Do you find the place where you are currently living a little bit expensive? Would you like to learn more about the cheapest countries in the world where you can live a good life while spending less? Moving from one country to another, for this reason, makes sense.
We should mention that the migration data in the last decade have shown us that more and more people are willing to migrate from their current place of living because of the expenses that are becoming higher and higher every year. At the same time, there are many different places on the globe where you can live a comfortable life, get access to the things you need and still pay way less. This is exactly what our list of cheapest countries contains.
- Find out more about the most interesting places where you can live a great life on a budget
- Discover the most interesting and cheapest countries to live in the world
- Get familiar with the basic information about the prices of the most common expenses in each of these countries
The cheapest place to live in is waiting for you. Our list of the cheapest places and countries to live in the world offers many interesting suggestions. Remember, these places are not all about cheapness, they are also safe, have good infrastructure and they are blessed with beautiful nature. So, let’s check these countries.
1. Nepal
Location: Asia
Population: Around 30 million
Area: 147,181 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Kathmandu
Located in South Asia, Nepal has been used as a holiday destination for many decades now. But, this country was never used as a place for mass tourism. Most people are going there to explore the spiritual side of the region because Nepal is known as a place where you can find many Hindu and Buddhist temples.
In addition, people are using Nepal as a base from where they can explore the Himalayas. After all, this is the place where the world’s highest mountain (Mount Everest) is located. The truth is that there are not many foreigners that live in Nepal, but since there are over 100 ethnic and caste groups, it should be easy for people that come from foreign countries to blend in.
Nepal is one of the cheapest countries to live in the world and we are not saying this only for the low prices of groceries. It’s also very cheap to rent a place there. For instance, the average cost of rent per month (one bedroom in the center of Kathmandu) is 130 Euros. Of course, the groceries are quite cheap too and you can afford to visit restaurants a few times a month without affecting your budget.
Cost of living in Nepal
Gasoline: 0.88 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 130 Euro
Milk: 0.60 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 28 Euro
2. Macedonia
Location: Europe
Population: Around 2 million
Area: 25.713 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Skopje
According to many surveys, Macedonia is among the top five cheapest countries in Europe. So, this is the first advantage for those who want to live abroad – this country is located in Southeast Europe. This is a country with a long history and rich culture and tradition. Even though the majority of the population is Macedonians, there are many minorities in this country which have managed to live in harmony for many centuries.
Macedonia is a country that will soon join the EU and NATO and still the cost of living there is much lower compared to EU countries. In addition, we should mention that the people who live in this country are known for their hospitality. Skopje is the capital city and the most attractive place to be there because it has a solid infrastructure and it’s on a crossroad between Serbia and Greece which means that you can often go on trips to these countries too.
Additionally, foreigners are usually visiting Ohrid, a city by the lake known for its old buildings and churches. Living in Macedonia is a cheap place to live in, but the quality of life is decent. The local currency is known as Macedonian denar and you can get around 61 denars for 1 Euro. For this amount of money, you can have a bottle of coca-cola in a decent café in this country.
Cost of living in Macedonia
Gasoline: 1.12 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 175 Euro
Milk: 0.75 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 100 Euro
3. Paraguay
Location: South America
Population: Around 7.1 million
Area: 406.752 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Asuncion
If you are attracted by South American natural beauties and you want to live there, you should know that some of the cheapest places to live in the world are located there. One of these countries is Paraguay. This is another country with an interesting history, known as a country which is relatively politically stable, something that we can’t say for their neighbors Argentina for example. It’s interesting that Paraguay is the only country in South America that doesn’t have access to a sea, but this doesn’t mean that this country is not worth seeing or living in.
On the contrary, there are many lakes and rivers and extraordinary nature in this country. There’s a long history of immigration in this country which started in the 19th century. Most of the immigrants came from the neighboring countries and from Europe, but in the 20th century, there were many immigrants from Asia that came here. In any case, people of different nationalities are not something unusual to see in this country.
With a beautiful weather, good health and education system and very low prices especially when it comes to basic utilities, Paraguay is a country that you should take into account when you are thinking about moving from your country and saving money.
