Where can you afford to live abroad in 2026?
The other half of choosing where to move: what it actually costs. Compare the most popular expat destinations by a realistic monthly budget for one person in the main expat city — then see the visa routes for the ones that fit.
Every destination, cheapest first
Click any country for a full budget breakdown. Rent and the reference city are on each country's page.
- 🇪🇬 Egypt$700–1,100
- 🇲🇩 Moldova$700–1,100
- 🇳🇵 Nepal$700–1,100
- 🇹🇳 Tunisia$700–1,100
- 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan$700–1,100
- 🇦🇱 Albania$800–1,300
- 🇦🇲 Armenia$800–1,300
- 🇧🇴 Bolivia$800–1,200
- 🇭🇳 Honduras$800–1,300
- 🇳🇮 Nicaragua$800–1,300
- 🇰🇭 Cambodia$900–1,400
- 🇬🇹 Guatemala$900–1,400
- 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan$900–1,500
- 🇲🇳 Mongolia$900–1,400
- 🇲🇦 Morocco$900–1,500
- 🇲🇰 North Macedonia$900–1,400
- 🇵🇾 Paraguay$900–1,400
- 🇵🇪 Peru$900–1,400
- 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka$900–1,400
- 🇺🇬 Uganda$900–1,400
- 🇻🇳 Vietnam$900–1,500
- 🇿🇲 Zambia$900–1,400
- 🇨🇻 Cape Verde$1,000–1,500
- 🇪🇨 Ecuador$1,000–1,500
- 🇬🇪 Georgia$1,000–1,500
- 🇵🇭 Philippines$1,000–1,600
- 🇷🇸 Serbia$1,000–1,600
- 🇧🇿 Belize$1,100–1,700
- 🇨🇴 Colombia$1,100–1,600
- 🇩🇲 Dominica$1,100–1,700
- 🇰🇪 Kenya$1,100–1,700
- 🇲🇾 Malaysia$1,100–1,700
- 🇷🇴 Romania$1,100–1,700
- 🇷🇼 Rwanda$1,100–1,600
- 🇹🇭 Thailand$1,100–1,700
- 🇹🇷 Turkey$1,100–1,800
- 🇨🇱 Chile$1,200–1,800
- 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic$1,200–1,800
- 🇭🇺 Hungary$1,200–1,800
- 🇴🇲 Oman$1,200–1,900
- 🇧🇷 Brazil$1,300–2,000
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia$1,300–2,200
- 🇲🇽 Mexico$1,400–2,200
- 🇿🇦 South Africa$1,400–2,200
- 🇹🇼 Taiwan$1,400–2,200
- 🇦🇷 Argentina$1,500–2,000
- 🇭🇷 Croatia$1,500–2,100
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic$1,500–2,400
- 🇱🇻 Latvia$1,500–2,200
- 🇲🇪 Montenegro$1,500–2,200
- 🇳🇦 Namibia$1,500–2,200
- 🇳🇬 Nigeria$1,500–2,500
- 🇵🇱 Poland$1,500–2,000
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia$1,500–2,500
- 🇰🇷 South Korea$1,500–2,600
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay$1,500–2,200
- 🇨🇷 Costa Rica$1,600–2,500
- 🇯🇲 Jamaica$1,600–2,400
- 🇱🇹 Lithuania$1,600–2,400
- 🇲🇹 Malta$1,600–2,600
- 🇨🇾 Cyprus$1,700–2,600
- 🇪🇪 Estonia$1,700–2,500
- 🇬🇷 Greece$1,700–2,600
- 🇵🇦 Panama$1,700–2,800
- 🇸🇰 Slovakia$1,700–2,500
- 🇪🇸 Spain$1,700–2,500
- 🇬🇩 Grenada$1,800–2,600
- 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago$1,800–2,600
- 🇻🇺 Vanuatu$1,800–2,700
- 🇮🇹 Italy$1,900–2,900
- 🇨🇼 Curacao$2,000–2,800
- 🇯🇵 Japan$2,000–3,500
- 🇲🇺 Mauritius$2,000–2,900
- 🇵🇹 Portugal$2,000–2,700
- 🇸🇮 Slovenia$2,000–2,900
- 🇱🇨 St Lucia$2,000–2,900
- 🇩🇪 Germany$2,200–3,000
- 🇶🇦 Qatar$2,200–3,500
- 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda$2,800–4,000
- 🇫🇷 France$2,800–3,800
- 🇮🇪 Ireland$2,800–3,800
- 🇳🇷 Nauru$2,800–4,500
- 🇰🇳 St Kitts and Nevis$2,800–4,000
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands$2,900–3,800
