3 Countries Where You Can Live on Less Than $900 per Month

Mild weather, affordable housing, cheap cuisine, and plenty to do and see — what if you could live in a destination like this without breaking the bank? These days, there aren’t too many countries where you can comfortably live on $900 a month or less.

But in Thailand, Colombia, and Vietnam, you can live decently (maybe even lavishly) without spending much, and it’s fairly simple to obtain a short-term or even a long-term visa. Here’s what you need to know about moving to these 3 affordable countries.

1. Thailand

If you’ve seen White Lotus, you’ve probably already daydreamed about living in this Southeast Asian paradise. But don’t expect a stay at the Four Seasons Koh Samui (where the show was filmed) to cost less than $900 per month (or even per night).

However, if you lower your standards ever so slightly, a 1-bedroom apartment in the northern city of Chiang Rai costs less than $260 per month. Meanwhile, if you’re daydreaming about palm trees and crashing waves, a 1-bedroom apartment on the island of Phuket is roughly double that, making it still feasible to live under the $900 mark.

With a dozen eggs costing about $2, a pound of bananas for 65 cents, and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant under $3, the tasty street food and fresh tropical fruit of Thailand means you can dine on the cheap.

What To Consider Before Moving To Thailand

You may need to rent or buy a cheap motorbike to get around the more rural areas of Thailand (though many towns and cities are walkable), and more urban spots have bus or train systems. Thailand’s currency is the Thai Baht, and the current exchange rate is about 33-34 THB to 1 USD.

Thailand offers the Destination Thailand Visa to long-term immigrant workers and digital nomads, with both single-entry and multiple-entry options (the latter valid for up to 5 years).

It’s important to note that Thailand’s national airline, Thai Airways, doesn’t operate flights between the United States and Thailand. However, you can opt to fly airlines like Qatar, Etihad, or Emirates, with a quick layover in the Middle East, or Asian carriers like Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, or ANA. Once there, you can use low-cost or local air carriers like AirAsia, Fly Schoot, and Bangkok Airways to get around.

2. Colombia

Colombia has it all: mountains, beaches, tropical islands, and urban hubs, home to plenty of history, art, cuisine, and culture. While tourist-friendly spots like Cartagena may be out of budget, many of Colombia’s coffee pueblos and coastal areas are financially within reach.

Not only can you arrive affordably on low-cost airlines like Spirit Airlines, but you can live there affordably, too. According to data from International Living, budget-friendly spots like Barranquilla and Armenia mean you can live on between $775 and $892 each month.

And, according to Numbeo, the cost of living in Colombia is 57.1% lower than in the U.S., and rent prices are a whopping 78.1% lower than in the U.S. Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment can be as low as $289, a pound of rice is 54 cents, and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant is under $5.

What To Consider When Moving To Colombia

Many spots in Colombia are warm and sunny, but check before you move, as certain areas at higher altitudes (like Bogotá) are chillier. Colombia’s currency is the Colombian Peso, approximately 4,216 COP to 1 USD.

The country offers the Visa V Nómadas digitales, one of the more affordable digital nomad visas, at just a couple hundred dollars. It gives you the right to live and work in Colombia for 2 years if you meet a list of fairly straightforward requirements.

As we mentioned, Spirit Airlines has extremely affordable routes to Colombia, but if you have a stash of points and miles, use them on the Emirates fifth-freedom flight between Miami and Bogotá. Remember that American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Points all transfer to Emirates, making it easy to dig up enough miles to fly the route. Note that you can also reach Colombia on a few major carriers, including Avianca and JetBlue, which flies to Bogota (BOG), Medellin (MDE), and Cartagena (CTG) from the U.S.

3. Vietnam

Vietnam’s rice paddies, motorbike-heavy cities, and incredible (and cheap) cuisine call travelers and digital nomads alike, a destination where you can enjoy the beach, the jungle, the river, and the mountains.

It’s a destination where it’s possible to live in the country’s rural areas and cities alike — a 1-bedroom apartment in Hanoi will run you around $335 per month, though Wendy Justice, a Hanoi transplant, noted in an article for International Living that her 1-bedroom, furnished apartment in Hanoi costs just $275 and that healthcare, food, and utilities are significantly cheaper than in the U.S. A tasty Vietnamese bánh mì sandwich can cost as little as $1.

Getting around won’t break the bank, as bus fare is just 30 cents per trip! And, if you choose a city such as Hoi An, Da Nang, Hoi An, Vung Tau, or Nha Trang, costs will be approximately 10% to 20% less than in Hanoi.

What To Consider When Moving To Vietnam

Vietnam has a hot and humid climate, just be ready for rainy weather at certain times of the year. Vietnam’s currency is the Vietnamese Dong, and 25,500 VND is equivalent to 1 USD.

The country doesn’t yet have a dedicated digital nomad visa, though there are 3-month tourist visas that can be extended for an additional month and work/other types of visas available.

You have just 1 option for flying nonstop between the U.S. and Vietnam, and that’s on Vietnam Airlines. The airline flies 4 times per week between San Francisco (SFO) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). You can also fly numerous airlines to other hubs in Southeast Asia or Asia, then take a short-haul or medium-haul flight to various destinations within Vietnam, such as Da Nang (DAD) or Hanoi (HAN).

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to make the leap and move abroad, you can do so without overspending. Just remember that your affordable paradise is also other people’s homeland. Respect and participate in the local culture and try to avoid areas affected by overtourism or gentrification so you won’t be part of the problem.