For me, the aggregate price of moving to a tropical paradise (Bahia, Brazil) to concentrate on a few personal-professional projects was a much easier investment than balancing work/life/rent/startup back in Sydney.

Flights to South American countries like Brazil, Colombia or Bolivia have dropped significantly in price over the past 6 months, with returns under $1000 pretty easy to find.

I’m currently working in Morro de Sao Paulo, a tropical island in the north of Brazil, where there are no cars, only donkeys and wheelbarrows. Suffice to say, the tranquility is pretty conducive to long but pleasant work-hours.

My office:

• Rent, food, booze & broadband wi-fi for around AUD$50 per day total. This would suit up to 4 people. What does your office space, plus home rent, plus utilities for both add up to?
• Seclusion and serenity, with the most virulent distractions being small long-tailed monkeys on the balcony and the occasional chirping gecko.

Think about the essentials for your startup and why exactly you need to be in the city you’re currently in? If you’ve saved a bit of money, or secured some initial investment, would that money go further somewhere else in the world that might additionally benefit your business?