Woman Travels 14 European Countries for Less than US Rent, Sparking Debate on Cost of Living
NEW YORK, NY – A 29-year-old American woman’s viral TikTok detailing her year of travel across Europe for under $4,200 is fueling a growing conversation about the rising cost of living in the United States.monae Hendrickson documented visiting 14 countries at an average cost of just $76 per day, a figure she claims is less than her monthly rent in many major US cities.
Hendrickson told The New York Post that “The United States [is] no longer economical,” and her TikTok caption echoed this sentiment, stating travel is cheaper than living in major American cities “in almost every part of the world.”
The journey, meticulously tracked and shared online, included extended stays in lower-cost Eastern European nations like Poland, Latvia, and Albania, where she enjoyed affordable accommodations and dining.”An average cappuccino in Albania was $2,” Hendrickson revealed, “While a private room in a hotel was an average of $30 per night.” She also visited more expensive Nordic countries like Finland, but the lower costs accumulated earlier in her trip helped offset the increased expenses.
“Dollar for dollar, it’s pretty close to the US,” Hendrickson said of Finland, adding, “But you get safe public transportation, gorgeous, publicly funded, affordable activities, astonishing nature, and truly, don’t get me started on the cardamom buns.”
Hendrickson, a business graduate, left a cycle of ”dead-end jobs” to become a full-time travel content creator, citing burnout from American corporate culture and the financial benefits of overseas living. Her experience has resonated with many, prompting a wider discussion about the sustainability of American prices and the potential for affordable living abroad.
