I’m currently staying in a studio apartment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I’ve got a beautiful view of the city from the 16th floor. I’ve got all the first-world amenities I could need – a desk to work at, fast Wifi, clean kitchen, nice bed, climate control, free laundry (in my room no less), gym and pool, and even a cafe in the building! We got a really good deal for about $20/night on AirBnb.

It’s right in the city center. Just outside the condo is a street with bars and a dozen international restaurants. They have burgers, pizza, Mexican, Cuban, Italian, Arabic, Irish, Thai, Vietnamese and many other kinds of food. There are also many local restaurants and cheap street food within a five-minute walk. It’s a ten-minute walk to the subway and posh shopping malls.

For a night out, we went to the sky bar atop the 5-star Banyan Tree hotel. We had amazing views of the whole city, got to witness a great tropical storm from up close, and then the winds blew away the clouds and had great views of the city at night. Drinks were around $10 each, and were quite good!

For a weekend away, we took the bus to Penang island, and rented another Airbnb that was even nicer! It had an infinity pool and was on the 31st floor!

Everyone here speaks English as a second language, so I’ve had no problem getting around.

Business Model

Clean modern condo for $20/night on AirBnb. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The cost of living here is extremely low. It’s easy to get by with a good quality of life, for less than $50 a day. Here are some example costs in Malaysia:

  • Housing: $20-40/day in a private, clean, modern AirBnb condo with gym and pool.
  • Meals: $2 at a local restaurant, $5-10 at a clean air-conditioned restaurant in a modern mall. That includes tax and service, since they don’t have a tipping culture in Malaysia.
  • Phone: $15 for a local SIM card with unlimited 4G data for a month.
  • Coffee: $0.40 for local coffee, or $3-4 for a latte.
  • Laundry: free in my room.
  • Subway: around $1.
  • Taxi: $20 for a 50 minute ride from the airport.
  • Bus: $10 for a 6-hour ride to Penang.
  • Flight: $600-700 from San Francisco, $23 to Penang.

Meanwhile, back at home, I’m renting out my living space on AirBnb. I net about $80/day just from one room, and I plan to convert another room when I get back for an additional $100/day. I can manage all the bookings from my phone, with self check-in and a cleaner who turns the room over between guests. It’s a very easy side business to run.

The math is simple. I can earn $180/day from renting out my living space, and I spend $50/day to be here. Stay for a week, and it will even pay for my plane ticket!

How To Do This Yourself

First, you need to set up your living space on AirBnb. Make sure this is allowed by your lease, city, and HOA. Here are some tips for AirBnb:

  • Give guests the whole space. We give them a seperate entrance, keyless check-in, a bed, and a bathroom. We lock the doors to the rest of the house, and don’t give them access to the kitchen.
  • Declutter your personal effects. Guests feel more comfortable if they don’t feel like they’re staying in someone’s home. Put all your personal stuff in a locked closet or room.
  • Keep it clean. Do a deep clean or have a professional cleaner to make the space spotless. Make sure to have a good, reliable cleaner who can come between guests. We use TurnoverBnb to find and manage our cleaner.
  • Invest in good furniture and linens. We bought some new furniture for the room, and have many sets of quality linens. It’s worth the upfront investment to get good ratings.

Second, you need to find a good place to travel cheaply. Mexico, Asia, South America, and Eastern Europe have many cities where you can live in what I call a “first-world bubble.” You can speak English, stay in a modern condo (often with more amenities than home), drink Starbucks, and eat at clean restaurants at an affordable price (well except for Starbucks, which is expensive everywhere). Of course it’s more fun if you venture outside your comfort zone, but it’s not required.

Some travel tips:

  • Location, location, location. You want to be central, in a safe (tourist) area, and near public transportation and restaurants. You don’t want to feel isolated and stuck.
  • Stay comfortable. You can find some beautiful places on Airbnb, whether you want a historic room or a modern condo. I like having a gym in the building when possible.
  • Manage costs, but don’t skimp. I like my lattes, so I was OK to pay American prices for coffee, but save on everything else. You can afford to treat yourself to some home luxuries.
  • Set up a routine. If you plan to work and travel, it takes extra effort to keep a routine that includes dedicated time and space to work. Of course if you’re just taking vacation, you don’t have to worry about this!

Please share comments if you’ve tried this yourself and have any additional tips. And for those of you who aren’t allowed to rent your living space on AirBnb, I’m sorry – lobby your landlord, HOA, or government to allow it!

Anyway, my two hours of work is done for the day. Time to go for a walk and find some local food.