I know, I know...I already said this. I have lived in Brazil for 22 years...I live in a little city in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro now. I have a 5 bedroom three bath home..(rented). My total cost of living, including doctors' appointments and medicines is $850.00. I have recently decided to move to Asia for my 'later years' (I am 74)....I just rented a little apartment for 100 dollars just outside of Pattaya, Thailand. Food is cheaper and better than in Brazil...so I will probably be able to get my col under 500. One hour bus ride to Cambodia. 8 hours to Vietnam...a 100-dollar flight to the Philippines.
I had to go to Rio for work once. It felt very sketchy and unsafe even in the "bubble" or touristy areas that are supposed to be safer according to my coworkers there. I visited Peru once and felt much safer there. Cusco, Peru was amazing. I could retire there.
@@concernedcitizen6572 I rarely go into RJ even só, I think you are wrong. Been here for 20 years ..never had an issue. Last time in Seattle I felt more threatned. Anyway, I am in a very small city 3 hours out of RJ and it's very safe. Lots of digital nomads here would tell you the same thing.
Yes, Thailand is very cheap and good quality too. I live 4 hours northeast of Bangkok and my rent is $85 per month utilities are another $40ish... meals are as cheap as $1.50 to $2.50. Alcohol is the most expensive thing with 1 large beer costing $2 - $4. ($1.75 at 7-11)
Argentina is the cheapest country on Earth, great high quality of life, great food, great cities and landscapes plus FREE health care and hospitals!!!!! We wait for you! Great dinners wine and everytging for 5 dollars. Renting an equipped apartment costs 200 /300 us per month . Please only change dollars in the black market!!!! Never in banks! Black market gives you double the pesos for each dollar!!! Ask the locals.We will help you
I visited and traveled through Argentina two years ago.. great visit and culture and value.. rib eye steak, salad , bread and wine dinner at a nice restaurant for $18
During COVID, I worked with several people who were doing the digital nomad thing out of Tbilisi, Georgia. They found it affordable and enjoyable. And, Americans don't need a visa to stay for anything under 365 days.
Tblisi has been on our short list for a while. We'll go there once the Ukraine war is over Right now, there have been a ton of people flooding in from displacement or avoiding army mobilization. Prices are 3x what they were, as told by family living there. We're going to sit it out until things stabilize. But, we are definitely very interested in hanging out.
To Amelia & JP, I just want to add that you are providing a priceless service to your viewers. While we are all very sad to watch the U.S. become an unstainable way of life, taking control of our own lives is the number one priority. As I said in a recent post , a recent 3 week visit to the U.S., left me not only shocked but turned the stress level dial up to it's top limit. Now I am back home and the dial is back down to a slow idle. It's worth mentioning that many people stay put because of the fear of a move. What they need to understand is that a 10 mile move is in reality no different than a 10,000 mile move. It's pretty much the same physical effort with the only difference being a few extra days for them and their belongings to arrive at their new home. Keep up the good work as undoubtedly you are saving a lot of lives because of your prompting.
U can live a very good life in Argentina with 500 dollars/euro's a month, BUT u need to use the blue dollar exchange. It's very easy through Western Union and it will give u twice the amount of pesos compared to the official exchange rate.
We just got back to the US after 2.5 months in Ecuador and 3 months in Argentina. Four days in Arizona in summer and I am very ready to go back. Though, international food has been nice. I needed a break from filet mignon and malbec. Time for a liver detox. We found it really hard to rent short term furnished apartments, though. If you have to use AirBnb, you're at $700 and upward, per month. We were are 420:1 when we arrived and 525 when we left. It was 6 official and 10 blue when we were there in 2014. I don't want gringos to know how good and cheap our high quality life was down there. 😲
A lot if countries, including Mexico, will not let you stay if your income is only $1000 per month. You need to look up all the legal requirements for immigration, not just the cost of living.
Yes, although the cost of living in many cities in Mexico is low, the government requires about $2600 usd in monthly income for a retirement visa. Even in Ecuador the required monthly income for a retiree is $1350 usd in 2023. I assume that in 2024 will be $1425 usd. However the cost of living is at least 50% less than the US.
I'm confused. What if a retiree's pension is below $1,000/month, yet his financial portfolio is substantial ? Is he excluded merely because his income is too low ?
