How much money for a comfortable life until old age in your country?

[Rumadjiii]

In your country, how much money do you need (in local currency or USD) to:

- Live comfortably (good food, decent house, occasional vacation)

- Feel safe (healthcare covered, no fear of going broke from illness)

- Have enough until old age (e.g. retirement at 60+)

[FilipTa]

Since I’m living in the Balkans, in a third world country, you need around $1200 to live normally without flexing or spending on expensive stuff.
Usually, people pay up to $300 for rent and $100-200 for bills, but food is really expensive here. We spend almost $500 monthly on food. The rest goes to small expenses, payments, coffees, etc.
$1,200 is the minimum for a normal life including 10 days of summer vacation, and sometimes being able to visit other cities too.

Gas is up to $2 per liter.
Dinner at a restaurant is around $10.
A scoop of ice cream is $1.50.
Bread is almost $1.
For the cinema, we pay $3-5 depending on the location.

Books for the whole school year for kids cost around $300, which is expensive.
To prepare your kid for the next grade starting on September 1st, you need $400–500. School excursions for kids are around $200, which is expensive too.

For the gym, we pay $30-50.
Coffee is $1.50.
Lemonade and freshly squeezed orange juice are $4 🫨

For taxi, we pay $2 for start, then $0.6 per km. 
Healthcare is free, but they’re going to force you to visit private doctor clinics, which are really expensive. That’s going to be ruined soon.

80% of population have wages under the average, which are around $600-800. So don't ask how do we manage. 

[Vojkan]

I would be happy now, at my age of 51, to get 3 to 4 million dollars and enjoy for the next 69 years. 

 

[spaceoddtiddy]

you don't have tution fee there for school? @FilipTa @Vojkan

Edited May 8 by spaceoddtiddy

[FilipTa]

16 minutes ago, spaceoddtiddy said:

That's an interesting insight. Thank you for sharing. It will come in handy for when i move there. Just kidding! 😂

you don't have tution fee there for school? @FilipTa @Vojkan

Only faculties and private high schools have tuition fees.

Private high schools are often seen as “pay2 win” institutions, where you just pay, attend a few classes, and then receive a diploma or certificate.

Faculties are different. We still have some really strong faculties here where “pay2win” does not work. You really have to be a good student in order to graduate, and they are expensive as well.

[Rumadjiii]

Wow, thank you for sharing such detailed information! It was eye-opening, especially the part about food costing $500/month and school fees for children.

2 hours ago, FilipTa said:

Since I’m living in the Balkans, in a third world country, you need around $1200 to live normally without flexing or spending on expensive stuff.
Usually, people pay up to $300 for rent and $100-200 for bills, but food is really expensive here. We spend almost $500 monthly on food. The rest goes to small expenses, payments, coffees, etc.
$1,200 is the minimum for a normal life including 10 days of summer vacation, and sometimes being able to visit other cities too.

Gas is up to $2 per liter.
Dinner at a restaurant is around $10.
A scoop of ice cream is $1.50.
Bread is almost $1.
For the cinema, we pay $3-5 depending on the location.

Books for the whole school year for kids cost around $300, which is expensive.
To prepare your kid for the next grade starting on September 1st, you need $400–500. School excursions for kids are around $200, which is expensive too.

For the gym, we pay $30-50.
Coffee is $1.50.
Lemonade and freshly squeezed orange juice are $4 🫨

For taxi, we pay $2 for start, then $0.6 per km. 
Healthcare is free, but they’re going to force you to visit private doctor clinics, which are really expensive. That’s going to be ruined soon.

80% of population have wages under the average, which are around $600-800. So don't ask how do we manage. 

In my country, such costs are very high for some people, as many cities still have low employment incomes. In some cities, food expenses can even be under $100 per month.

With 80% of people earning $600-800, how do most families survive there? Do they rely on multiple sources of income per household, or are necessities still relatively cheap there, like in my country?

Thanks again for your answer @FilipTa

1 hour ago, Vojkan said:

I would be happy now, at my age of 51, to get 3 to 4 million dollars and enjoy for the next 69 years. 

 

$3 to $4 million for the next 69 years, that's a solid plan! 

Does that estimate include healthcare, travel, or family support? Or is it purely for daily personal needs? 

Thanks for sharing and good luck reaching that goal sir.

