Have you ever wanted to live in a different country but didn’t know how to make the switch? Maybe the transition to a new, unfamiliar place scared you, though you yearned for a sea breeze or a colder climate than where you grew up. With a few budgeting tools, you can finally quench that need to experience life in a new environment. We’re going to explore which countries offer affordable living on a $2,400 monthly budget. For perspective, the cost of living in the U.S. moves between $2,500 and $3,500 a month. 

1. Costa Rica

A couple in Costa Rica lives a lavish lifestyle on $2,110 a month. This budget includes a furnished two-bedroom apartment for a whopping $800. In the U.S., two-bedroom apartments soar past the $800 mark, typically starting around $1500 or more, depending on location. Food prices in Costa Rica cost between $40 and $50 for a fridge brimming with fresh fruits, vegetables, and hearty meats. Though gas is priced higher in Costa Rica than in the U.S., several public transportation options make commuting affordable for residents. Also, the healthcare system in Costa Rica is an efficient glimpse into cheaper healthcare. The average doctor visit costs a Costa Rica resident $63 compared to the U.S. equivalent of $116.   

2. Panama

The popular expat destination promises a budget-friendly high quality of life for all. Rent ranges from $300 for a one-bedroom to fancy $2,000 luxury apartments. One Panama resident reports a three-bedroom house in the city rents out at $800 a month, a price the U.S. can’t fathom. With a wide selection of produce prevalent in the wild, then the market, Panamanians spend less than $100 for fridge-filling trips. Transportation is another unbeatable factor. The Panama expat said she spends about $30 on gas each month, favoring the low-cost public transit systems. 

3. Spain 

Spain reveals a cost of living that is 123% cheaper than the U.S. AVERAGE. A single person experiences a great quality of life on $1,315 per month. Yes, the price includes rent, food, entertainment, shopping, and transportation, and the inclusion of public health insurance. Bumping up the price a bit, those who prefer to make big purchases each month can scrape by on $1,863 a month. Spain’s average cost of living stays below the U.S.'s, but remember each country has higher and lower-priced living quarters. Malaga and Valencia showcase lower living prices than the expensive Madrid and Barcelona. 

4. Ecuador

Ecuador treats its citizens at a fair price 2.8 times less than the U.S. cost of living. Let’s analyze crucial details contributing to the astoundingly low cost of living. A bottle of water in Ecuador costs $0.60 in the Spanish-speaking country. The same bottle of water costs almost $2.00 in the U.S., tripling the price. A quick bite to eat at a mom-and-pop restaurant totals $3.45 in Ecuador vs. $18.02 at a U.S. diner. Gasoline prices in Ecuador are $0.30 per liter compared to their U.S. counterparts. However, I believe the most baffling price comparison is the rent. A nice, clean one-bedroom apartment smack in the heart of downtown costs $348 in Ecuador and $1,635 in the U.S.  

5. Portugal

Western Europe introduces hefty prices, whereas southern or eastern Europe pulls back the price tag for comfortable living. A budget of just under $2,000 awards Portugal residents in Porto with a cozy one-bedroom apartment, a month's supply of food, entertainment, and reliable transportation methods. The average rent for a single person making a life in a smaller Portugal comes out to $822 for a studio apartment, $164 on entertainment, and $220 on groceries. Including other miscellaneous bills, you can live a prosperous life for $1,400 a month in Portugal. 

6. Mexico

Find a furnished, one-bedroom condo in Puerto Vallarta for $600 a month. Prefer a rental property on the Yucatan Peninsula? Enjoy a luxury one or two-bedroom rental for the same price. Besides cheaper rental properties in Mexico, the country sells produce for a significant slight compared to us prices. For example, a $3 tomato in the U.S. sells for $1 in Mexico. Fast, greasy foods like hamburgers or pizza slices ring up at $2 in relation to the often $10 price in the U.S. Another standout part of life in Mexico is the amazing healthcare system. Expats pay a premium of $850 for a year on comprehensive, all-inclusive care. 

7. Colombia

Colombia is the third cheapest country in South America. Additionally, the cost of living in Colombia is lower than 91% of countries worldwide. A single person spends around $1,050 in Colombia each month. As always, the common denominator eating the majority of expenses is rent. A one-bedroom apartment in a popping, fancy neighborhood costs 837.81. If you want to live in a regular, semi-popular area, expect to dole out $475 for rent each month. Those on extremely tight budgets can find a studio for $268 in a semi-busy area. Moving away from rent, food expenses highlight a drastic difference from US prices. A fancy, candlelit dinner for a romantic date costs $33, while in the US, the same date costs $70 or higher.  

