She Left the U.S. at 29 Years —Now She Only Spends $600 a Month in Vietnam

She left the U.S. at 29 because life in America no longer felt fulfilling. Now, Denise lives in Da Nang, Vietnam, where she spends around $600 a month and pays just $295 a month for her apartment. But this story is not just about cheap rent. In this episode, Denise opens up about why she left Florida, how moving abroad changed her mental health, what it really costs to live in Vietnam, and why she says she finally found a life that feels aligned with who she is. She gives us a look inside her apartment in Da Nang, breaks down her monthly expenses, and shares the emotional side of starting over abroad—from solo travel and relationships to grief, family, freedom, and finding herself again. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to leave America, move to Vietnam, live abroad as a digital nomad, or build a new life overseas, this conversation gives an honest look at the beauty, the cost, and the emotional reality of choosing a different path. In this episode: • Why she left the United States • Living in Vietnam on $600 a month • Her $295/month apartment in Da Nang • Cost of living breakdown in Vietnam • Life after leaving Florida • Dating, grief, and solo travel abroad • Black expat life in Vietnam • How moving abroad helped her mental health • Why America couldn’t give her the life she wanted Chapters: 00:00 Why She Left America 01:08 Meet Denise 01:52 Inside Her $295/Month Apartment 04:18 Living on $600 a Month in Vietnam 06:42 Why America Wasn't Fulfilling 09:28 What Life in Vietnam Is Really Like 12:36 Love, Loss & Solo Travel 16:45 How Moving Abroad Changed Her 20:52 What America Couldn't Give Her 24:30 Her Advice for Anyone Thinking About Leaving the U.S. 26:57 End 📍 Location: Da Nang, Vietnam Executive Producer & Co-Director: Jordy “Comes Alive” Trachtenberg Director : Captain Hayford Production: 1Circle Production Cinematography :Thuong Nguyen Color Grading : Relocated Special Thanks to : Denise Subscribe to Relocated :    / @relocatedd   About Relocated Relocated is a documentary series that follows the emotional, financial, and cultural journeys of people who leave their home countries to build new lives abroad. Each episode explores why they left, where they went, how they adapted, and what life really looks like after the move—from housing and cost of living to identity, safety, family, and personal freedom. Through real apartment tours, day-in-the-life storytelling, and honest conversations, Relocated goes beyond the highlight reel to show the truth behind starting over in a new country. The series documents expats, creatives, families, and solo movers navigating unfamiliar systems, new cultures, and the trade-offs that come with choosing a different life. Relocated isn’t about escaping—it’s about redefining success, regaining control, and discovering what “home” means when you choose it for yourself. #relocated #usa #livingabroad #costofliving #vietnam #motivation #inspiration #life #retirement #us #costofliving #Vietnam #CostOfLiving #FamilyOfSix #LivingAbroad #ExpatLife #Relocated #webnationafrica Subscribe for more real stories from people who left America and built new lives abroad. #Vietnam #DaNang #LivingInVietnam #CostOfLiving #LeavingAmerica #MovedAbroad #ExpatLife #DigitalNomad #LifeAbroad #BlackExpats #MoveToVietnam