Edited May 8 by Rumadjiii

[KatarinaDo]

For a normal life in my country, as Filip mentioned, around $1,000 is definitely necessary. A lot of money goes toward food and fuel.

However, with around $3,000–$4,000 per month, for example, you can live very comfortably, save money, travel, and plan for the future.  

[Rumadjiii]

31 minutes ago, KatarinaDo said:

For a normal life in my country, as Filip mentioned, around $1,000 is definitely necessary. A lot of money goes toward food and fuel.

However, with around $3,000–$4,000 per month, for example, you can live very comfortably, save money, travel, and plan for the future.  

1,000 for a normal life and $3,000–$4,000 for a very comfortable life. Thank you for sharing the details from your country!

And does that $3,000 - $4,000 include owning your own home or still paying rent?

[KatarinaDo]

2 minutes ago, Rumadjiii said:

1,000 for a normal life and $3,000–$4,000 for a very comfortable life. Thank you for sharing the details from your country!

And does that $3,000 - $4,000 include owning your own home or still paying rent?

Well, with $3,000–$4,000, after some time you can save enough to buy an apartment or build a house. With loans, that process can go much faster. The problem is that very few people in our country have such a salary, the average income is much lower.

[RevolverCC]

I suppose we could always run out and hide in the woods for less money. But with a family I've found there's a baseline threshold of financial needs to keep things stable. The only thing that interferes with "comfort" is typically us wanting more than we have - so it has little to do with what we actually have.

[Rumadjiii]

Well said.

"Comfort is disturbed by wanting more than we have" is probably true.

But yes, with a family, there's a minimum limit of needs that can't be exceeded.

The key is balance. Thanks for the thought! 

41 minutes ago, RevolverCC said:

I suppose we could always run out and hide in the woods for less money. But with a family I've found there's a baseline threshold of financial needs to keep things stable. The only thing that interferes with "comfort" is typically us wanting more than we have - so it has little to do with what we actually have.

 

[mocshe]

I'm from the Philippines. Probably 1m USD will be enough

[Rumadjiii]

7 minutes ago, mocshe said:

I'm from the Philippines. Probably 1m USD will be enough

I think Phillipines or other country in Southeast Asia is still one of the places with cheap living costs even though incomes are not large (Except Singapore).

Hope you get that $1M soon bro. 

[StefanTl]

I agree with others, I think around 3000–4000€ per month is enough for a comfortable life. With that, you can cover all basic needs, not worry too much about expenses, and still save some money on the side and travel.

[DamjanTo]

Depends on what your definition of a comfortable life is. I just need enough money to pay rent and to buy some beers :3 

[Rumadjiii]

1 hour ago, StefanTl said:

I agree with others, I think around 3000–4000€ per month is enough for a comfortable life. With that, you can cover all basic needs, not worry too much about expenses, and still save some money on the side and travel.

€3,000–4,000 per month seems about right: basic needs met, savings, and travel. That's the dream for some people.

1 hour ago, DamjanTo said:

Depends on what your definition of a comfortable life is. I just need enough money to pay rent and to buy some beers :3 

Haha, life goals are so simple!

Rent a house + buy beer = happiness. I respect that.

Thanks for sharing guys 😍

[mymelodys]

$2000-$3000 enough for simply life

[Rumadjiii]

26 minutes ago, mymelodys said:

$2000-$3000 enough for simply life

$2,000–3,000 sounds peaceful and stress-free. 

Sometimes simple is better than "comfortable but complicated."

Thanks for sharing! 

[Sulapkurmokur]

1k to 2k a month 

[cbzkrt]

4-5 k usd

[Rumadjiii]

14 hours ago, Sulapkurmokur said:

1k to 2k a month 

Wow, what country/continent are you in right now? 

14 hours ago, cbzkrt said:

4-5 k usd

That's huge compared to the average income in my country. 

[Kinkytoe]

250k for life

I'll open a business

[Rumadjiii]

46 minutes ago, Kinkytoe said:

250k for life

I'll open a business

That's a wise choice bro, hope you can get it. 

[medeni225]

For a comfortable life probably around 2.5k€ per person.

[Rumadjiii]

37 minutes ago, medeni225 said:

For a comfortable life probably around 2.5k€ per person.

Do you mean €2500 per month? If so, that's good.