@@HemiChrysler either the rentista or the pensionado visa requires 3x minimum wage or $1350. You may have the greatest portofolio but you have to prove that you are drawing at least $1350 a month for one person. The more people, the higher the monetary requirements. Maybe an inversionista visa fits you better 100x minimum wage or $45.000
Georgia is getting very expensive. Food prices are higher than in USA. Rent is high also. Due to the war migrants. No not a good time to move to Europe. Specially places near Russia or Ukraine.
I live in Paraguay, Villarrica with my wife and 3 children. It's very quiet, rural, almost boring. But no serious crime. good climate. Except 4 months a year with high heat. 140 m2 house, 300 dollars, internet 150 MB 15 dollars. Utilities $50. Gasoline 90 cents. Dining out: $7. Monthly groceries: $500. Reserve for sickness: $200. Reserve for engineering, repairs, clothing: $200. We live very well with $1500. Foreign income tax-free. Very friendly people. But very simple lifestyle. Few attractions, no sea. But there is everything here. For 50,000 you can build a simple 100 m2 house.
Mexico is pretty much out of the 'affordability' picture at this point, as the Peso is down from 20 something to 16.80 to the U.S.D., right now! Everyone always talks about 3 to 500.00 a month for an apartment in all of these countries. That's not so accurate, I'm sorry to say, unless people want to live in a horrible place, of if they have a 'connection.' I just got back (in June) from spending 3 months in Malaysia (and another 3 months in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia) and it's not easy to find a monthly apartment rental for $500.00 or less. All of S.E. Asia is always unbearably hot and humid, so beautiful sunny weather certainly is not a draw for any place in S.E. Asia. It's difficult for everybody including the locals, as these areas are also suffering the intense unprecedented global heat, obviously. Every place in S.E. Asia (as well as Mexico, and most of Eastern Europe,) are experiencing post covid pricing, inflation, and greed-driven price increases. There are numerous RUclips videos where people are talking about how cheap places are and they haven't even been to these places. I spent winter of 2022 (over 6 months,) in Albania, Macedonia, Turkey and Montenegro and it was not at all easy to live on $1,000.00 a month, then- a year ago. And of course, prices have only gone up, especially during this unprecedented summer travel season, and I'm not even mentioning the valuation currency fluctuations, not in the favor of a U.S.S. holder~ As an example, the Albanian lek has gone from 115, last year, to 90 Lek to the dollar (so good luck staying there affordably for your 1-year 'visa' allotment!) There's just so much non-truthful/non-factual travel info. on RUclips, so wanted to share some truthful facts about the current reality, which is not good, and not what people are try9ing to monetize their Youtbue channel with bogus information about! No offense to you guys, or to anyone out there. Truth is a hard pill to swallow. Lastly, none of these channels are going to tell you how to find the "GREAT" deal - with contacts, phone number, websites, etc.! They're just recycling deceptive facts from unreliable sources.
Spot on rjeckardt!! The only people that can live on $500 in most any country is if you live in the hood/sketchy neighborhoods. People can live in these neighborhoods but you must know the countries language. Often the $500 amount wont even get you indoor plumbing. Sure there might be the occasional deal on rent but that is not the norm anymore. Everyone 'must' do a ton of research or you will not be happy in your new country.
@rjeckardt8863 I certainly agree with you on weather. I prefer high mountain towns. But let me tell you about my 3 months in Oaxaca, Mexico. I was on a Oaxaca expat Facebook group and someone mentioned they had rooms for rent. The pics looked decent so I contacted them. 3000 Pesos a month so at the time about $150 a month. I took a chance and flew down from Houston. Had a twin bed, a small table and chair, a hanging rod for clothes. But the room was spacious, had its own private bathroom, and a private entrance inside a secure family compound. Best of all it had excellent wifi that had few issues. Would go out briefly once or twice a week. Sometimes a few minutes, once overnight. But the tradeoff was a very affordable room, had a nice lavanderia(laundry)across the street that washed and folded a weeks worth of clothes for about $5-$6 depending on weight. I was about three blocks from a Chedraui, a Walmart supercenter type store. There were restaurants all over the area including a Chinese buffet that was about $5 all you can eat. I could walk about a mile to the centro for all that interesting activity. A mile and a half to a nice multiplex that I saw several latest movies in English. If you missed home there were a bunch of American fast-food places there. And if you didn't want to walk there was a taxi stand in front of the Chedraui and taxis to most places you wanted to go were around $3. I experienced a drop in Peso value to the level you mentioned when I spent two months in Guadalajara. In Oaxaca it was about 20:1. It fluctuates. My single biggest problem in Mexico? Inspite of being careful I constantly had the trots. Got really sick in the Yucatan. Got a parasite in Chiapas. I really enjoyed Oaxaca but I doubt I'll go back. Others seem to have less issues with it but my system has problems.
