A naturopath decided to move to Bali permanently after feeling depressed, lonely and financially stressed while living in Melbourne due to the rising cost of living.
Adina Schon32, would avoid going out on weekends because it was too expensive and 'not worth the money'.
Eating out at restaurants would cost up to $300, the gym membership depleted her income and her minimum expenses to simply 'live' were far too high.
It got to the point where Ms Shon felt like she “needed to escape” the life she knew, so she booked a trip to Bali last August and never returned.
Moving to the Indonesian island was easier than she expected: All she had to do was keep renewing her visa, which costs her about $140 every two months.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Ms Shon said she was fed up with not being able to afford anything in Australia and was saving zero percent of her income.
Adina Shon, 32, moved from Australia to Bali in August last year to escape living expenses
'Looking back, I think I was very depressed about the way I was living in Melbourne. The weather was never good, I was living in a shoebox and it was expensive,” she said.
“I retreated into my own space and felt lonely, which wasn't ideal after the Covid lockdown we had in Victoria.
“In the back of my mind I knew Melbourne wasn't the best place for me to live, but I never really thought I would leave because that's where I grew up and all my family is there.”
After realizing she wasn't getting “anything for her money,” she decided it was time to try something different.
So she flew to Bali for a holiday and two weeks later she seized the opportunity and chose to stay permanently.
Her family was able to pack her belongings into boxes at home and terminate her lease. Now she saves 30 percent of her income and can work remotely while her clients are in Australia.
Ms Shon now lives in a luxury villa in Uluwatu for $1,200 a month, which includes daily cleaning, garden and pool maintenance, bills, water, a swimming pool and a large master bedroom with a balcony and a huge bathroom.
In Melbourne, the young naturopath lived in a small one-bedroom apartment, but abroad she lives in a luxury villa with a swimming pool. 'I don't worry about money anymore and I'm actually saving. It's such an easier lifestyle,” she said
In Bali she eats out almost every day, enjoys the sun, relaxes by the pool in her villa and mingles with other travelers.
'I don't worry about money anymore and I'm actually saving. It's such an easier lifestyle,” she said.
'If you want to eat super cheaply in Bali, you can, while in Australia you know the minimum you have to spend and it is still a lot.'
Meals at modern restaurants or cafes serving Western food cost $10 to $15, while Indonesian restaurants cost $4 to $6 per meal. Cafes are also open until 10pm.
A more luxurious restaurant costs between $20 and $40, excluding drinks.
Her gym membership costs $80 a month and gives access to a range of facilities including a swimming pool, spa, sauna, ice pool and fitness equipment.
“If you want to eat super cheaply in Bali you can, whereas in Australia you know the minimum you have to spend and it's still a lot,” Ms Shon said.
By comparison, renting in Melbourne cost her $2,100 a month for a small one-bedroom apartment, and she didn't want to eat out because it was too expensive.
Going out with friends to a nice restaurant often cost her between $100 and $300, which Ms. Shon said “wasn't worth the money.”
“I stayed at home a lot, which was boring – and it was awful after being in lockdown for two years,” she said.
Gasoline cost $80 a week and she spent between $150 and $200 on groceries for herself. The gym also cost $80 a month.
On one occasion, she also pampered herself with an hour-long sauna session, which cost $90. In Bali, she spends just $20 a week for a gym membership, which also gives access to a pool, spa and sauna.
She currently has no plans to move back to Australia permanently, but will be visiting at Christmas
Although moving abroad was one of the best decisions she ever made, it was also stressful at times.
'I don't think anyone expected this, including myself. It wasn't a solid plan to leave and live in Bali. I had a lot of unfinished business in Melbourne,” she said.
'I called my family and said, 'I'm living a great life, I'm staying here.' And they were very happy for me.'
She currently has no plans to move back to Australia permanently, but will be visiting at Christmas.
“A lot of people I've met are investing in Bali and building villas – I really want to do the same,” she said.
'Bali has gone crazy, it's so busy and people are always looking for a nice stay.
“The property market in Australia is outrageous and I can't afford to just buy in Melbourne.”
And Ms Shon said it's easy to see why it's a popular destination: the weather is “constantly great”, there's an abundance of outdoor activities, the locals are friendly and it's affordable.
Ms Shon said it's easy to see why it's a popular destination: the weather is “constantly great”, there are an abundance of outdoor activities, the locals are friendly and it's affordable
New research shows Australians need to earn as much as $300,000 to comfortably buy a home.
Trends in the suburbs analyzed more than 22,000 home sales across the country in October and found that average home prices were as much as nine times higher than the average annual income.
This suggests that the Great Australian Dream of home ownership is becoming less and less a realistic possibility for thousands.
With this in mind, Ms Shon is considering buying a house in Bali and partnering with digital investment platform PropHero.
The Sydney company is building luxury villas in Bali with prices starting from $256,200. By comparison, a garage in the eastern suburbs sells for $100,000.
Ms. Shon said she knows “nothing” about real estate or investing, so she looks forward to talking further with the PropHero team about how to use her money wisely.
Those looking to invest or purchase a home should speak to a financial advisor and mortgage broker to consider the options available.