergency savings. If that were the requirement, no one would actually leave. You need a plan more than a pile of cash.
Myth 2: You need to get a job abroad first
Truth: That's one path. But it's not the only path. Plenty of countries offer visas for freelancers, students, dependents, and even people who want to take time off and figure it out.
Myth 3: You have to be a minimalist digital nomad who lives out of a carry-on.
Truth: You don't need to join the cult of van-life aesthetics to make this happen. You need a strategy, not a neutral-toned travel wardrobe.
Great, So How Much Does it Actually Cost to Move Abroad?
It depends on where you're going, but here's a ballpark:
🛂 Visa fees: $0-$500+ (depending on type)
✈️ Flights: $300-$800 one-way (book off-season, use travel hacks)
🏘️ Initial housing (1st month + deposit): $600-$3,000 (varies widely depending on location)
😷 Insurance / paperwork / shock expenses: $300 - $1,000
So yeah, it's not free. But you don't need 5-figures. You need a few grand, a workable timeline, and some scrappy energy.
The Broke Girl Blueprint (aka How to Actually Do This)
Choose Your Country Wisely
Not all countries are financially equal. Some are cheaper and offer easier visa pathways. A few options:
🇪🇪 Estonia: D-visa for stays up to 365 days (that can be extended, part of the EU)
🇲🇽 Mexico: Temporary resident visa (lower income requirements than in some EU countries)
🇨🇴 Colombia, Georgia, or the Balkans: lower cost of living, flexible entry rules
Use your budget as a filter, not a limitation.
Give Yourself a Timeline
Trying to move in 3 months with $0 is ... ambitious. But 12-18 months? Totally doable. Break it into phases:
🧐 3 months to research + pick a destination
📑 6 months to sort documents, save, side hustle
🔏 3-6 months to apply for a visa (get approved) + prep your move
Cut Your Expenses Like It's Your Job
You don't have t o live like a monk, but Target runs, streaming services, Uber Eats, and impulse Amazon buys? Yeah, they can add up ...fast.
Make a list of what brings you joy (coffee, therapy, books, wine?) and just numbs your burnout (scrolling, subscriptions, 6 versions of the same black leggings).
Redirect the burnout money to your relocation fund.
Fund It Creatively
You don't need a tech salary. You need resourcefulness.
Sell your stuff (No, not the baby photos. Yes, the air fryer that won't work anyway)
Side hustle: Freelance writing, virtual assistant work, babysitting, tutoring, DoorDash - whatever gets cash in the door
Tax refund or stimulus leftovers? Hell, yes. Use them.
Crowdfund. seriously. You'd be surprised who'd like to chip in to help get you out.
Find Workarounds
Look for furnished rentals to avoid shipping / buying furniture or paying big deposits.
House sit or co-live for the first few months.
Take your job with you (if it allows remote work or can shift to freelance)
Consider study or au pair visas if you qualify - great low-cost entry path.
What You Don't Need
🚫 A Pinterest-perfect plan
🚫 A travel capsule wardrobe
🚫 To be 25, single, and carefree
🚫 Fluent language skills
You need clarity. A timeline. A visa that works for you. And a little BDE (big d*ck energy)
The Emotional Sh*t That Comes Up
You will doubt yourself.
You will wonder if you're being irresponsible.
People will question your choices (especially the ones who secretly wish they had the guts to do the same)
Do it anyway.
You are not a burden for wanting peace.
You are not dramatic for needing change.
You are not selfish for choosing safety.
You are allowed to want more - even if you can't afford it yet.
And you're allowed to build that future one brave, broke-ass step at a time.
Still Feeling Stuck?
Grab our free Personalized Visa checklist to see what you can start gathering now.
This isn't a fantasy. This isn't just for the rich. This is a lifeline -- and you deserve to take it.
Your broke girl abroad era?
She's coming. And she's about to glow the hell up.