Cost of living in Paraguay
Gasoline: 0.84 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 190 Euro
Milk: 0.68 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 45 Euro
4. Vietnam
Location: Asia
Population: Around 95 million
Area: 331.212 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Hanoi
In the last decade, Vietnam has witnessed a real boom in its tourism sector. It seems that many people that are fascinating by the climate and nature found in this part of the world are getting a little bit tired of Thailand, and they are looking for new places with similar properties and Vietnam is definitely one of them.
At the same time, many people are considering moving to this Asian country because the infrastructure is becoming better and better and the foreign investments in the region are growing too. It seems that the government of Vietnam is also supporting the immigration of this kind.
Vietnam is known for its beautiful cuisine and cheap drinks that you can try in some of the many bars and restaurants.
You will find many cheap restaurants where you can get draft beer for less than one Euro. On top of that, you can try street food. If you are looking for something fancier you can also visit many exclusive restaurants. The only downside here can be the cost of rent and the cost of properties which are quite high in Hanoi, but much cheaper in other cities.
Cost of living in Vietnam
Gasoline: 0.77 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 334 Euro
Milk: 1.26 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 53.5 Euro
5. Czech Republic
Location: Europe
Population: Around 10.6 million
Area: 78.886 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Prague
If you want to live in some of the cheapest countries in the world, but you are worried about the quality of life, then it might be a good idea to focus on a cheap place that is part of the European Union. The Czech Republic is definitely a place like this.
The ex-communist country is part of the EU for a long time and it has almost everything you can find in developed Western countries. On top of that, the capital city of the Czech Republic – Prague – is a popular holiday destination with amazing monuments, building, and landmarks. The Czech Republic is a place known for cheap local goods and services.
This is also a place where you can find many cheap rentals although you might want to focus on the places outside the center of the capital city if you want to save money. For 520 Euro per month, you can find excellent one bedroom apartments for rent. You can expect to get the same apartment in Berlin for 700 Euro which is significantly more. On the other hand, you can visit Austria and Germany easily because the Czech Republic borders these two countries.
Cost of living in the Czech Republic
Gasoline: 1.24 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 520 Euro
Milk: 0.69 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 162 Euro
6. Laos
Location: Asia
Population: Around 6.7 million
Area: 237.955 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Vientiane
Long gone are the days when this country was torn by civil war. In the last four decades, the political situation in this Asian country is stable and as a result of that, it has grabbed the attention of many tourists as well as of some people who are looking for a country where they can move permanently.
As one of the cheapest countries in the world, one might think that Laos lacks the infrastructure or that they don’t have a good health system, but that’s wrong. In addition, people in Laos are very friendly and they really like foreigners. Most of the population here are Buddhists which might explain their friendly attitude toward other people.
It’s not unusual for foreigners to find people from Western countries here especially in the capital city – Vientiane. From cheap bars and restaurants to affordable food markets and pleasant massages which will cost you as low as 5 Euro per hour, this country is worth taking into account when you are analyzing the cheapest countries on the globe and making plans to move.
Cost of living in Laos
Gasoline: 0.80 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 547 Euro
Milk: 1.92 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 66 Euro
7. Peru
Location: South America
Population: Around 32.5 million
Area: 1. 285.216 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Lima
Peru is an ideal location for those who are interested in exploration. This South American country is home to many expats that come from Western countries. This is especially true for the capital city of this country – Lima, which is quite a cheap place. The same goes for the places that are located close to the famous ancient sites in Peru like Machu Picchu where thousands of foreign visitors are traveling every year.
Surely, you can find even more interesting things in countries like Brazil, but the fact is that Peru is among the cheapest countries in this region. While you live and work in Peru, you can experience an amazing, unique culture and get familiar with the legacy of the famous Inca Kingdom.
Peru is a country with a relatively good internet connection which makes it ideal for freelancers that work online. Of course, tourism, marketing and teaching English or other popular languages can all be options for those who want to work and live here. Don’t forget that many things are incredibly cheap here. For instance, a meal for two people in a decent restaurant will cost you just 16 Euros.
Cost of living in Peru
Gasoline: 0.98 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 327 Euro
Milk: 1.11 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 47 Euro
8. China
Location: Asia
Population: Around 1.4 billion
Area: 9.596.961 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Beijing
To be honest, China is not the first thing that comes to people’s mind when they are discussing about the cheapest countries in the world, but there are a few things that make this country an attractive destination from those who want to leave their homes and move abroad in order to save money in the long run.
