Cheapest places to live abroad and make money

Do you regularly catch yourself staring out of your cubicle window, daydreaming of foreign adventures, and exploring new countries? Escaping the routine of the 9—5 is a dream many of us share, and increasingly, people are actually making it come true. There are many affordable countries where you can live and work—maybe even involve travel —while getting much more bang for your buck. But first…. Most people expect long-term travel or living abroad to cost a fortune, and sure, if you pick expensive countries, your hard-earned money might not get you that far. But if you avoid popular, super expensive destinations, like Italy or Australia, and stick to some of the cheapest countries in which to live and work, you might be surprised how well you can live on a moderate salary. Why slave away in a downtown office when you could be exploring new cultures, having adventures, and earning a decent living abroad? In fact, a low cost of living is one of the biggest draws for many people to move and work abroad.

49. Nigeria

Travel widely enough, and you’ll notice something about the Americans you encounter abroad. While the people I know in the States are too often shackled to dull jobs or lukewarm relationships, the entrenched expats I’ve met while visiting nearly countries rarely show evidence of boredom, worry, or regret. Nearly all seem to embody what a quintessential Outback man — twice my age and hitching in the opposite direction on an Australian backroad — yelled across the pavement: «Don’t spend time; enjoy it. If you’re thinking of starting up somewhere else for the YOLO of it, don’t let cost stand in your way. That won’t take you far in Oakland or even Omaha , but it will buy you a full year of wonders in one of these 10 countries. The price of a beer, I’ve found, works as a pretty reliable stand-in for almost any cost-of-living survey you care to enlist; those are included here. This list could dig deeper into hardcore steals, but unless voluntourism is your goal, risky places like Nigeria or Pakistan aren’t wise choices. And a note on budgeting: If you’re working abroad , you’ll blow less money, simply because you’ll stumble into fewer budget-wrecking binges while on the clock.

In Conclusion

If you’re earning even a few American dollars a month, you can stretch a trip to any of these spots indefinitely. And if you need a handbook for these sorts of life-changing jaunts, A Better Life for Half the Price by Tim Leffel is the bible for bargain-hunting wannabe expats. Life is short, as they say. So go long. University grads probably speak English better than you do and chess is the national pastime. Their top export seems to be smarts. Fashion and wine run deep; the always-organic produce is ridiculously cheap. Sandwiched between Iran, Turkey, and Georgia, many of the tiny Christian country’s 4, epic religious structures are on prime real estate — analogous to where America created its ultimate national parks and resorts. Nearly every monastery offers the option to interact with the chatty, emcee-style resident priests who exemplify the coolness of all Armenians. Like most orthodox holy men, they marry and have families, which seems to give them an enhanced sense of humor — not short on jokes or offering samples of homebrew wines in clay jugs. If you want to splurge : Armenia’s days of sunshine each year, paired with hundreds of denuded mountains above the tree line, make it one of the world’s best places to paraglide , either as a beginner or a one-timer flying tandem with a pro. Landlocked in a corner behind Pacific coast-hugging Peru and Chile, Bolivia remains an even greater bargain than backpacker sanctuaries like Cambodia. La Paz elevation 12,ft , the world’s highest capital city, is where frugal long-term travelers crisscrossing South America hang their hats and regroup. Giveaway alcohol prices and all-night dance joints are a welcome reprieve from the city’s hectic street scene.

10 best and cheapest countries to live in

This is possibly our most definitive category in the Index, due to the ease of getting hard numbers. Each of our on-the-ground correspondents fills out an extensive cost-of-living questionnaire, tailored to the needs and wants of an expat retiree. The category evaluates things like day-to-day expenses—groceries; rent; movie theater tickets; eating out; garbage collection; gas; gym membership; even the cost of a flight back to the U. Here are the five countries that score highest in the Cost of Living category of the Annual Global Retirement Index. Note: 2 is a tie. Ecuador is one of the least expensive countries in the world in which to live.

Searching for Your Just Right Place Overseas?

