There are words that change how we see life. For me, one of those words was geoarbitrage. It may sound like a technical term for economists, but in reality, it is a life strategy – a conscious choice that more and more people are making as the world opens up through digitalization, remote work, and new lifestyle models.

Geoarbitrage, in short, means earning money in a region where salaries and income are high – often tied to a strong currency – and then moving to a place where the cost of living is much lower. This way, purchasing power increases, savings grow, and above all, one can live better.

Tim Ferriss popularized the concept in his book The 4-Hour Workweek. When I turned 50, a friend gave me that very book as a birthday present. At the time, it felt like an inspiring but almost unreachable vision – to live freer, work on my own terms, and let life guide me more than the systems around me. It took time, years of experience and detours, before I actually reached the goal. But today, here in Bansko, I realize that I am living the very freedom that the book once planted as an idea within me.

For me, the answer to this equation became Bansko in Bulgaria.

Bansko – More Than Just a Ski Resort

Most people who hear the name Bansko may think of winter sports. And yes, the town at the foot of the Pirin Mountains has developed into one of Eastern Europe’s most attractive ski resorts. But for me, and for many others who have chosen to live here, it is not just the snow and slopes that attract. It is the combination of mountain proximity, small-town charm, and low living costs.

Here, I can live in a way that would be economically unrealistic in Sweden. Rent for a small studio or apartment is often a third of what a similar place would cost in Gothenburg or Stockholm. Dining out is still affordable, and it is possible to indulge in small luxuries – a coffee in town, a dinner out, a day trip – without draining the budget.

But it is not just about prices. It is about the feeling of living with margins. Of not having to count every coin, of not being trapped in a never-ending cost spiral.

From High-Cost Living to Freedom

In Sweden, I built my life over decades. I had my work, my projects, my everyday routines. But when I started looking at the numbers, I realized how much of my income was simply consumed by keeping up with costs. Housing, food, transportation – everything was expensive, and even with a stable income, freedom felt like it was shrinking.

When I first came to Bulgaria, the contrast was striking. Here, the same amount of money stretched twice, sometimes three times, as far. A monthly rent that back home barely covered a week. A dinner for two that equaled the price of a single lunch in Sweden. And most importantly: here I could live, not just survive.

Geoarbitrage is not just an economic model – it is a mental shift. When I no longer have to stress about every expense, I free up energy for creating, thinking, writing, building relationships, and living the life I want.

Retirement – But Not “Retired”

I have officially retired, but I am not “retired” in the way society often defines it. I am not idle, waiting for time to pass. Instead, I choose what I do.

That freedom – to pick my projects, to decide what is meaningful, and to live according to my own rhythm – is the real wealth that geoarbitrage has given me. I am not bound by systems that tell me when to work or when to stop. I still create, I still contribute, I still build. But I do it on my own terms.

This is perhaps the most powerful shift of all: I am no longer owned by my schedule, I own my time.

Remote Work Makes It Possible

What was once a dream for the few is now an opportunity for many. Digitalization and remote work have made it possible to work from almost anywhere in the world. For some, it is consulting assignments; for others, digital services, e-commerce, or entrepreneurship.

I can continue with my work – advising, project management, creative concepts – but instead of being tied to an expensive city environment, I can sit with a view of the Pirin Mountains. The difference is enormous.

That is why so many digital nomads have found their way to Bansko. Here, there are coworking spaces, an international community, and a growing sense that this little mountain town has become a hub for people who want to live differently.

The Hidden Benefit: Quality of Life

The financial aspect is only one side of the coin. The other – and perhaps even more important – is quality of life.

Being able to take a break from work and, within minutes, find myself in a mountain forest. Feeling the stillness, the fresh air, the physical presence of nature. In Sweden, it was easy to get stuck in a hamster wheel, where every day looked the same. Here, patterns break naturally. The mountains constantly remind me of proportions – of what is truly big and what is small in life.

Bansko also has a simplicity that I value. There is no big-city stress, no endless queues, no skyrocketing prices. Life is a little rougher, a little more direct – but also more authentic.

Living Simpler, but Richer

One of the greatest insights I have had is that wealth is not always about having more. It is often about needing less.

In Bansko, I don’t feel the same need to consume in order to compensate for stress or emptiness. I don’t need the newest car or the most expensive gadgets. Instead, I find value in the everyday – in a walk along cobblestone streets, in a simple meal made with local ingredients, in conversations with people from all over the world who also chose this place.

It is a paradox: by living cheaper, I live richer.

Geoarbitrage as a Generational Shift

Many associate digital nomadism with young people in their 20s or 30s. But I believe geoarbitrage is just as relevant for those of us who are older. For seniors who may have left traditional working life, or for those of us with experience and skills but who no longer want to compete in a labor market where age discrimination is real, this opens doors.

By moving to a place like Bansko, one can extend freedom, opportunities, and zest for life. One can remain active, contribute, and grow – without being swallowed by systems that, back home, push people into molds.

The Story of Bansko and the Future

Bansko has transformed from a small mountain village into an internationally known town. Tourism has changed it, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. But at the same time, it has created opportunities for new initiatives, new people, and new ideas to take root here.

I believe we are only seeing the beginning. As more people realize the power of geoarbitrage, as more see how they can combine remote work with a cheaper and richer life, places like Bansko will continue to grow in significance.

This is not about running away from something. It is about seeking what truly gives meaning: freedom, nature, community, and time.

My Conclusion

So why do I choose Bansko?
Because I want to live more – and stress less. Because my resources stretch further here, but also because my life feels more alive. Because geoarbitrage is not just an economic term, but a strategy for freedom.

When I received The 4-Hour Workweek as a gift on my 50th birthday, I never imagined it would take more than a decade before I truly embodied its message. But today, walking through the streets of Bansko with the Pirin Mountains rising above me, I know that I have reached that goal.

And now, in retirement, I am not idle. I am not finished. I am free to choose. I am still creating, still building, still writing my story – only now, I do it on my own terms.

In a time when the world is shrinking and opportunities are growing, this is my choice. Bansko is where I combine the best of two worlds: earning in a strong economy, but living in a place where I can afford both time and quality.

Geoarbitrage is not for everyone. But for those who dare to look beyond borders, numbers, and old life patterns, it can be the key to something greater. For me, it has become exactly that – the key to a life where I feel freer, richer, and more present than ever before.