What is Geo-Arbitrage?
Geo-arbitrage is a financial strategy that leverages the difference in cost of living between two locations. The term, a blend of 'geography' and 'arbitrage,' was popularized by Tim Ferriss in his book, The 4-Hour Workweek.
Geo-arbitrage is about earning income in a strong currency (like the US dollar or Euro) and spending it in a region where that currency has more purchasing power. This strategy is particularly helpful for people who earn fixed/semi-fixed incomes. Instead of increasing your earnings, you reduce your expenses, freeing up cash to save, pay off debts, travel, whatever—it's your money.
Geo-arbitrage has become increasingly relevant to digital nomads and remote workers in a globalized world. With their ability to work from anywhere, these modern professionals can settle anywhere based not on proximity to a physical office but on the quality of life and cost of living.
By earning a high wage while living in a low-cost country, digital nomads can enjoy a lifestyle that might be unaffordable back home.
Successfully implementing a geo-arbitrage strategy involves careful planning and a willingness to adapt to new cultures and environments — topics we'll delve into later in this article.
The Mechanics of Geo-Arbitrage
How geo-arbitrage works
Geo-arbitrage operates on the principle of earning in a high-income currency and spending in a region with a lower cost of living. It's about strategically selecting your location to maximize purchasing power and stretch your income further.
Exploring the concept of purchasing power parity
Purchasing power parity (PPP) is an economic theory that compares different currencies through a "basket of goods" approach, measuring their relative value.
In geo-arbitrage, understanding PPP allows you to determine how much you can purchase with a given amount of money in different locations and identify countries where your income will have greater purchasing power.
An example of purchasing power parity
For example, Jon is a freelance graphic designer based in New York City. John earns $70,000 per year, which provides a comfortable lifestyle but doesn't allow for much savings given the high cost of living in NYC.
John decides to move to Bali, Indonesia, to leverage the power of PPP and geo-arbitrage. In Bali, the cost of living is significantly lower than in NYC. For example, John pays $3,000 monthly for a small studio apartment in NYC, while in Bali, he can find similar accommodation for $500.
Services like dining, transportation, and leisure activities are also much cheaper in Bali than in NYC. This lower cost of living means John can enjoy the same lifestyle he had in NYC (or even better!) while saving a significant portion of his income.
If John is paying off a mortgage, he can rent his apartment for $3,000 and add the $2,500 he's saving to increase his monthly repayments to $5,500, paying off the debt much faster while enhancing his credit score.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Location
Cost of living
Cost of living is the most crucial aspect to consider—but it shouldn't be your only deciding factor. Analyze the costs of housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and other everyday expenses in your potential destination compared to your current location. Lower living costs allow you to maximize the benefits of geo-arbitrage.
With online grocery stores and sites like Teleport and Numbeo, it's easy to find the relevant cost of living data and calculate savings for various locations worldwide.
Quality of life
Quality of life is another key factor you must balance with the cost of living. There are many places worldwide where you can live for less than a few hundred dollars per month, but that doesn't mean you'll be better off.
Consider factors such as safety, local culture, climate, availability of amenities, and opportunities for leisure and social activities. The sweet spot is a place with a lower cost of living but a high quality of life.
For example, many Eastern European cities have an excellent quality of life, including essentials like good healthcare, public transport, and secure city streets, for a low cost of living.
Safety and medical services
Evaluate the overall safety of the location, including crime rates and local laws or customs you need to be aware of. The access to and cost of good quality medical services are also significant considerations, especially for long-term stays.
If you can get a beachfront apartment for $100 a month, but the local solution to a broken finger is amputation, it's probably a good idea to cross that one off the list until they enter the 21st century.
Infrastructure and coworking spaces
The availability and reliability of necessary infrastructure, such as fast and stable internet, is crucial, especially for digital nomads and remote workers. Coworking spaces can also be a valuable asset, providing a desk and opportunities for networking and community building.
These days, it's hard to find a place that doesn't offer great internet. I've worked in some pretty remote locations, and it's rare that I don't have an internet connection—even when I was on an island in Thailand with no electricity! Local sim cards are the best way to mitigate poor connectivity.
Benefits of Geo-Arbitrage
The benefits of geo-arbitrage are plenty—who doesn't want to make their money go further? We've already discussed the lower cost of living and quality of life, but what other benefits could geo-arbitrage afford?
- Increased savings: Reduced living expenses are one of the most significant benefits of geo-arbitrage. When you move to a lower-cost location, you can save a substantial part of your income, which would otherwise be spent on housing, food, transportation, and other daily expenses.
- Investment opportunities: The savings accumulated through geo-arbitrage can be channeled into investments. Whether investing in stocks, bonds, real estate, or even starting your own business, having extra money at your disposal opens up a world of financial possibilities.
- Better work-life balance: Living in a lower-cost location can reduce financial stress, enabling a healthier work-life balance. With less financial pressure, you can enjoy more leisure time, pursue hobbies, and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
- Cultural and travel opportunities: Geo-arbitrage isn't just about financial benefits. It's also a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in new cultures, explore different parts of the world, and broaden your horizons.
- Networking and meeting new people: Living and working in different locations exposes you to diverse people and perspectives. It provides opportunities to establish global connections, professionally and personally, which can prove invaluable.
Geo-Arbitrage Challenges
While geo-arbitrage offers many benefits, it's important to highlight the challenges.
- Cultural Adjustment: Moving to a different country entails adapting to a new culture, language, customs, and etiquette, which can be challenging. It requires an open mind and a willingness to learn and adapt.
- Navigating Time Zones: Working across different time zones can be tricky. It requires careful planning and scheduling to ensure you can communicate and collaborate effectively with clients or colleagues in other parts of the world.
- Visas: Obtaining the proper visa to live and work in a foreign country legally can be a complex process. It's essential to research and understand the visa requirements of your destination country. People who've spent time in Indonesia, Thailand, or Vietnam will be familiar with the famous "visa run" to stay legal.
- Taxes: Understanding and complying with tax obligations in your home country and the country you're living in can be complex. It's essential to get expert advice to avoid potential legal issues.
- Homesickness: Being far from home, family, and friends can lead to homesickness. Maintaining regular contact with loved ones and creating a support network in your new location can help mitigate these feelings.
- Loneliness: Moving to a new place where you don't know anyone can be lonely. Joining local groups, networking events, or coworking spaces can help you connect with others and build a social circle.
How Digital Nomad Visas Streamline Geo-Arbitrage
Many countries offer digital nomad visas as the digital nomad and work-from-anywhere lifestyles become increasingly popular. These visas make geo-arbitrage more accessible by legally allowing remote workers to live and work in a foreign country for a specified period.
Digital nomad visas remove the stress of visa runs and working illegally, which were common hurdles for digital nomads in the past. By simplifying the legalities and formalities, digital nomad visas allow geo-arbitragers to focus on reaping the benefits of a lower cost of living and a lifestyle rich in cultural experiences, thereby streamlining the geo-arbitrage process and making it more attractive and feasible.