Advertiser Disclosure: The credit card and banking offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies and banks from which MoneyCrashers. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they appear on category pages. Advertiser partners include American Express, Chase, U. Bank, and Barclaycard, among others. Few of us ever do that, of course, because we need a paycheck to pay our bills. Geoarbitrage is a fancy word for taking advantage of differences in currency value and cost of living in other countries. Retiring overseas is no longer a fringe movement. Depending on your age and how many more decades you expect to live, you can safely sell a certain percentage of your investment portfolio every year. How much varies by how long you want your portfolio to last; this is called a safe withdrawal rate. Even if you want your nest egg to last forever, you can still sell off around 3. You may just be able to quit today and retire to a tropical paradise.

10 best and cheapest countries to live in

Guaro is a liquor made from sugar cane, which is popular throughout the Caribbean and especially in Honduras. Most people expect long-term travel or living abroad to cost a fortune, and sure, if you pick expensive countries, your hard-earned money might not get you that far. Why slave away in a downtown office when you could be exploring new cultures, having adventures, and earning a decent living abroad? Cost of living: As with most countries, the cost of living in Vietnam depends on the city or region you choose to spend time in. The long-term prospects look encouraging. Cost of living: The cost of living in China can be surprisingly low if you avoid the biggest cities. Furthermore, it was the heart of the ancient Mayan civilization. You can also find a whole range of jobs in Tourism or with international companies. Some developments are being built in a wide range of locations. It might not be your typical work abroad destination but working in China can be both very affordable and very lucrative at the same time.

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Countless tourists and expats flock here every year, but others continue to stay away, concerned that the Caribbean is too expensive. In some places, it certainly can be… but is the generalization fair? We take a look at some of the cheapest places to live in the Caribbean. This list will give you an idea of where you can find the best value for your money and how much your exploratory mission will cost.

Flying to Belize is a steal. February and the major U. Buying a property in Belize is fairly simple and reasonably priced. Buying with a view to future rentals to vacation-goers is becoming a popular option. Most bars offer a happy hour, which is an enjoyable way to keep costs. Avoid the high duty on imported goods by aiming to eat and drink locally. Belize produces many sweet fruit wines. Cashew wine and Soursop wine, said to have medicinal properties, are common drinkS. The best places to eat are generally the local eateries that specialize in fresh produce.

The national dish of Belize is rice and beans. This Creole dish is popular throughout all Belize. For more information click. Lots of the cheapest hotels are not listed online.

The national drink of the Dominican Republic is mama juana. This is a brew made with tree bark, herbs, rum, red wine, and honey.

It tastes similar to port, and the people here are proud of it. Hotels are not prohibitively expensive. Airbnb is a better bet for cheap accommodation.

A few of the hostels are worth investigating. They are more like bed and breakfasts than student housing dorms. Alcohol is slightly more expensive than elsewhere on this list. Happy hour is a big deal here though and perfectly timed for enjoying some cold drinks as the sunsets. Costs of eating out vary dramatically. Expensive restaurants tend to be, well, expensive. During the day, vendors provide a wide range of street food to try.

At night, food trucks provide delicious and budget-friendly options. Aim to fly out between April and June, and you will escape both the highest prices and the rainy season. Hostels tend to focus more on backpackers, but Airbnb options are also available. Wine is also reasonably priced.

In Puerto Rico, you will find a range of inexpensive bars. Try to drink one without thinking of that song by Rupert Holmes. Look out for deals at the seafood restaurants outside the expat areas. A special word must be said for the roadside stands where whole pigs are roasted… the exceptionally tasty and surprisingly cheap national dish of Puerto Rico is a must-try. Airbnb is your friend in Grenada.

The island has a lot of luxury and high-end hotels. Prices here are not expensive when you consider your surroundings. Rum punch is a signature drink here, made with fresh local fruits. Rum—the best value drink in Grenada—is stronger than. Drink slowly! As I mentioned above, wine is expensive.

Consider drinking a couple rum-based cocktails instead! A popular destination for some winter sun. If you fly to Jamaica between November and January you can get some of the best prices. Being an island, at midday, a sea breeze usually arrives to keep things pleasant. Prices vary across the island with the tourist areas being far less cheap than.

The Blue Mountain coffee is particularly recommended. Your food budget will go a long way. As well as jerk seasoning, ackee and saltfish is also considered the national dish. Prices are more expensive on the Caribbean coast, but Honduras remains one of the most budget-friendly places.

