COUNTRIES WHERE IT'S CHEAP TO LIVE
If your job is not tied to an office, it doesn't matter where you live. But how wonderful it is to settle in a paradise corner of the Earth, drink wine by the ocean, and enjoy your life. Every year, more and more people quit their office jobs and move to countries where summer lasts all year round. It's nice when the warm sun is above your head, surrounded by paradise places, beaches, and an abundance of fruits.
Especially if the cost of living here is cheaper than in megacities. Many southern countries are famous for their low prices on housing, food, and clothing. Of course, the concept of "living for pennies" is relative for everyone. On planet Earth, there are countries where a person with an average income can afford to live decently.
Some paradise corners remain unnoticed by tourists, which is a pity. There are places where you will definitely want to settle down.
Let's consider countries where you can live for pennies, enjoy life, fully develop and improve yourself, work, and raise children.
Thailand
A favorite vacation spot for Russian tourists. Hundreds of thousands of Russian citizens and residents of different countries come here for vacation every year. After a luxurious and diverse vacation, many people decide to move to Thailand to live, as food and accommodation here are very cheap. It is not uncommon for people to rent out their apartments in their home country and live abroad on the proceeds without denying themselves anything.
$500 a month is quite enough to live carefree without working in Thailand. The cost of housing for 1-2 rooms with a kitchen, bathroom, and toilet, and sometimes even with a pool, is $250 a month. Of course, simpler accommodations are cheaper, and renting a room will cost $80-100. A hotel room will cost an average of $5-8 depending on the living conditions. Food prices are even more pleasing. The main diet consists of fruits, vegetables, and seafood. If you want kebabs or meat with a side dish, a large portion of roast will cost only $2-3. Cooking for yourself is even cheaper by buying groceries in supermarkets. Renting a car or bike for a day will cost you $8-20, and for a month $100-200.
Avarua, Cook Islands
Formally, these islands are part of New Zealand. The local tropical beaches are no worse than the Maldives, but you can rent housing here for $130 a month.
The locals are Polynesian natives, and they are not used to tourists. No more than 100,000 foreigners visit here each year.
However, foreigners cannot buy real estate on the island. But they can rent it for 60 years. To become a full citizen, you will have to live here for several years and obtain special permission from the authorities.
Philippines
In the Philippines, you can live not just cheaply, but comfortably. The country has developed infrastructure even in provincial towns, such as Cebu. The capital is always full of vacationers, making the city too noisy and lively, and prices are significantly higher than in other places in the Philippines. On average, you can rent a house on the islands for $250-300 a month. Renting a room will cost $5-10 a day. A bed in a cheap hostel can be rented for $4 a day. A hotel room for two people costs about $15. Food is also inexpensive. A good lunch in a decent café costs about $3 per person. In all tourist spots, prices are significantly higher, which is typical for the tourist business. Popular Philippine beer can be purchased for $0.5-1 per half liter. The country is rich in exotic fruits, which can be bought at low prices in local markets.
Pros:
beautiful beaches and clean sea; low crime rate; cheap food, healthcare, education, and services; almost all locals speak English.
Cons:
high air pollution in cities; internet outages; frequent typhoons and floods; unevenly developed infrastructure across the country; locals ignoring traffic rules; problems with cashing bank cards.
Laos
Laos is a country in Southeast Asia known for its beautiful mountains, Buddhist monasteries, and river rafting on rubber boats with stops at cafes and bars.
Prices in Laos are very democratic: you can live here for $9-20 a day, eat for $1-5 for lunch, and move around by renting a bike for $10.
Georgia
Georgia is one of the most beautiful and affordable countries for tourists and residents. You can find a place to relax to suit any taste: modern and ancient cities, mountains and sea, and caves with dinosaur traces, whatever you like.
In practically every region of the country, you can discover several truly interesting attractions, so it's not surprising when someone writes that they have been traveling in Georgia for a year and still haven't seen everything.
But every barrel of honey has a spoon of tar. The unstable economy and political situation have not positively affected the standard of living of the local population, but prices for many things remain quite low.