- 🇦🇩 Andorra$3,000–4,200
- 🇧🇧 Barbados$3,000–4,500
- 🇫🇮 Finland$3,000–4,200
- 🇸🇬 Singapore$3,000–4,500
- 🇮🇱 Israel$3,200–4,500
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand$3,200–4,500
- 🇦🇮 Anguilla$3,500–5,000
- 🇧🇸 Bahamas$3,500–5,500
- 🇲🇻 Maldives$3,500–5,500
- 🇸🇨 Seychelles$3,500–5,000
- 🇸🇪 Sweden$3,500–4,800
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates$3,500–5,500
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom$3,500–5,000
- 🇮🇸 Iceland$4,000–5,500
- 🇳🇴 Norway$4,200–5,800
- 🇧🇲 Bermuda$5,000–7,000
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland$5,000–7,000
Costs vary a lot by city, neighbourhood, and lifestyle — these are directional monthly bands for the main expat city, current as of 2026. Treat them as a starting point, not a quote. Information only, not financial advice.
Browse by region
Africa
| Country | Monthly budget |
|---|---|
| Cape Verde | $1,000–1,500 |
| Egypt | $700–1,100 |
| Kenya | $1,100–1,700 |
| Mauritius | $2,000–2,900 |
| Morocco | $900–1,500 |
| Namibia | $1,500–2,200 |
| Nigeria | $1,500–2,500 |
| Rwanda | $1,100–1,600 |
| Seychelles | $3,500–5,000 |
| South Africa | $1,400–2,200 |
| Tunisia | $700–1,100 |
| Uganda | $900–1,400 |
| Zambia | $900–1,400 |
Asia
| Country | Monthly budget |
|---|---|
| Armenia | $800–1,300 |
| Cambodia | $900–1,400 |
| Georgia | $1,000–1,500 |
| Indonesia | $1,300–2,200 |
| Japan | $2,000–3,500 |
| Kazakhstan | $900–1,500 |
| Malaysia | $1,100–1,700 |
| Maldives | $3,500–5,500 |
| Mongolia | $900–1,400 |
| Nepal | $700–1,100 |
| Philippines | $1,000–1,600 |
| Singapore | $3,000–4,500 |
| South Korea | $1,500–2,600 |
| Sri Lanka | $900–1,400 |
| Taiwan | $1,400–2,200 |
| Thailand | $1,100–1,700 |
| Uzbekistan | $700–1,100 |
| Vietnam | $900–1,500 |
Caribbean
| Country | Monthly budget |
|---|---|
| Anguilla | $3,500–5,000 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | $2,800–4,000 |
| Bahamas | $3,500–5,500 |
| Barbados | $3,000–4,500 |
| Bermuda | $5,000–7,000 |
| Curacao | $2,000–2,800 |
| Dominica | $1,100–1,700 |
| Dominican Republic | $1,200–1,800 |
| Grenada | $1,800–2,600 |
| Jamaica | $1,600–2,400 |
| St Kitts and Nevis | $2,800–4,000 |
| St Lucia | $2,000–2,900 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | $1,800–2,600 |
Europe
| Country | Monthly budget |
|---|---|
| Albania | $800–1,300 |
| Andorra | $3,000–4,200 |
| Croatia | $1,500–2,100 |
| Cyprus | $1,700–2,600 |
| Czech Republic | $1,500–2,400 |
| Estonia | $1,700–2,500 |
| Finland | $3,000–4,200 |
| France | $2,800–3,800 |
| Germany | $2,200–3,000 |
| Greece | $1,700–2,600 |
| Hungary | $1,200–1,800 |
| Iceland | $4,000–5,500 |
| Ireland | $2,800–3,800 |
| Italy | $1,900–2,900 |
| Latvia | $1,500–2,200 |
| Lithuania | $1,600–2,400 |
| Malta | $1,600–2,600 |
| Moldova | $700–1,100 |
| Montenegro | $1,500–2,200 |
| Netherlands | $2,900–3,800 |
| North Macedonia | $900–1,400 |
| Norway | $4,200–5,800 |
