How Much Are Other Expats Saving?

It’s a question almost everyone quietly asks themselves at some point:

“Am I saving enough — or am I falling behind?”

It sounds simple, but it’s one of the hardest questions to answer.

Money is deeply personal, yet we constantly look for reassurance through comparison. We compare salaries, houses, holidays, and cars — so it’s only natural to wonder how our savings stack up too. But once you live overseas, those familiar benchmarks disappear.

The Comparison Trap

In your home country, it’s easy to find reference points — average pension pots, government guidelines, or even what friends are doing. But expat life blurs those lines completely.

You might earn in US dollars, spend in Thai baht, save in pounds, and plan to retire somewhere entirely different. The person next to you at the coffee shop could have a company pension, rental income, or an inheritance — or they might have nothing at all.

That’s why comparing your situation to someone else’s can be misleading. Their life path, goals, and financial start point are completely different to yours.

Yet comparison is tempting. It gives a sense of where we stand — but often at the cost of perspective.

The Hidden Cost of Not Knowing

What’s more dangerous than comparing yourself to others is not knowing where you actually stand. Many expats live comfortable lives with good incomes but no long-term financial structure. The result? Years abroad can pass quickly, and when you finally stop to take stock, you realise how little has actually been put aside.

Without a plan, most people underestimate how much they’ll need by 30–40%. That gap only grows over time. Rising living costs, private education, travel, healthcare, and retirement housing all add up — often faster than savings do.

A false sense of security is one of the most common financial risks of expat life. When money feels easy to earn and life abroad is full of experiences, saving can feel like something you’ll “get to later.” But later rarely comes on its own.

The Power of Perspective

The truth is, there is no universal benchmark for “enough.” What’s right for one person might be excessive for another. It depends on what you value, where you plan to live, and the kind of lifestyle you want in the years ahead.

For some, financial freedom means retiring early and travelling the world. For others, it’s about being able to step back from work to spend time with family, fund children’s education, or simply live without financial anxiety.

That’s where financial modelling makes all the difference.

At Max Foresight, we use detailed cashflow projections to show exactly how your current savings and investments translate into future choices — year by year. It turns vague uncertainty into clear, visual understanding.

Suddenly, the question shifts from “Am I saving enough?” to “What would my future look like if I saved just a little more — or invested more efficiently?”

Your Numbers, Your Journey

Whether you’re saving USD 500 a month or USD 10,000, what truly matters is whether it aligns with your long-term goals. Comparison might make you feel ahead or behind, but only clarity will move you forward.

By knowing what you personally need, you can stop guessing and start planning. You can make decisions from a place of confidence, not comparison.

And that’s the point — wealth isn’t a race. It’s a reflection of choices made deliberately over time, based on what matters most to you.

Ready to See Your Own Numbers?

If you’ve ever wondered how your savings compare — or what they could really achieve — let’s make it tangible.

At Max Foresight, we’ll map out your cashflow and show exactly where you stand today, and what your money could look like tomorrow.

💬 Book a short discovery call to see what’s possible: maxforesight.com/book