A Seattle man fed up with the soaring cost of rent and groceries has decided to find out whether it would be cheaper to live at an all-inclusive resort.
Ben Keenan managed to put the theory to the test after Expedia spotted his post about it on TikTok and comped his costs.
The vlogger documented his month long stay at the Ocean Riviera Paradise resort in Mexico‘s Playa del Carmen.
Over 27 days, he uploaded videos showing his daily routine and estimated costs, following a Monday to Friday routine to try and keep it comparable with his regular life.
Costs included lodging, food, drinks, events and amenities such as gym membership.
A Seattle man fed up with the soaring cost of rent and groceries decided to test out whether it would be cheaper to live at an all-inclusive resort
The content creator noted that his room had the same square footage as his regular apartment back in Seattle.
Keenan estimated that in normal life, he would spend around $4,100 a month. This included $2,300 on rent, $200 on utilities, $270 for car payment.
At the end of his trip, Keenan’s total cost at the resort excluding airfare was $4,900.
However, he suggested that there were savings to be had if you book in advance.
‘If you’re looking on paper directly what I paid for was $800 more expensive to live in Mexico,’ he said.
‘However mine was fairly last minute, if I booked earlier I would have saved a further $400.
‘The whole idea is that you want to be flexible with what you do. You can book whenever you want, the price will change.’
Ben Keenan managed to put the theory to the test at the Ocean Riviera Paradise resort in Mexico ‘s Playa del Carmen
Costs included lodging, food, drinks, events and amenities such as gym membership
He also pointed out that the resort included benefits such as events, a pool and room service and housekeeping.
‘It was not cheaper for me, but I can’t say if it would be cheaper for you or not,’ he added.
Inflation across the US dropped slightly to 3.3 percent last month, but continues to squeeze household budgets.
According to Zillow, the median rent in the US is currently $2,129, a reduction of $6 from a year ago.
