The Algarve, Portugal
* Cost of living: $1,000 * Average meal cost: $8.00 * Average rent cost: $400 Portugal is a beautiful country with countless warm, blue water beaches and the most incredible architecture you can find in Europe. The region of the Algarve, in particular, is one you cannot miss if you’re visiting the country. Your average rental cost here would be much smaller than your home mortgage, especially with the higher interest rates recently.
Living in the Algarve is also a smart choice, given that the monthly cost of living is a mere $1,000. Considering that the area is covered in beautiful cobblestone streets and has a hundred miles of coastline, it sounds too good to be true.
Cartagena, Colombia
* Cost of living: $1,800 * Average meal cost: $3.00 * Average rent cost: $500 Colombia has countless destinations to offer, but it’s safe to say that Cartagena is the most beautiful city in the Latin-American country. The city has something to offer everyone: tropical beaches, vibrant nightlife, tons of museums and culture, and lots of outdoor places to visit.
This warm, colorful city could be your home for about $1,800 a month. To put it into perspective, health insurance costs less than $50 a month. You can truly live like a royal in Cartagena.
Hoi An, Vietnam
* Cost of living: $550 * Average meal cost: $2.00 * Average rent cost: $300 There are more touristic areas in Vietnam, such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, but these cities don’t have beautiful beaches to offer. Hoi An, however, is the perfect combination of vibrant city life and relaxed beach life.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an incredible place to live, and only for $550 a month. You can get an apartment for about $300, and things like food, clothes, and services are just really cheap.
Taghazout, Morocco
* Cost of living: $1,100 * Average meal cost: $4.00 * Average rent cost: $250 Taghazout is one of the best cities in Morocco. It boasts gorgeous beaches, lots of culture, and it’s a very cheap place to live. But there’s one thing that sets this city apart from the rest…
Taghazout has a hyper-fast internet connection, which is pretty rare. It’s also very close to Western Europe, so visiting the old continent is always an option when you want to travel somewhere else. The monthly cost of living in Taghazout is $1,100.
Split, Croatia
* Cost of living: $1,400 * Average meal cost: $10 * Average rent cost: $500 European coastlines tend to be pricey, but Split, Croatia, is an exception to the rule. This breathtaking beach city is a cheap option for tourists and residents alike.
It costs about $1,400 a month to live there. The city is also very touristic but don’t worry; it’s only crowded in summer. From October to April, residents have this gorgeous city all to themselves.
Canggu, Bali
* Cost of living: $500-$900 * Average meal cost: $2.00 * Average rent cost: $200 Bali is one of the most exquisite holiday destinations you can think of. Its beautiful beaches, the endless ocean, the food… and yet, it’s not as expensive as it seems, especially when it comes to living there.
Canggu is one of the best surf towns in the South Pacific, so if surfing is your thing, this is the place to be. The average rent is $200, and the monthly living cost lies between $500 and $900.
Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
* Cost of living: $1,400 * Average meal cost: $6 * Average rent cost: $500 The Dominican Republic, in general, is a pretty affordable place to live, but Las Terrenas is special because it has a great American ex-pat community. Many Americans left their home country and found a home there.
That’s probably because whoever sets foot on Las Terrenas doesn’t want to leave. The cost of living is around $1,400 a month, and its beaches are worth every single penny.
San Pancho, Mexico
* Cost of living: $1,100 * Average meal cost: $4.00 * Average rent cost: $400 Many Americans choose Mexico as a holiday destination because of how cheap it is, especially in relation to what you get for your money: gorgeous beaches, excellent food, etc.
Well, living in Mexico is also very affordable, and every day can feel like a summer vacation. San Pancho is one of the most beautiful and calm beach areas, and living there only costs $1,100 a month.
Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
* Cost of living: $1,100 * Average meal cost: $2.00 * Average rent cost: $200 Thailand is very popular amongst tourists, but Koh Phi Phi is one of the most beautiful yet underrated places in this beautiful country. It’s not as crowded as other places, and it’s just as gorgeous.
You can find a very affordable apartment overlooking the beach and enjoy the most breathtaking views you’ve ever seen every single day. For $1,100 a month, this dream can come true.
Granada, Nicaragua
* Cost of living: $1,200 * Average meal cost: $4.50 * Average rent cost: $400 Granada seems like an image taken out of a fairytale. It is one of the best-preserved Spanish colonial towns, and the architecture is simply mesmerizing. Not only that, but it’s also on the coast, so you can visit the beach anytime you want to.
There’s plenty of restaurants, museums, bars, and more activities to keep you entertained, too, all for just $1,200 a month. According to its lucky residents, it’s the best place to live.