| Poland | $1,500–2,000 |
| Portugal | $2,000–2,700 |
| Romania | $1,100–1,700 |
| Serbia | $1,000–1,600 |
| Slovakia | $1,700–2,500 |
| Slovenia | $2,000–2,900 |
| Spain | $1,700–2,500 |
| Sweden | $3,500–4,800 |
| Switzerland | $5,000–7,000 |
| United Kingdom | $3,500–5,000 |
Latin America
| Country | Monthly budget |
|---|---|
| Argentina | $1,500–2,000 |
| Belize | $1,100–1,700 |
| Bolivia | $800–1,200 |
| Brazil | $1,300–2,000 |
| Chile | $1,200–1,800 |
| Colombia | $1,100–1,600 |
| Costa Rica | $1,600–2,500 |
| Ecuador | $1,000–1,500 |
| Guatemala | $900–1,400 |
| Honduras | $800–1,300 |
| Mexico | $1,400–2,200 |
| Nicaragua | $800–1,300 |
| Panama | $1,700–2,800 |
| Paraguay | $900–1,400 |
| Peru | $900–1,400 |
| Uruguay | $1,500–2,200 |
Middle East
| Country | Monthly budget |
|---|---|
| Israel | $3,200–4,500 |
| Oman | $1,200–1,900 |
| Qatar | $2,200–3,500 |
| Saudi Arabia | $1,500–2,500 |
| Turkey | $1,100–1,800 |
| United Arab Emirates | $3,500–5,500 |
Pacific
| Country | Monthly budget |
|---|---|
| Nauru | $2,800–4,500 |
| New Zealand | $3,200–4,500 |
| Vanuatu | $1,800–2,700 |
Narrowing down where to move?
Get the expat playbook — affordability, visas, banking, and health cover in the right order — plus new country guides. No spam.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
Cost of living abroad: FAQ
What's the cheapest country to live in abroad?
Among the 101 popular destinations here, the lowest comfortable single-person budgets are in Southeast Asia and Latin America — Egypt (around Cairo) starts near the bottom. 41 destinations here fit a comfortable budget under roughly $1,500/month.
How much money do you need to live abroad?
For one person living comfortably, budget destinations run roughly $1,000–1,500/month, moderate ones (much of southern Europe and Latin America's capitals) $1,500–2,800, and premium hubs above that. Rent is the biggest swing — the same country can double in cost between a capital and a smaller city.
Is it cheaper to live abroad than in the US?
For most of these destinations, yes — often substantially. A comfortable life that costs $4,000–5,000/month in a major US city can run $1,200–2,500 in much of Latin America, Southeast Asia, and parts of southern Europe. The trade-offs are distance, language, and setting up healthcare and banking abroad.
Do these budgets include rent and healthcare?
The monthly budget bands are all-in for one person — rent, food, transport, and everyday costs in the main expat city — and we show the 1-bedroom rent separately so you can adjust. They assume private health insurance (compare plans on our insurance page); public systems where you qualify can lower that.
Are these cost figures official?
No single source is authoritative — costs move with exchange rates, inflation, and local demand, so these are directional bands, current as of 2026. Use them to shortlist, then check current rents and prices for the specific city before you commit.