8. China

The cost of living in China cuts U.S. prices in half. Rent in China is 70% lower than that in the U.S. Picture a one-bedroom apartment settled into the exact center of downtown. Bikers breeze past the home, passersby peer into the lobby windows, children walk up to the glass, amazed at the architecture. In China, a home space in this kind of building costs $522. An apartment in a less populated, more remote area costs $300. Three hundred in the U.S. might cover a safety deposit. A notable money-saver in China is the price of water. A one-liter container of water charges a customer $0.30. U.S. residents pay up to $3 for water bottles.

9. Thailand

The priciest part of Thailand is the trip to the island. Once you arrive, worries about expenses fade away. The cost of living begins at around $650 and reaches $3,000 for luxury lifestyles. Still, Thailand’s cost of living is 2.6 times lower than the average cost of living in the U.S. How much is the rent? Rent prices fluctuate from $250 to $565 for one one-bedroom apartment, and a suitable rental house costs $1,000. Nomads and expats must provide their own medical insurance, which is a financial downside of living in Thailand. In addition to self-provided insurance, Thailand may require a tax to live in the country. Anywhere between five and ten percent of your income. 

10. Malaysia

Ranking as one of the cheapest Asian countries, Malaysia brings truth to the saying “bang for your buck.” Three hundred seventy-five dollars earns you a single, one-bedroom apartment in the center of the city, and $264 earns you the same apartment outside of the city center. Malaysian residents state the majority of earnings go toward various markets, purchasing clothing and food in these open-air shops. The average loaf of white bread costs $0.92 vs. the U.S.’s $2.50 per loaf. A fast meal at a quick-service restaurant costs $3.54, paired with the average cost of $9-$10 in the U.S. 

11. India

India takes the cake for the cheapest country in Asia. The Asian country actually lives at a 228% lower price than people in America, and that is just without rent. Adding on top of that statistic, cost of living, including the rent in the U.S., is 309% higher than rent in India. Altogether, India lives at a rate 689% lower than U.S. citizens. Indian residents live out their penthouse dreams with apartments in expensive neighborhoods costing $200 a month with an extra $45 in utilities. Moving a few miles outside the pricey neighborhoods, you can expect to pay $125 for a sweet place to live. Spend $0.18 on a bottle of water vs. US $2.06, $3 out on lunch, and $1.97 on a pint of beer that stacks up to $6 in America. 

12. Pakistan

Believe it or not, cost of living in the U.S. nearly quadruples what it costs to live in Pakistan. Think that’s wild? The rent in the U.S. is 1,373.4% higher than the rent charged in Pakistan, meaning a one-bedroom apartment in the busiest hub costs $110. Outside of the hub, Pakistan residents pay $68 a month for a place to sleep. Apart from rent, an interesting, mind-boggling statistic states childcare in Pakistan for a month of private preschool costs $35. In the U.S., the identical program costs parents $1,370. Pakistan is the cheapest place on this list to live. Two thousand, four hundred will last you six months in this Middle Eastern paradise. 

13. Indonesia

Continuing on the Asian country string, Indonesia delights expats with reasonable cost of living rates. Apartments planted in the center of cities cost between $400 and $1000 for single-room dwellings. In quieter corners, leaning into the wilderness of Indonesia, single-room apartments cost between $200 and $400 for the same space. Utilities inflate the cost of living by $100 to $200 per month, driving up the cost of living. A decent meal for one breathes below $2, and a three-course meal for two people resides just under $17. With rent, the average cost of living in Indonesia floats between $550 and $700.

14. Brazil

Make a new home for yourself with Christ the Redeemer decorating the backdrop of your photos. The cost of living in Brazil without monthly rent payments totals $571, almost 3.5 times lower than the average price of life in the US. Rent for a one-bedroom area in a crowded area costs between $300 and $600. Housing bordering the crowded areas drops even more. A dinner at a budget restaurant costs Brazilians and expats $5.65. The same meal over in the States charges $20 for mediocre food. The price of a piping hot cappuccino costs $1.72 in Brazil compared to $4.78 in the U.S.

15. Greece

Realize your Mamma Mia fantasies by living in Greece. The Mediterranean islands fare at a cost of living rate 23% lower than the U.S., without rent. With rent, Grecians rejoice in a cost of living rate almost 40% below what Americans pay on the daily. Another benefit of living in Greece is the mere fact that groceries cost 34% less than in U.S. supermarkets. A one bedroom apartment in Greece totals $542 in the metropolis hotspots and $404 on the outskirts. 

16. Georgia

The southeastern European country, Georgia, has the same name as the U.S. state, yet very, very different prices. Georgian residents pay half of what U.S. citizens or residents pay for an exemplary life. Tacking on rent to the cost of living, Georgians find themselves living in a 133.1% deficit than the cost of living in the U.S. where a one-bedroom apartment in the U.S. prices out to $1,762, the Georgian equivalent comes to $583, sparkling in the middle of city life. Apartments in the suburbs, away from the commotion of everyday passengers and tourists, charge U.S. citizens $1448 for a one-bedroom—the Georgian equivalent prices out to about $400.