China has a booming economy which means that it’s not difficult to find a job there especially if you have some skills that domestic workers are lacking. If you take a close look at the prices, you will notice that the megalopolises found there are a little bit expensive, but you can also expect to find better salaries there. Of course, if you a digital nomad then you don’t have to worry about these things.
Needless to say, people can find many interesting things in this great country – from interesting archeological sites, world wonders and spectacular temples to beautiful nature and unique architecture and culture in general. On top of that, there aren’t many great countries like this one where you can pay just 3 Euro for a meal in a cheap restaurant. Although China is located far from the Western countries, the influence of the West is visible in the big cities and this means that you won’t feel much isolated there.
Cost of living in China
Gasoline: 0.93 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 480 Euro
Milk: 1.66 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 47 Euro
9. Mexico
Location: North America
Population: Around 126.5 million
Area: 1.972.550 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Mexico City
With so many people leaving Mexico and trying their luck in the United States, it might seem a little bit ironic to see Mexico on a list of the cheapest countries where you might want to move. But, it turns out that the country located in the southern portion of North America is a good, cheap place to live in case you have a stable income.
Many Canadians and Americans know this because they have decided to move to this country. Mexico is a huge country where you can find many different things. For instance, you can enjoy some of the many holiday destinations there like Cancun or Tulum. You can also explore the Mayan sites across the country.
While we are talking about Mexico and living there, we should also mention the Mexican cuisine. The tasty foods that can be found around the globe taste even better when they are prepared by authentic chefs. What’s even better is that these foods are very cheap even if you are eating them in restaurants. Remember that if you want to save more money while you are living in Mexico, you should stay away from the most popular holiday destinations because the cost of living in these places has increased radically in the last few years. Yet, you can still find cheap rentals or even buy a cheap property there.
Cost of living in Mexico
Gasoline: 0.91 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 276 Euro
Milk: 0.83 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 33 Euro
10. Costa Rica
Location: Central America
Population: Around 4.8 million
Area: 51.100 sq. kilometers
Capital city: San Jose
If you want to live abroad, you should know that Central America is a region where you can find many interesting places. In case you want to live in the cheapest countries there, then you should consider Costa Rica as your next destination.
There are many good reasons why someone would want to travel and stay in Costa Rica. For instance, this country has beautiful jungles where you can find unique wildlife. In addition, it’s easy to find pristine beaches. Finally, the people who live there are very friendly and like foreigners.
In the last two decades, more and more Westerners, especially Americans, are moving to this Central American country.
That’s why you can find cheap flights to this country. A country like this is worth checking because it’s a tourist hotspot, so even if you don’t want to move there in the end, you will have a good holiday time. All in all, Costa Rica is a cheap place where you can find domestic beer worth just 2.3 Euro and monthly public transportation pass for 38 Euro.
Cost of living in Costa Rica
Gasoline: 0.95 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 420 Euro
Milk: 1.20 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 68 Euro
11. Romania
Location: Europe
Population: Around 19.5 million
Area: 238.397 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Bucharest
Many people that are interested in the cheapest countries in the world, will not think about Europe when they are doing research. However, that’s wrong because you can still find more than one cheap place in the Old Continent. Romania is a country where you can experience all four weather seasons, but winters can be quite cold and snowy in this region, so if you want to live in a place where the weather is warm all year round, then Romania might not be the best choice for you.
But, if you don’t mind the weather, you can find many great things in this country. For example, this is a country that has one of the best Internet offers – fast internet at more than reasonable price. There is also a good cuisine and cheap food both in grocery stores and in restaurants. If you want to explore the history of this country you will find many nice places including the famous Transylvania region.
We should also mention that Romania is close to a few other interesting and cheap countries including Serbia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Moldova. These countries are connected well with Romania and you can take trips on a regular basis if you want to.
Cost of living in Romania
Gasoline: 1.18 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 289 Euro
Milk: 0.91 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 95 Euro
12. Indonesia
Location: Asia
Population: Around 261 million
Area: 1.904.569 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Jakarta
Does Bali ring a bell to you? That’s right, one of the most famous surfing spots and holiday destinations in the world is located in Indonesia and it’s used as a temporary or permanent home by many foreigners. The truth is that there would be even more foreigners here if it wasn’t for the strict laws related to getting permanent resident status in this country.