For example, lunch in a decent restaurant will not exceed $9, a pack of cigarettes costs $1.1, and a trip on public transport costs $0.18. For a kilogram of local beef tenderloin, you will pay no more than $4.7, and for apples, $0.8.
Renting a one-bedroom apartment per month will not require more than $155, but of course, not in the city center. If you want to buy an apartment, $453 is the price per square meter of living space.
Pros:
beautiful nature and many interesting places; pleasant climate; hospitality, openness, and friendliness of the locals; delicious local cuisine; affordable modern residential complexes; unique sulfur baths and springs; locals speak decent English, and those over 40 also speak Russian; excellent (very affordable) education with English-speaking teachers in private schools and universities; cleanliness on the streets; great ecology.
Cons:
expensive foreign food products; wild traffic on the roads — people drive as they please. If you arrive in your car or rent a vehicle, driving will be unusual. A lack of traffic lights and underground crossings in cities; taxis are very cheap, but they use very old foreign cars (from the 80s) or Soviet cars; many taxi drivers, souvenir sellers, and those renting out housing deceive tourists by inflating prices two or even three times, so it's better to bargain and check real prices online; beggars on the streets of the city.
Indonesia
Indonesia is well known to us from the movie "Eat. Pray. Love." Beautiful local landscapes, numerous temples, and wise monks who can help you understand the truth and become more harmonious.
Renting accommodation in Indonesia will cost $100 a month, while a hotel room costs $5 a day. Even if you have only a couple of dollars left, you can have a great lunch for just $1.
Ton Sai, Cambodia
This is a small island in southern Cambodia. A true paradise of jungles and beaches. Almost no one lives here, except for a few fishing families. So finding suitable accommodation here can be done for a ridiculous amount of money.
You can relax on the beach or explore the local cave in the jungle. For $5, local fishermen will prepare a delicious dinner of fresh crab right in front of you. Any other seafood here costs up to two dollars.
In Cambodia, you can often meet budget travelers as well as nomads who travel the world with their laptops. The country is valued for its variety of ancient ruins and temples. You can dive cheaply and see the beauty of Cambodia's underwater world. A lavish dinner in a good restaurant costs only $5-7, and half a liter of beer will cost just $0.3.
Mexico
People from all over the world come to Mexico not only to admire the beautiful landscapes and historical monuments. It is the most beautiful cheap country in South America, but also pleasant for relaxation and living.
High-quality tequila, nachos, burritos, and other food, goods, and services can be purchased at very low prices. Mexico is a country where a good quality of life can be bought for relatively little money. For example, a kilogram of oranges can be bought for $0.64, a glass of beer in a bar costs less than $1, a movie ticket is a mere $3, and a decent lunch in a cheap restaurant can be had for $10.
Medical care is impressive with its high quality and low prices, as is the rental of apartments.
A one-bedroom apartment can cost only $146-200 a month.
Pros:
many historical monuments; diverse climate; clean beautiful beaches; affordable rental properties; free education; cheerful and friendly people.
Cons:
high flight costs; service level is not the best; high likelihood of earthquakes; low quality of mobile communication; high crime rate; poor roads.
India
India is a beautiful, religiously rich country with beautiful traditions, yoga, and numerous temples. Admittedly, some places are dirty, but if you want to move here, a clean place can be found without problems. The rent and cost of food are not much different from prices in Thailand. In the summer, living in India can be significantly cheaper than in winter.
The southern coast of Goa is a place where you can ride elephants right on the beach.
In Goa, in summer, renting accommodation near the sea costs on average $300. A little further from the sea, prices for housing are around $250.
A luxurious hotel room with all amenities will cost $20 a day.
You can eat well and cheaply in small cafes along the sea, lunch will cost about $3, and breakfast can be had for $1. Indian dishes cost $3, a cup of coffee $0.5, and fresh juice $1. Renting a bike or a cheap car will cost $5-10 a day.
Local taxis will provide you with a quick ride for just $1. But if you want to save here too, local public transport is at your service for $0.27.
Pros:
almost complete absence of artificial additives in food and cosmetics; low prices for everything: clothing, housing, food, transport, museum tickets, and temple complexes; developed communication system across the country; spirituality and ancient culture; very tasty, diverse, and fresh vegetarian food; high quality of paid medical care.
