Many U.S. veterans find themselves caught in the trap of tight budgets and limited choices after active duty. Then there is Markeiz Ryan, 36, an Air Force veteran who found a different route,he left behind the cost pressures of American life and now lives comfortably in Vietnam on roughly $4,000 a month. His story shows what is possible when you rethink the cost of living and where you choose to live.
Who is Markeiz Ryan and why did he move to Vietnam?
Ryan grew up in Maryland, entered the United States Air Force in 2010 after his mother lost her job during the 2008 financial crisis. He explains:
“It wiped my mother’s job away and it really made things tough for us around the time I graduated high school. I didn’t have much of a financial security blanket to fall under. The best thing for me was to join the military so I wouldn’t have to put my family into any more debt and I think that was the right decision.”
He served in Korea, Germany and Africa before being honorably discharged in 2019. That year marked the start of a new chapter: rather than settle into conventional post-service life in the U.S., he left for Vietnam.
He says the decision came after a trip:
“Vietnam is the number one safest place I’ve ever lived. I never have to look over my shoulder here. I noticed that there’s this great level of calm.”
What he found was a place where his monthly budget stretched further, and he finally felt free of “survival mode”.
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How can someone live on $4,000 a month in Ho Chi Minh City?
Ryan’s $4,000 monthly income doesn’t come all from one job—it’s a mix of benefits and side income:
- $1,500 from U.S. Veterans Affairs disability.
- $1,000 from the GI Bill while earning a master’s degree.
- $900-$1,300 from teaching English.
- An occasional $200-$600 from freelance voice-over work.
- $300 a month on average from day trading.
On the expenses side, living costs in Ho Chi Minh City are strikingly low compared to many U.S. cities. Ryan rents a two-bedroom apartment for about $850 a month and pays roughly $130 a month for utilities and housekeeping. Groceries run between $100-$400 a month, he says, depending on how much he eats out. He pays only about $3 a week in gas for his motorcycle and around $1,000 a year for health insurance.
He puts it simply:
“This might not sound like a lot in America but trust me, this is more than enough to be middle- or even above middle-class in Vietnam.”
For you reading this, it means that living abroad is not necessarily about luxury, it can be about smart choices and aligning income with a cost structure that gives you more breathing room.
What quality-of-life changes did he experience?
Ryan says what changed most wasn’t just the dollar-stretch—it was the mindset. In the U.S., he felt stuck: working hard, maintaining things, always chasing the next bill. In Vietnam, he says:
“Every day I wake up with a long to-do list of things I want to do, not the things that I need to do… Getting out of survival mode makes things infinitely more human.”
He notes the culture in Ho Chi Minh City is different: people focus on everyday connections, community, and simple pleasures, rather than always being stressed about costs or bills. He found he could focus more on growth, hobbies and human connection rather than financial survival.
Is moving abroad like this realistic for you?
Before you pack your bags, there are several things you should ask yourself:
- Do you have a reliable income source that transfers overseas—benefits, remote work or side gigs?
- Are you comfortable navigating visa and residency rules in another country?
- Can you accept lifestyle differences—language barriers, cultural norms, noise, bureaucracy? Ryan notes the joy and freedom but also mentions:
“There’s a lot of honking, street sellers and sometimes karaoke really loudly, so if you are very intolerant to noise, this might not be the place for you.”
- Will you stay connected to family, friends or U.S. travel obligations?
- What are the tax, banking and legal implications of being a U.S. expatriate?
If you plan carefully and your income is stable, moving to a place with a lower cost of living can open up possibilities you may not have in the U.S.
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