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain
* Cost of living: $1,500 * Average meal cost: $10 * Average rent cost: $600 Las Palmas is known as one of the biggest touristic cities in Spain, but the truth is that only a small area is crowded with tourists. There’s plenty of room for residents there too.
For $1,500 a month, you can experience both an urban feel and a paradise beach city all in one. Also, there’s basically no winter there, so if you want summer to last all year long, you’d best move there.
Roatán, Honduras
* Cost of living: $900 * Average meal cost: $8.00 * Average rent cost: $250 Honduras has three Bay Islands, and Roatán is the largest one. It’s 40 miles long and five miles at its widest, and it’s surrounded by the largest reef in the Caribbean Sea, the Mesoamerican Barrier.
This aquamarine paradise has the best spots for snorkeling, diving, and all other water activities. Like most of Honduras, the living costs are very low in Roatán.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
* Cost of living: $1,600 * Average meal cost: $5.50 * Average rent cost: $400 Rio de Janeiro is a beautiful metropolis surrounded by some of the most incredible beaches in the world. With 14 million inhabitants, you might think there’s no more space for people but don’t worry; there is.
Living in this Brazilian paradise costs a mere $1,600 a month on average. Experiencing all the culture that Rio has to offer, however, is priceless.
Saint George's, Grenada
* Cost of living: $2,000 * Average meal cost: $9.00 * Average rent cost: $600 Most people visit the Caribbean on a cruise but doing that only shows you a small, very touristic part of this incredible region. Saint George’s is a small but breathtaking island that many tourists overlook.
Living there costs around $2,000 a month, and it’s worth every penny. The food, the music, and the landscape will make you want to stay there forever.
Pedasí, Panama
* Cost of living: $1,200 * Average meal cost: $6.00 * Average rent cost: $400 Pedasí is a gorgeous beach town in Panama that’s surrounded by rock formations. The Pacific Ocean is extremely warm there and, with just 1,500 residents, you’ll have the beach all to yourself.
Living in this beautiful small town is also very cheap. The monthly living cost is approximately $1,200 for two people, which sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?
Penang, Malaysia
* Cost of living: $1,100 * Average meal cost: $2.50 * Average rent cost: $300 Penang is a big city with skyscrapers, busy streets, and lots of shops and entertainment options for its residents. It also has beautiful beaches where you can relax all day if you want to.
This perfect combination between an urban feel and a summer paradise can become your reality for $1,100 a month. The food is also delicious and affordable. Oh, and monkey run around loose!
Tamarindo, Costa Rica
* Cost of living: $2,000 * Average meal cost: $12 * Average rent cost: $700 Costa Rica is one of the most peaceful countries in the world. People live very relaxed, happy lives, and you can never get bored of its incredible nature and landscape.
Many ex-pats have chosen Tamarindo as their home, so the mixture of cultures in this city is very interesting. It is also a great place to go surfing, and the food is superb.
Cascais, Portugal
* Cost of living: $2,000 * Average meal cost: $16 * Average rent cost: $900 Portugal is the gift that keeps on giving. Being one of the most beautiful yet affordable countries in Europe, it’s one of our top choices for this list.
Cascais is just twenty minutes away from the capital city of Lisbon but it’s much more quiet and picturesque. There’s always something to do, and living there costs approximately $2,000 a month.
Ao Nang, Thailand
* Cost of living: $1,500 * Average meal cost: $4.00 * Average rent cost: $350 Much like Portugal, Thailand has many cheap, beautiful cities to offer. Ao Nang is a small town on the western coast of the Andaman Sea. The best thing about it is that it’s close to big cities like Phuket but it’s not as crowded.
You can have a full meal at a restaurant for just $5, so you don’t even need to cook. Rent is also very cheap, and getting a place overlooking the beach is very realistic. For about $1,500, you can live the life of your dreams.
Budva, Montenegro
* Cost of living: $1,000 * Average meal cost: $5.00 * Average rent cost: $300 Eastern Europe is generally cheaper than Western Europe, and Montenegro is one of the many gems you’ll find there. Budva is an old town that has something for everyone.
There’s history, culture, adventure, and more. You can get an apartment for about $300 a month and spend the whole day at the beach, sipping on cocktails, if that’s what you want to do.
La Paz, Mexico
* Cost of living: $900 * Average meal cost: $8.00 * Average rent cost: $300 La Paz has a slower, more relaxed pace than the rest of Mexico, but it’s just as beautiful as many of its touristic areas. There are only 100,000 residents, so it’s a very calm place to live.
There are many water sports you can practise there all year round, and if museums and culture are your thing, you can find that there too. This is a great option for those who want to move but not go too far away from the US.