Cons:
dirt, garbage, and unsanitary conditions in almost all settlements and cities; low assortment of goods, both in grocery stores and clothing shops; almost all Indians involved in tourism — taxi drivers, travel agency agents, and sellers significantly inflate prices for foreigners, so it's essential to check prices and bargain; high humidity and very hot weather in most regions of India; risk of food poisoning (mostly from eggs or meat) and viral infections; a huge number of dangerous insects and snakes + aggressive monkeys that are trained to steal smartphones and other gadgets; bad roads and chaotic traffic, renting a car and driving yourself is very dangerous; lack of sidewalks even in many large cities; power outages and poor street lighting (you must take a flashlight with you).
Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
This town is located in the valley of the same name river in the northern part of Bulgaria. It is the best Riviera on the Black Sea coast. It is just as good as in France.
In many European countries, you can live even cheaper than in Asian countries. Bulgaria is an example of this. Tourist vacations in this country are significantly inexpensive. Renting a hotel room costs $8-10 a day. An apartment here can be rented for just $200 a month. Bulgarian beer is especially valued, costing $0.8 - $1 per liter. Here, 70% of the population speaks Russian, and there are many kindergartens and schools in Russian. The country is sunny and beautiful. Many Russian citizens buy real estate here for vacations and permanent residence.
Pros:
proximity to Europe and Russia; beautiful nature and warm climate; affordable housing prices; inexpensive yet quality higher education; low crime rate; absence of language barriers, as most locals speak Russian; prevalence of balneological resorts.
Cons:
expensive gasoline; low salaries; high cost of medical services; high utility bills; poor roads.
China
China is a vast country with a huge population. But this does not prevent living there and traveling peacefully from one city to another. A taxi will cost you only $1 in the city. Although in recent years China has been flourishing, with an average salary reaching $740, it is still significantly cheaper to live here than in many European countries.
Vietnam
The southeast coast of Vietnam is famous for its 11,000 hectares of tropical forest.
Everyone who has traveled to Vietnam falls in love with this country at first sight. Here you will find turquoise waters, limestone islands, and affordable living.
From any city, you can easily and quickly reach the beach, and food in cafes is so cheap that buying groceries and cooking becomes simply unprofitable. Although not everyone may enjoy the spicy and fatty dishes of the local cuisine. In cafes, if a tourist correctly pronounces the name of a Vietnamese dish, the price for any delicacy will be set at $1. So learn the language! Renting a house will cost $150-200 a month, a hotel room will cost $5 a day, and for $260 a month you can rent an apartment, which often comes with a maid.
Pros:
affordable real estate prices; pleasant weather conditions for most of the year: no extreme heat or cold; cheap food; unique culture.
Cons:
low quality of residential real estate; many poisonous snakes; low level of medical services; negative attitude of locals towards working Europeans; humid climate; chaotic dangerous traffic.
Albania
The southern tip of Albania is an ideal place for a quiet life. Nearby is a small town and the Butrint National Park. The climate is Mediterranean, and local products include olive oil and mandarins. Unlike neighboring Greece, Italy, or even Croatia, it is very cheap here: beer costs 90 cents a bottle, and housing is $100-120 a month.
Eat seafood (30 types of fish are sold here, the average cost of a dish in a café is $6), drink cheap wine ($6 a bottle), sail on catamarans, and hope that there will be no more tourists here in five years.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is a true budget paradise for those who love to save. This incredibly beautiful country has no overpopulation or wild influx of tourists. The country is harmonious and inexpensive to live in. It boasts a rich variety of exotic fruits and seafood. Amazing vegetation and friendly people. To fly and live in this country, you will have to make an effort.
Otherwise, prices here are extremely low. Everything in this country is cheap, from food to rent. At the same time, the minimum cost of living does not mean that you will have to sacrifice the quality of life you are used to at home.
Renting accommodation for a month will cost an average of $100, and a delicious lunch will cost $3. $995 will be enough to rent a large apartment, pay bills and food for two, allow for small entertainment (like going to the movies), and even hire a cleaner three times a week. Water sports enthusiasts should definitely consider moving to this country.
