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Geo-Arbitrage Savings Calculator

Calculate how much you save by relocating to a lower cost-of-living country or city, and what those savings could grow to if invested.

100 = US average. New York ~187, Los Angeles ~163.
Chiang Mai ~40, Lisbon ~65, Medellin ~45, Prague ~60.
Expected annual return on invested savings.

Results

Monthly Expenses in Target City$2,750
Monthly Savings$2,250
Invested Savings After N Years$155,270

📖What is it?

Geo-arbitrage is the strategy of earning income in a high-wage currency while living in a lower cost-of-living country. This calculator quantifies monthly savings from relocation and projects what those savings could grow to if invested.

🎯How to use

Enter your current monthly expenses, your current city's COL index, the target city's COL index (Numbeo.com is a good source), and your expected investment return. The calculator shows your new monthly expenses, monthly savings, and the future value of those savings if invested.

💡Example scenario

An American spending $5,000/month (COL 100) who moves to Lisbon (COL 65) could live for $3,250/month — saving $1,750/month. Over 5 years, those savings invested at 7% could grow to approximately $124,000.

🏆Pro tip

Even short-term geo-arbitrage (2-5 years) can dramatically accelerate your FIRE timeline. Portugal, Mexico, Thailand, and Colombia are popular destinations for English-speaking remote workers due to their combination of low cost, high quality of life, and reliable infrastructure.