Hi there, Fellow Mustachians!
I'm new the forums, but not new to the lifestyle. Somehow this was the post that compelled me to turn up on the forums (of all things!)
I'll start with this. I eat for less than $3 a day, per person - and I can do it eating out for 2/3 meals if I desired.
Short version since this isn't the place for it:
I FIREd with about 15% of the 'normal' amount by moving to Colombia (although I still lazily work 10 hours a week freelancing). I live in a city comparable to my former city (Baltimore) in size, but could spend $140/mo on rent and utilities for a 3br/2ba place. Though I opted to build a 6br/3ba home from the ground up for 20k (with the purchase of land).
My breakfast is simple, two eggs over white rice or oatmeal and fresh fruit. (Blackberries are my favorite) - $0.33 cents at the current exchange rate.
I go out for lunch or dinner, but lunch is: 1. Soup, 2. Chicken/Beef/or Fish 3. Rice 4. Beans 5. Salad [8,000 pesos or about $1.90 USD)
And then for the other meal, I cook at home. Today I made arroz con pollo. Bell peppers, 1kg (2.2lbs) of chicken breast, onion, garlic, tomatoes and then sliced 6 potatoes up for french fries.
My friend and his mother were visiting, so I provided lunch (4 adults and one toddler). Total cost for my lunch was as follows:
Prices are in Colombian Pesos followed by dollars
2.2lbs Chicken Breast (1kg) 7800 ($1.87 USD)
5kg of rice @ 13,700 (1kg) so 2740 ($0.66)
2 bell peppers 700 ($0.17)
1 onion 400 (just under $0.10)
clove of garlic 400 (just under $0.10)
sausages - 14 pack for 15,000 (4 used) 4285 ($1.03)
4 fresh tomatoes - 1,000 ($0.24)
6 potatoes 1,500 (cut for fries) 1,500 ($0.36)
Made 6 healthy portions + a portion for my son, and the two leftover I'll use for breakfast with eggs tomorrow for the three of us!
Total in USD - $4.53
$4.53/6 - $0.76 (rounded up) per serving
Two gringos in Colombia!
https://i.imgur.com/zVdEnAj.jpeg (Petr and I)