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bitofarambler
Q&A for any and all questions you might have about traveling.
FAQ
are there requirements to be an ESL teacher other than being a fluent English speaker?
nope.
some countries and schools require a TEFL certificate or prefer candidates with an associate's degree depending on the position, but if you want to teach English, all you need is to be a fluent English speaker.
how can you afford to travel long-term?
The cost of living in most countries is around $500 USD a month for transportation, rent, utilities and food altogether; teaching English pays $2000 USD a month with zero qualifications or experience.
every month I taught English, I had a few extra months of my cost of living.
I taught English for about 7 years.
as long as you're making more than 500 USD a month remotely in any job, you can travel long-term.
What's the best country?
Depends on what you're looking for.
For backpacking, Japan. For natural history museums, Ireland. For food, China. For cost of living, Cambodia or India.
Rules
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No misinformation
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Be civil
Even in smaller Urban areas in Canada, a two bedroom apartment is going for $1500 to $2,500 per month. Add $200 for utilities and $500 for food. Then transportation, clothing, medication and you are up to about $2,000 for one person to cover the basics.
Those are Canadian dollars, so take off a third to change it to American.
Looks like there are a few good places around Canada with utilities and amenities included.
Rooms for $411-700 USD:
66 Private houses/apartments for $276(whaaat)-$750 USD:
Yup, in the middle of nowhere or in French speaking places. Also, be prepared to spend 8 months under snow, 4 of them so deep you basically can't go anywhere.
These houses and apartments are in Canada, yes, but Edmonton and Calgary are some of the largest cities in the country.
Canada itself is sparsely populated, but their major population centers are not the "middle of nowhere".
As for your weather concerns, Canada is not going to be a tropical getaway, but for the many people here asking about Canada for whatever reason, there is available and affordable housing in the frozen north.
I'm one of them now, I didn't realize there were so many cheap apartments available across the country.
Thanks to everyone who suggested looking into Canada.
Calgary and Edmonton used to be cheaper but the person you are replying to is correct. Cost of living in those two cities is sky rocketing. Source: living in Alberta right now. Even places like grande prairie waaaaay up north are expensive. Maybe you could afford renting a place on some desolate badland prairie town sure, but you will be literally hundreds of kilometers from anything of note.
I am aware of the terrible unaffordable housing situation and inequity in Canada, and I'm supplying those Airbnb prices and screenshots to show that even in countries suffering from housing crises, since many people seem interested in Canada in this thread, a traveler can live for under a thousand dollars USD per month.
Those urban apartments priced between 500 to 800 USD above, and these in edmonton I've added below, include utilities, Wi-Fi, and some have a washer, dryer, full kitchen, other amenities, and are available currently.
There's no doubt that the housing situation in Canada is dire, but the overall situation doesn't negate the currently available Canadian apartments at affordable prices on Airbnb.
If for whatever reason someone is dedicated to living in Canada over the other ~196 countries, they can do so using booking apps for under a thousand USD a month.