Geo-arbitrage only works when you measure real burn, not fantasy budgets. A lightweight tracking method beats complicated finance apps you abandon in week two.
Every Sunday, spend fifteen minutes categorizing expenses and noting surprises. Friction costs reveal whether a city is truly cheap or only advertised as cheap.
Normalize to a 30-day month and include the cost of reliable work conditions. A city that requires daily coworking to stay productive is not as inexpensive as the rent screenshot suggests.
If your tracking shows stress rising while buffers shrink, change the plan early. Data turns vague anxiety into a clear move.