Vilcabamba Ecuador the food is cultivated and fresh without chemicals is actually a paradise! You should try near there is Loja or Cuenca where the best cities in my country are quiet, the best education, medicine, everything! a dream climate! there you can take a plane to return to your countries! must try very cheap! don't travel to big cities like my city where I was born there is a lot of crime there don't go to Machala Guayaquil and Babahoyo! that's coast! but on the beaches of Montanita is to enjoy Ayampe Ayangue and Manta beautiful and quiet beaches! I mean, you may not like Ecuadorian gastronomy according to what I read about your experience in those countries, because my husband, who is American, does not like Ecuadorian food, perhaps because when he was younger he traveled to Asian countries and he likes that Asian and Mediterranean food, but for example, there is a dish called encebollado that is delicious and there are other very delicious things, the only thing I don't eat is pork! And regarding house rentals and their maintenance are cheaper than in other countries! nothing happens with trying! My case I want to go to Vilcabamba this summer and Cuenca to share my experience! I have already known but Vilcabamba not yet! I hope I can tell you about that trip that will be soon! Bye
@@kellyname5733 Thank you, Kelly I was harsh in my comment because I've been to most of these countries recently, and this couple has not. They just needed a different subject for yet another video for monetization purposes, which is deceiving. People need to call them out. I leave the U.S. every year for 8 to 9 months and have done this for the past 5 years, so I'm honest in my first-hand experiences of the unprecedented rise of prices in these so called, live on a $1,000. countries, for obvious reasons, COVID, Inflation, Supply Chain issues, opportunism now that people are traveling again, etc. Have a great day, friend.
@@Motabe50 Thank you, Mereli, for being so kind and taking the time to share some of the beautiful areas of Ecuador with ne. It's much appreciated. You're very sweet. Thanks again and have a beautiful day.
l like your videos after my third attempt to live in the USA going back to Peru, cost of living here too expensive,l'm 67 year's old need to rest anyway
You can live in Mexico for less than $1000 if you live, typically, away from the coast and from large cities (GDL, Monterrey, Mex. City). Some recommendations: Durango, Tepic, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Morelia, Tuxtla Gutierrez, and others. Blessings! 🙂
No you can't maybe in the geto for 1000 dollars a month with food and everything you need the same amount of money as you do in USA to live no less then 3000 dollars a month and on 1000 dollars a month your staying home all month
Just a quick comment on Ecuador. I have an Ecuadorian 1/2 brother & he is leaving there & coming to America (he was born here) because the economy has turned really bad & the crime is getting crazy (not that it's that good here). He's college educated, had successful career, daughter is a doctor, son owns a couple business, but business is not doing well for him either. Could go on about the government corruption etc. but, you get the picture. It's a real shame since I have first hand info from them about what a nice country it is & how it use to be so good a place to live.
In the US you have to pick areas to live that support the police. Very high risk to live in those areas that don't support the police. Safety has always been my top priority when moving from job to job in the US by never living or working in those high crime risk areas. These are truly not the best of times (would argue the worst of times since the 1930's ) to live in the US considering many other factors as well.
Glad to see that Albania is on the list. I spent 4 months in Albania last year. Was very pleased with the cost of living. It’s a beautiful country with very friendly people. The bus system was actually pretty good. It’s cheap and you don’t have to hunt around to buy tickets. Someone will collect the cash once you are on the bus. A big negative would be the language. English is not widely spoken. However, once I was familiar with which restaurants and stores spoke English, I would return to those places. The other big negative is that cash is king in Albania. Most places don’t take credit cards.
