The complete economics of a year of budget travel — what it actually looks like across 12 months.

Pre-trip savings: $12,000 accumulated over 18 months of deliberate saving ($667/month above normal expenses). This is the baseline travel fund.

Year structure: 5 months Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia), 3 months Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Balkans), 2 months house-sitting in Western Europe (Portugal and UK via TrustedHousesitters), 1 month slow travel in Georgia/Armenia, 1 month working remotely from Chiang Mai.

Flights for the year: Outbound to Bangkok $640, intra-Asia 6 flights averaging $35, Asia to Warsaw $280, Warsaw to Tbilisi $120, Tbilisi to Lisbon $95, Lisbon home $180. Total flights: $1,625.

Accommodation for the year: 5 months Southeast Asia averaging $14/night = $2,100, 3 months Eastern Europe averaging $20/night = $1,800, 2 months house-sitting = $0 (membership cost $129), 1 month Georgia averaging $18/night = $540, 1 month Chiang Mai private room monthly = $290. Total: $4,859.

Food for the year: average $15/day Southeast Asia + $20/day Eastern Europe + $18/day house-sitting (self-catering) + $14/day Georgia. Weighted average $16.50/day x 365 = $6,022.

Transport local, activities, SIMs, miscellaneous: $2,200.

Total for 12 months: $14,706. This is $226/week or $32.20/day all-in including all flights.

Note: this was achieved with partial remote work income in month 12 which covered $800 of costs. Pure savings-funded: $13,906.