A naturopath decided to move to Bali for good after feeling depressed, lonely and financially stressed living in Melbourne due to the rising cost of living.
Adina Shon, 32, 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, gym memberships were draining her income and her minimum spend to simply ‘live’ was 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 in August last year and never came back.
Moving to the Indonesian island was easier than she had expected: all she needs to do is keep renewing her visa, which costs her about $140 every two months.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Ms Shon said she was sick of being unable to afford anything in Australia and saved zero per cent of her income.
Adina Shon, 32, moved from Australia to Bali in August last year to flee from the cost of living
‘Looking back, I think I was very depressed with how I was living in Melbourne. The weather was never that good, I was living in a shoebox and it was expensive,’ she said.
‘I retreated into my own space and I 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 actively thought I would leave because it’s where I grew up and all my family is there.’
After realising how 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 were able to pack up her belongings into boxes back home and end her lease and now she’s saving 30 per cent of her income and is able to work remotely while her clients are in Australia.
Ms Shon now lives in a luxurious villa in Uluwatu for $1200 per month which includes daily cleaning, gardening and pool maintenance, bills, water, a pool, and huge master bedroom with a balcony and massive ensuite.
In Melbourne the young naturopath was living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment but overseas she lives in a luxury villa with a pool. ‘I no longer stress about money anymore and I’m actually saving. It’s such an easier lifestyle,’ she said
In Bali she eats meals out nearly everyday, soaks up the sunshine, relaxes poolside at her villa and mingles with other travellers.
‘I no longer stress about money anymore and I’m actually saving. It’s such an easier lifestyle,’ she said.
‘If you want to eat super cheap in Bali you can whereas in Australia you know your minimum you need to spend and it’s still a lot.’
Meals at modern restaurants or cafes that serve Western food are $10 to $15, while Indonesian restaurants cost $4 to $6 per meal. Cafes are also open until 10pm.
A fancier restaurant costs between $20 to $40, excluding drinks.
Her gym membership is $80 per month to access a range of facilities including a pool, spa, sauna, ice bath and exercise equipment.
‘If you want to eat super cheap in Bali you can whereas in Australia you know your minimum you need to spend and it’s still a lot,’ Ms Shon said
Comparatively, renting in Melbourne cost her $2100 per month for a tiny one-bedroom apartment and she would avoid eating out because it was too expensive.
Going out with friends to a nice restaurant would often set her back between $100 to $300, which Ms Shon said ‘wasn’t worth spending the money’.
‘I would stay home a lot which was boring – and it was awful after having been in lockdown for two years,’ she said.
Petrol would cost $80 per week and she spent between $150 to $200 on groceries for herself. The gym was also $80 per month.
One time she also spoilt herself to a one-hour sauna session which cost $90. In Bali she spends just $20 per week for a gym membership that also has access to a pool, spa and sauna.
Currently she has no plans to move back to Australia permanently but is visiting for Christmas
While moving overseas was one of the best decision she’s ever made, it was also stressful at times.
‘I don’t think anyone expected it – 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 really happy for me.’
Currently she has no plans to move back to Australia permanently but is visiting for Christmas.
‘I 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 completely nuts, it’s so busy and people are always looking for somewhere nice to stay.
‘The property market in Australia is outrageous and I can’t afford to buy in Melbourne by myself.’
And 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 local 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 local are friendly, and it’s affordable
New research revealed Australians need to earn a staggering $300,000 to comfortably afford to buy a home.
Suburbtrends analysed more than 22,000 property sales nationwide in October and found median house prices were a staggering nine times more than the average annual income.
This suggests the Great Australian Dream of home ownership is becoming less of a realistic possibility for thousands.
With this in mind, Ms Shon is considering buying a home in Bali and working with digital property investment platform, PropHero.
The Sydney company is building luxurious villas in Bali with prices starting from $256,200. Comparatively a garage in the eastern suburbs sells for $100,000.
Ms Shon said she knows ‘nothing’ about property or investing so it looking forward to chatting with the PropHero team further about how she can use her money wisely.
Those looking to invest or buy a home should speak to a financial advisor and mortgage broker to consider the options available.
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