Guaro is a liquor made from sugar cane, which is popular throughout the Caribbean and especially in Honduras. Honduras also produces excellent coffee. Honduras is an amazingly cheap place to eat with an abundance of fresh fruit. Again, the Caribbean towns tend to be more expensive. All of the cheapest places to live in the Caribbean have a few things in common. Firstly, is the temperature; it will be either warm or hot all year.

A few of these destinations have a rainy season, but even then, you can expect a few sunny days each week. Secondly, every country in the Caribbean has amazing beaches and diving.

The clear waters are perfect for scuba or snorkeling and the marine life varies from tropical fish through to turtles, whales, and sharks. Despite the occasional shark, the beaches here are safe. One thing remains the same though… the laid-back attitude and insistence on taking each day as it comes.

Oliver was born in England and has a degree in Modern History. He has experience running a real estate business, as well as international writing and research. He enjoys football, surfing and exploring new countries. Get our Daily newsletter directly to your inbox and receive our editor’s latest research report. Sep 17, Furthermore, it was the heart of the ancient Mayan civilization. Many ruins exist to this day and make for fascinating exploring and hiking.

This country is definitely one of the cheapest places to live in the Caribbean. Belize is the only country in the world with a jaguar reserve and is also a paradise for birds and insects.

Conservationists reckon over species of birds and species of fish live in Belize. The expat community in Belize is well established and welcoming. Some developments are being built in a wide range of locations. For more information about traveling to Belize check out travelbelize. The Dominican Republic is one of the cheapest places to live in the Caribbean with fastest-growing destinations. The Dominican Republic is currently going through a period of rapid development.

And more in line with its increasing tourism and expat numbers. In contrast, property prices are low, but local financing is also available. Residency here makes a special mention. This makes the Dominican Republic one of the most attractive and cheapest Caribbean island to live in. The third influence, Creole, is present in the cooking and language.

English and Dutch are also spoken. The Tourism Board is working hard to promote the island and encourage new visitors. The long-term prospects look encouraging. The beaches are empty, which for a Caribbean island is a major selling point. The deep-water nature of the island means the welcome sea breeze is reliable. One of the main reasons to come to Puerto Rico is the Bioluminescent Bay.

Tiny blue micro-organisms light up the bays at night providing a magical experience. Only a handful of places in the world is home to these organisms.

Puerto Rico marks from average to the cheapest cost of living in the Caribbean. American influence on the Island is hiking up prices to an unprecedented rate.

Yet, Puerto Ricans receives millions of American Dollars in subsidies, lowering the cost of basic goods. That said, inflation is also countered with natural disasters like Hurricane Maria. Grenada is home to a huge nutmeg plantation.

The scent of nutmeg is what many visitors associate with the island. Apart from beaches, Grenada has a rain forest to explore and hot springs to unwind in.

Working Abroad — Top Five Companies Always Hiring

How a lower cost of living can be one of the best perks to working abroad

Every year on this long-running blog I do a post on the cheapest places to live in moneg world. There are seldom drastic changes in the cost of living from year to year in different countries, but political changes and exchange rate fluctuations can have a significant impact. The U. Still, in any of these locations you should be able to live on the cheap and obtain the promise of my book: A Better Life for Half the Price. You could find plenty of places in the world where your neighbors are literally earning a few dollars a day.

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If you can live on their terms, you can get place on chsapest they. Nepal is probably the hands-down winner in terms of what you get for your money. In most categories, this would be the cheapest country to live in you could. One person could live on half that and still be eating. Oh, and monej electricity and internet both go out on a daily basis. The visa situation in India has gotten a lot better in recent chespest. You get that long automatically if you want when applying and the process has gotten a tad faster in recent years. There is love such thing as a retirement visa here for people with no Indian blood. Americans can get a year multiple entry visa now though, plus you can stay days straight before you need to head out of the country for a bit. But now you can just do a border run and return cheapest places to live abroad and make money. Australians can get a multi-year tourist visa, UK citizens up to five years but only days in a stretchCanadians generally get up to days and some have been able to get the same long multi-entry one as Mondy. With all of them, the clock starts ticking when the visa is issued, not when you arrive. In most respects, Cambodia is the cheapest place to live in Asia outside the Indian subcontinent. Unfortunately the easy access to a business visa there has disappeared, but you can still stay longer here on a tourist visa with extensions than you can in other Southeast Asia countries.