A man is contemplating the sale of his apartment as he has discovered a more economical living option aboard a cruise ship.
With inflation driving up rental prices, it’s no surprise that in cities like Los Angeles, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment stands at $2,153 per month as of November 2024, according to Apartments.com.
In contrast, in Florida, where Ryan Gutridge resides in Fort Lauderdale, the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,557 (as of May 2024).
Though Florida offers relatively lower rent compared to other parts of the U.S., Ryan has identified an even more cost-effective living arrangement on the open sea.
As an IT cloud-solution engineer, Ryan began working remotely from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 2021 and has embraced this lifestyle ever since.
Since then, Ryan has spent 300 days each year aboard a cruise ship instead of staying at his Fort Lauderdale apartment.
In an interview with Insider last year, Ryan explained how he manages to enjoy such a luxurious life on the water and revealed his plans to sell his apartment by 2025.
“I wanted to really look at the cost of cruising full-time before I began. I have a spreadsheet that automatically records all my expenses, which helps,” he said.
“I also set a budget every year. This year, my base fare budget is about $30,000, and last year when I started really looking at the numbers and evaluating how much base fare I paid to be on a ship for 300 nights, I found it was almost neck-and-neck with what I paid for rent and trash service for an apartment in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.”
Discussing his future aspirations, Ryan expressed his dedication to the cruise lifestyle and detailed his intentions to sell both his apartment and car.
“I’ve scaled back my cruising budget for next year because of inflation, but by 2025 I’d like to get rid of my apartment, sell my car, and purchase a scooter that I’ll store at a friend’s garage. When I’m home, I’ll have groceries delivered, and if I need to go somewhere farther away, I’ll be happy to just take an Uber or Lyft.”
For those considering a similar lifestyle, Ryan advises trying various cruise lines but suggests sticking with one once you find a suitable option to maximize loyalty benefits.
“My drinks and internet are free. I found that Royal Caribbean has, by far, the most valuable benefits to me — discounts, free internet, and free drinks,” he said.
“Because of the loyalty program, I’ll actually spend less money cruising this year than I did last year, even though I cruised more.”
What a fascinating way to live.