I fled California and now survive $1,100 a month in old fashioned European town… it is the most productive choice I’ve made

A tender American has published how he escaped California‘s crippling value of dwelling to construct a brand new lifestyles in a old fashioned European town – the place he now lives very easily on simply $1,100 a month.

Colby Grey, 24, grew up in rural San Luis Obispo, California, the place global go back and forth was once so uncommon that ‘no longer many of us in my the city had passports,’ he instructed CNBC Make It.

‘You did not actually go back and forth a lot and also you did not cross to university very some distance both,’ he instructed the opening. ‘I used to be one of the crucial ones that went additional after which after I studied in another country, I used to be one of the crucial first to depart the rustic.’

Now the college graduate has left the Golden State’s astronomical rents and training prices for an idyllic European way of life in Leuven, Belgium.

Leuven comes with inexpensive housing, common healthcare, and the liberty to discover within sight nations on a whim.

‘As a pupil, even though, there is not any higher value of dwelling,’ he mentioned. ‘There is not anything higher economically than being in Europe. There’s no reason why to enter debt right here, so it simply is smart at this degree in my lifestyles.’

Grey’s adventure started when he left his fatherland to wait the University of California, Santa Cruz – a two-hour force that on the time was once the furthest he’d ever traveled at that time.

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled him to return to his folks’ house all over school earlier than he in the end were given a chance to review in another country in Copenhagen.

Now the college graduate has left the Golden State’s astronomical rents and training prices for an idyllic European way of life in Leuven, Belgium (Pictured: View of the town of Leuven)

″[Denmark] controlled the pandemic actually smartly and had an excessively top vaccination charge,’ he mentioned. ‘I fell in love with it and determined I sought after to do extra.

Those six months in Denmark in the end modified the trajectory of his lifestyles.

When he arrived again in Santa Cruz after touring, Grey skilled what he described as ‘opposite tradition surprise’ – along side a brutal housing marketplace.

He was once left to percentage a two-bedroom condo with 3 roommates at $1,340 per 30 days for his portion on my own.

But the general straw got here when he discovered the staggering value of his training wasn’t price the cost. 

The moderate annual value of in-state tuition at UC Santa Cruz was once $44,160 for the 2024-2025 instructional 12 months and most of the categories had long past totally on-line. 

‘It simply did not look like I used to be getting what I paid for even with a ton of federal and state investment,’ Grey mentioned.

‘I knew there needed to be a greater device and a greater solution to get an training. Through my learn about in another country activity, I spotted I may just simply get a visa and learn about as a world pupil for a 6th of the cost.’

‘I sought after to proceed my training, however I sought after to make use of that as a pathway in opposition to residency.’

Grey discovered that he may just pursue a grasp’s level in Europe ‘for a 6th of the cost’ whilst the usage of it as a pathway to residency.

Colby Grey, 24, grew up in rural San Luis Obispo, California, the place global go back and forth was once so uncommon that ‘no longer many of us in my the city had passports,’ he instructed CNBC Make It 

Grey’s adventure started when he left his fatherland to wait the University of California, Santa Cruz – a two-hour force that on the time was once the furthest he’d ever traveled at that time (Pictured: San Luis Obispo, California)

He determined on Belgium’s KU Leuven college, the place annual tuition runs roughly €3,800 ($4,310) – lower than 10 p.c of what he’d pay in California.

Grey arrived in Belgium with simply two checked baggage and a backpack.

He settled right into a four-bedroom area with 3 housemates for simply €500 ($567) per month – ‘a 3rd of the cost’ he paid in California.

‘It was once implausible. I imply I used to be paying a 3rd of the cost to get my very own room.

‘When I first were given right here, it was once daunting. I used to be conscious about the truth that I had no buddies right here and I used to be completely alone,’ he endured. ‘I believe that was once the primary time I ever felt like that during my lifestyles. I labored actually onerous to make buddies and make a group right here.’ 

After graduating closing summer time, he moved to an much more inexpensive house simply out of doors the town middle, the place he now can pay simply €420 ($477) per month together with utilities, with some toiletries and meals incorporated.

His overall per month bills come to roughly €998 ($1,132), permitting him a relaxed way of life that comes with common eating out, gymnasium club, and wellness actions.

Grey emphasised his love for Leuven’s car-free town middle with ’15-minute town’ design, the place maximum day by day must haves can also be reached inside a 15-minute stroll or motorcycle experience.

‘That was once one of the crucial issues that I cherished about dwelling in Europe, I by no means felt like I wanted a vehicle to are living,’ he mentioned, including that Belgium’s central location way ‘there are 4 other nations round me inside a three-hour teach experience.’

Grey emphasised his love for Leuven’s car-free town middle with ’15-minute town’ design, the place maximum day by day must haves can also be reached inside a 15-minute stroll or motorcycle experience

Since first visiting Europe in 2021 and relocating in 2023, Grey has traveled to 20 other nations, whilst web hosting visits from friends and family

He additionally expressed his fondness over the town’s work-life stability and simple get entry to to different nations. 

Since first visiting Europe in 2021 and relocating in 2023, Grey has traveled to 20 other nations, whilst web hosting visits from friends and family.

‘The group feels so robust right here and I’ve a actually nice stability between my paintings lifestyles and my house lifestyles,’ he mentioned. ‘It’s this kind of slower tempo of lifestyles right here and it is actually gorgeous.’