How to build a monthly budget before moving

Start with the month you actually live

Use recent bills and purchases to list rent, groceries, utilities, transport, internet and mobile service. Add healthcare, childcare and other recurring costs that apply to your household. Record the total for everyone moving, not a per-person amount mixed with a household bill.

A quiet month can miss annual subscriptions or seasonal bills. Convert an annual recurring payment to a monthly planning allowance by dividing it by 12. Keep the original billing period alongside the calculation.

Keep three separate totals

Your recurring budget is what you expect to spend each month. Your moving budget covers one-off costs such as travel and shipping. A refundable deposit is cash you need available, but it is not automatically a monthly expense or a non-refundable moving cost.

Use the same household size, housing choice and lifestyle on both sides of the comparison. Otherwise a cheaper result may just mean you compared a room with an apartment.

Read the gaps before the total

In Lifovra, a covered subtotal is not a complete budget. Check missing categories and estimated ranges before deciding whether the destination is affordable. Enter your own rent when you have a credible quote; your input improves your calculation, not the city’s verified data coverage.

Sources and further reading

• Lifovra — How it works