8 Affordable Places To Live Abroad That You’ve Never Heard Of
If you are an American who dreams of living a life outside the country, chances are that you have well-traveled destinations romanticized in mind: London, Paris or some tropical island with crisp blue waters. The problem is that when you look at the cost of living in these popular destinations it’s not that much cheaper than living in the United States. In some cases, it’s more expensive than living in America.
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GOBankingRates reached out to a few travel experts who listed their top destinations outside the United States that are secret treasures and won’t drain your savings account if you plan on moving there.
Here are eight affordable places to live aboard that you have never heard of along with the monthly estimated cost of living (COL) for a single expat in each location according to Expatistan:
Kigali, Rwanda
For those ex-pats moving to Africa, nowhere comes more highly recommended than Rwanda, particularly Kigali, in the opinion of Andre Keil, the founder of Smart Move Abroad.
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“Kigali is gaining attention for its cleanliness, safety, and ease of doing business,” said Keil. “With an estimated monthly cost of living for expats at $1,300, it’s becoming a sought-after destination for those looking for an affordable life in a progressive African city.”
Tirana, Albania
Albania — which has earned the nickname of “Europe’s hidden gem”– is among the first places that come to the mind of Mercedes Zach, a travel expert at Asaptickets, when it comes to off-the-radar locations for moving abroad.
“This Balkan country allures with its stunning mountain scenery, spectacular ancient castles and picturesque beaches that can easily compete with the Mediterranean or even Maldives minus the tourist crowds,” said Zach. “Plus, it’s very inexpensive compared to the US and the rest of Europe for those who live here.”
As for the cost of living, Zach described how “Albania is over 50% cheaper than the US and its major cities, while the consumer prices including rent are even 54.7% lower. Albania is ranked 111th vs 7th for the United States in the list of the most expensive countries in the world.”
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thailand offers beautiful scenery, rich history and cheap prices. Can you imagine paying $1 for a beverage in the USA? In Thailand, that’s just the start of a frugal lifestyle.
“If you’ve ever wished for such prices at home, then think about moving to the ‘Land of Smiles’, where you can spend as little as 350 dollars or euros per month,” said Alex Cornici, CEO and founder of The Traveler.
“With that money, you can find good accommodation in beautiful places, such as Chiang Mai in the north, where the rent for a small apartment is 30 dollars per month. Closer to the coast, it’s about 90 dollars,” said Cornici. “If you cook at home, you hardly need to spend anything else, as fruits, vegetables, and meat are very cheap at the market. You spend about 200 dollars monthly on food, so you have another 200 dollars to enjoy trips, restaurants, parties, and shopping.”
Tallinn, Estonia
Estonia’s capital city of Tallinn, situated right along the Baltic Sea, has the winning combination of being very safe and very affordable in terms of cost of living. Zach calls Estonia, but particularly Tallinn “…another rising star in Europe…”
“It also has the highest number of tech startups per person in Europe and is home to such world-renowned technology companies as Skype, Bolt and Wise. Thus, Tallinn is a very exciting and digitally advanced place for foreign tech entrepreneurs,” said Zach, highlighting how “Tallinn boasts numerous museums, galleries, concert halls and theatres [sic]. The music scene in Tallinn is particularly strong and some even say that you can find a concert in the city every night of the year.”
For comparison, Zach points out that “life in Tallinn is three times cheaper than in Amsterdam and eight times more affordable than in San Francisco with an average of $1,600 needed per month for comfortable long-term living here or for those moving from abroad.”
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Cornici views Cambodia as an on-par competitor with Thailand for the cost of living, even if its beaches cannot compare.
“You can easily live in the capital, Phnom Penh, with less than 500 dollars or 350 euros per month, just like in Thailand,” said Cornici. “Rent will cost you $200, but you can reduce costs if you share them with a friend or another long-term traveler. With the remaining 300 dollars, you can easily get by. Prices are similar or even lower than in Thailand.”
Cornici broke down the typical expenses at a local restaurant to “$2 for a portion of food, and 1 dollar for a beer. Even from this amount, you can save if you eat from street stalls, which have simple but very tasty food.”
Querétaro, México
Though not as well known or popular to expats as other cities like Mexico City or Guadalajara, “Querétaro is an architectural marvel with a thriving economy, excellent healthcare,” Keil explains.
Plus, “a cost of living for an expat estimated at $1,400 per month. The city’s growth in the aerospace and automotive industries has brought an international community and a slew of amenities and comforts,” said Keil.
Belize City, Belize
Belize is a paradise for those who practice diving and snorkeling.
“The Belize Barrier Reef offers over 127 islands where you can see some of the best-preserved marine ecosystems in the world,” said Cornic.
The cost of living here is similar to other Central American countries, like Costa Rica.
“For a large house in the Cayo District, an hour’s drive from Belize City, you pay about 300 dollars per month, but if you share the house with someone else, it will cost less,” said Cornic.
Chișinău, Moldova
Located in the same region as Russia, the metropolitan city of Chișinău, Moldova is “a city that often flies under the radar,” according to Keil.
“With a cost of living significantly lower than in the US, it offers a cozy European lifestyle with its rich history and vibrant culture. According to Nomad List, the estimated cost of living for an expat in Chișinău is around $1,200 per month,” said Kiel.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 Affordable Places To Live Abroad That You’ve Never Heard Of