Egypt.
No matter how expensive or cheap Egypt may be, it will always remain one of the main vacation spots for many tourists due to its unique pyramids, temples, and resorts on the Red Sea. Fortunately, it is currently one of the cheapest countries for living and vacationing, but you still need to know what is really cheap and where you can save significantly.
First of all, housing. Of course, with a strong desire, you can settle in a luxurious hotel for $180 a night, or you can find a decent apartment with all amenities in the city center for $138 a month. It is no wonder that rent in Egypt is 71.46% lower than in Russia.
Secondly, transportation. Before getting into a taxi, it is worth finding out the local fare.
It usually does not exceed $0.1 per kilometer. If you catch the driver significantly overcharging, you can report him to the local police. A single trip on local public transport (buses, minibuses, trams) will cost even less — $0.11. Don’t be surprised by such prices — Egypt is on the list of countries with the lowest gasoline prices: only $0.2 per liter.
Thirdly, food. It’s no wonder that Egypt organizes special culinary tours. People with different food preferences — vegans, vegetarians, meat lovers, and seafood enthusiasts — will not feel deprived in local cafes and restaurants. And pleasant prices will likely encourage them not to limit their choices.
In inexpensive restaurants, you can have a decent meal for $2.8, and a small bottle of clean water, which is so necessary in the hot climate, is available for just $0.15. Fresh fruit lovers will be delighted by the variety and affordability: $0.28 per kilogram of oranges and $0.55 per kilogram of bananas.
Pros:
hot dry climate, lots of sun and sea; a huge selection of fresh natural products; inexpensive food, clothing, housing; low crime rate; complete absence of drunks on the streets, praise be to the local religion!; a developed network of inexpensive restaurants.
Cons:
dirty, garbage-filled streets; few paved streets in small towns; low level of medical services; lack of theaters, museums, and cinemas; air pollution in large cities; the insistence of local traders and price inflation for foreigners; absence of traffic lights (for example, there are only two in Cairo) and crazy traffic without standard rules typical of civilized countries.
Honduras
If you are considering a country abroad for living, you should consider Honduras. Today, this place has started to attract more and more tourists. Because you can live cheaply and have a good rest here. Since everything is very cheap here, you can fly here with just a backpack. You can have a delicious meal in a restaurant for just $3, and rent a hotel room for $5 a day.
Nepal
Another of the cheapest countries of 2016-2017 is Nepal, a tiny state in southern Asia. It attracts a huge number of tourists every year with its pristine nature, ancient temples and monasteries, exotic rituals, and ceremonies.
But if you exclude the high prices for flights to this distant country, your vacation will cost you very little.
If you earned $1,000 a month while living there, you would undoubtedly be part of the wealthy elite.
Even if you spent a third of that amount, you would have no reason to complain about your living conditions. Food in Nepal is cheap and delicious. Note that in local eateries with local cuisine, you can always eat well for a ridiculous $1.6, while restaurants with European dishes will charge more, but still cheap — $4.
At markets, almost all fruits cost less than a dollar and will delight you with their variety.
Most attractions in Nepal (mostly ancient temple complexes) cost $1-2 for tourists. A trip to the jungle or on safari will cost $30-50 a day.
If you haven't decided to go to this paradise of low prices yet, perhaps the prices for housing will convince you…
Can you imagine that renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city center will cost only $94 a month, and if you want, you can find a room in a guesthouse with Wi-Fi, hot shower, and breakfast for just $2 a night.
Pros:
diverse beautiful nature; low prices for water, food, utilities, and real estate; locals have a good command of English; peaceful religion — Buddhism.
Cons:
long and expensive flight to Nepal; dirty littered streets; water supply interruptions; lack of central heating; cold winters; lack of managed traffic rules; significantly inflated prices for tourists. For locals, everything is very cheap, but as soon as a tourist appears, prices can magically triple. Therefore, bargaining skills will be very useful here; risk of earthquakes.
In any case, you should take the choice of a country for permanent residence very seriously. After all, it is good where we are not! When moving abroad, you should consider that there will be no close Russian-speaking friends nearby, and in a foreign country, there are its own traditions and rules. Good luck!