We Left the U.S. to Escape the Cost of Living Crisis

Living Simply: Lessons from Southeast Asia

Author

Ark
May 31, 2025

If you’re feeling like it’s getting harder just to survive in the US right now, you’re not imagining it. The cost of living crisis is real. I know—I’ve lived it. My name is Katie, and I’m currently in Nimbin, Vietnam, traveling across Southeast Asia with my husband and our two-year-old. These past few months have been eye-opening, and I want to share a perspective that changed my life and gave me real hope.

Back in the US, we were homesteading in the Appalachian Mountains, living off-grid, growing food, raising animals, and building infrastructure as sustainably as possible. But despite our efforts, everything felt like a struggle—rising prices for food, building materials, healthcare, and energy, not to mention the emotional toll. Then something shifted. We heard about life beyond the US and decided to travel for a few months. That short trip turned into an indefinite journey, and what we found in Southeast Asia transformed our perspective.

A Different Way of Life

In Vietnam, we saw families living with far less but smiling far more. Farmers grow everything they eat, and streets are filled with affordable, fresh food—no processed junk, just meals made from scratch daily. People are constantly outdoors, walking, biking, working, and laughing. Elders stretch in parks at 5 a.m., and kids help their parents in rice fields. There’s a human rhythm to life here that feels authentic. These aren’t “third-world” countries—a term that’s outdated and insulting. These are rich cultures with smart, sustainable people and tight-knit communities that prioritize family, health, and harmony with nature.

Lessons You Can Apply Today

Here’s what I’ve learned that you can start doing now, no matter where you live:

  1. Grow Something
    Food is freedom. Even if it’s just herbs in a pot, growing your own food brings security. Here, locals grow vertically, in small spaces, utilizing every inch. In downtown Bangkok, vacant lots between skyscrapers are filled with rice or vegetables. The Mong people in Sapa grow food on steep mountainsides. You can grow food anywhere, and it’s empowering.

  2. Ditch the Excess
    We’ve learned how little we need to be happy. People here aren’t chasing name brands or fancy cars. They take pride in craftsmanship over consumerism, reusing materials and fixing what’s broken. This reduces waste and fosters a deeper appreciation for possessions.

  3. Live Outdoors
    The outdoors is free and vital for mental health. People here eat, work, and socialize outside. On our homestead, we loved being in tune with nature—the time of day, the temperature. In the West, we spend too much time indoors, disconnected from the natural world. Get outside more; your body craves it.

  4. Cook from Scratch
    Processed foods aren’t the norm here. Meals are made from affordable, real ingredients—often grown in their yards or sourced from neighbors. Chickens and eggs are fresh, even in cities. Relearn how to cook, stretch your budget, and reconnect with your food.

  5. Embrace Community
    People here help their neighbors. Even as foreigners, we’ve been welcomed warmly, our differences embraced rather than rejected. In the US, we’re often isolated. Building community can make life richer and more supportive.

A Better Way to Live

The cost of living crisis is real and scary, but there are other ways to live. You don’t need to be rich to live well—you just need to think differently. I’ve found not just a cheaper way to live, but a better one. We’ve been taught that more stuff equals success, but in many parts of the world, people know the opposite is true. I’m raising my children to find joy in community, nature, good food, and simplicity—not in Target runs or Amazon boxes.

If you’re feeling afraid of the future, take heart. Look around the world, be open to learning, and be willing to change. What’s waiting on the other side of this crisis might be a life richer than anything you’ve known. I’ll continue sharing what I learn as we travel, so stay tuned for more ways to live with less.

#Innovation #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #DigitalMarketing #Technology #Career #Networking #Business #Motivation #FutureOfWork

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