As you are probably aware, Bali is visited by thousands of tourists from all over the world and this is exactly the place that we are suggesting as a place where you can move to Indonesia. If you are ready to move to another part of Indonesia then the prices are even lower. Remember that you can’t buy property in this country as a foreigner, but you are free to rent apartments.
With a meal for two people in a decent restaurant for 11 Euro and a monthly pass for public transportation for just 10 Euro we can see why more and more people around the world think that Bali, Indonesia is a good cheap place to work as a digital nomad or to retire.
Cost of living in Indonesia
Gasoline: 0.55 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 272 Euro
Milk: 1.17 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 53 Euro
13. Morocco
Location: Africa
Population: Around 35.7 million
Area: 710.850 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Rabat
There are many cheap countries in Africa, but most of them are not stable and don’t offer basic things that can attract a foreign national to move to these countries. One of the few exceptions that we can suggest on this list of the cheapest places is Morocco.
Morocco has a decent infrastructure and people are quite friendly. Almost all the people there are Muslims, but there have never been any major security issues in Morocco. There is a wide range of things that you can find at low prices here like public transportation, renting apartments, food, etc. For example, you can get a meal in a decent restaurant for just 3 Euro. For less than 1000 Euro a month, you can live and above average life in this interesting country.
Cost of living in Morocco
Gasoline: 0.95 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 284 Euro
Milk: 0.65 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 34 Euro
14. Colombia
Location: South America
Population: Around 50 million
Area: 1.141.748 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Bogota
For many years, Colombia was known as a dangerous place where narco cartels had great power and influence. In addition, there were radical guerilla groups that were keeping this country torn in some sort of a civil war. However, in the last decade, all these things are minimized and we can freely say that Colombia is a safe place to live.
Of course, this is also a cheap place to live because you can live a similar life as in the USA or the UK while spending 50%+ less. Colombia is a wonderful country where you can adjust to the moderate climate right away. This is also a place where you will find free-spirited and open-minded people and an excellent nightlife if this is something that you find interesting. Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena are some of the places where you can live a nice and cheap life in Colombia.
When it comes to restaurants in Colombia, you can find a meal that’s less than 3 Euros in cheap restaurants and regular cappuccino for just one Euro. The markets are packed with fresh food at low prices. For example, one kilo of rice is worth 0.75 Euro while bananas (one kilo) are worth 0.62 Euro.
Cost of living in Colombia
Gasoline: 0.65 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 248 Euro
Milk: 0.67 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 58 Euro
15. Thailand
Location: Asia
Population: Around 35.7 million
Area: 710.850 sq. kilometers
Capital city: Bangkok
Would you consider moving to a country where you have access to hundreds of islands and thousands of beaches, friendly people, great food and wild nightlife? If the answer to this question is yes, Thailand might be the perfect destination for you.
Thailand is one of the cheapest countries to live in the world. At the same time, this is one of the top 5 holiday destinations for many years now. As a matter of fact, hundreds of expats have decided to live in this country in the last twenty years. Some of them are running Muay Thai camps, others own restaurants while many of them are working online as freelancers.
If you want to avoid the hectic life of the people in Bangkok, you can always go to Chiang Mai on the north. This is a place with great history and a deeply spiritual region. On the other hand, in case you miss the urban life and you want to have some fun while having access to all the amenities that you might need, then staying in Bangkok or in Phuket Island is better for you.
Thailand is a country with great healthcare and excellent public transportation (there are buses in every direction all the time there). It’s really hard to beat the prices of food offered in this Asian country. Visiting a mid-range restaurant and having a meal for two people there will cost you 18 Euro on average. A price of a bottle of Coke (0.33 liter) is just 0.53 Euro. Furthermore, renting an apartment should not be a problem even if you have an average salary in your home country because the average price of a one-bedroom apartment in Bangkok in the central area is around 390 Euro.
Cost of living in Thailand
Gasoline: 0.85 Euro
Rent (one bedroom in the center of the capital city): 370 Euro
Milk: 1.50 Euro
Basic utilities without Internet for an average apartment: 66 Euro