@@RichardParmelee - incorrect. Although you are considered a resident of Albania after 183 days, you're only obligated to pay taxes to Albania if your income exceeds $142,000. Above that, it's 15% tax. However, if you're a US Citizen, the US Government offsets your own tax liabilities through Foreign Tax Credits to ensure you're not paying double taxes to both countries.
I love Malaysia and, while you can live there on $1k/mo., their MM2H retirement visa requires a huge fixed deposit, plus liquid assets and a monthly income over US $10,000/mo. making it nearly impossible for the average person. Malaysia is reviewing its program and we all hope they will relax the financial requirements. They also offer a 1-yr (renewable for a 2nd yr) digital nomad visa at a more reasonable price but it can take a long time to get approval and many waited months, only to be rejected. Hopefully, the review process will improve!
@lindadorman2869 There's a workaround for getting into Malaysia. The state of Sarawak has their own MM2H program with much much more affordable requirements. Once in through that you're allowed to live anywhere in Malaysia.
@@kennethkilpatrick3758 There's still some confusion about the ability to live elsewhere in Malaysia. Some recipients have gotten visa approval letters with a clause stating they must reside in Sarawak and cannot live in peninsular Malaysia. Apparently, it's an internal issue between multiple immigration offices. Also, the financial requirements for S-MM2H increased as well though not as high as MM2H. It used to be "either/or" fixed deposit and income, now both are required.
@@peterparker-gc8xl Malaysia has the ideal combination of city, mountains, island/beach, jungle with reliable infrastructure and modern conveniences. Super affordable low cost of living, great food, friendly people, English-speaking, excellent healthcare, good public transportation. For me, the only downside is the tropical weather as I prefer cooler climates.
USED TO BE that Costa Rica was that affordable - BUT NOT ANYMORE ! We lived there in the period 2004-2009, and lived comfortably with a single SS check of $1,000 (for 2 adults). Of course, we owned our home & truck "free & clear", and embraced local foods & shops (rather than imports). We visited family there in 2022, and the cost of living has SOARED - you'd probably need $2,000/month to cover rent, utilities, vehicle costs, fuel, food, & mandatory health insurance. PURA VIDA - but bring lots of $$$ !
@@misterniceguy67 Yes, it's a shame ! Ever since the Free Trade Agreement was signed under Pres. Arias (2007 ?), cost of living has jumped tremendously. Walmart bought out 3 of the CR supermarket chains. The CR colon is virtually worthless - and all major purchases are in US dollars. Sad - but seems like PURA VIDA is gone !
That's how I felt, visiting in 2009. Prices were like Colorado in many ways, excepting food stands on the roadside. I was more partial to Granada, Nicaragua for living than CR. After five months of Central America, I was so excited to get back to Mexico for the food! Boring casados every day made me lose weight, but the lack of diversity was painful.
I first lived in Ecuador with my family beginning in 1969. Over the years it has remained my favorite place to live. It is such a small country but it has a little bit of everything from all over the world!
@@elmerkilred159 To give you a cheap thrill, when you suffer a heart a attack, I found myself looking at the floor and deciding where on the floor to collapse. Do not hesitate to call an ambulance. It put things into perspective.
@@kyoto32001 do you live in an RV on a friend's property? Walk or take the bus everywhere? We have one saying the US is $12,000 a month and another claiming under $900 a month. I think we need more info from both of you. I'm outside of Phoenix metro and exist on $3200 but in reality my expenses are closer to $3800. And I'm very frugal. And that's barring needing car repairs. Which I do need and the repair shops so far have been ripping me off. $2200 for new AC. And when I picked up the car the steering and brakes are grinding. Coincidence ? They broke my motor mounts and want to charge $900 to repair saying they did nothing wrong. Then the next garage says that I suddenly need a new thermostat and wanting to charge $1040 for a new thermostat and water hose! The parts cost $100 max and they claim it's over $300 for just the thermostat. I bought one for $11. I left their shop and on the way home my car overheated. No overheating issues previously since I had the water pump replaced 9 months ago. I just hope the engine head didn't crack. So I don't know how anyone lives in $10000 a year...?
Living on $1000 a month in any of these places is difficult. I've lived in Thailand for 30 years; $1000 a month to "live" in the country is pushing the limit. It can be done, but careful money management and refraining from going out on a regular basis would be mandatory. As far as Cambodia: same thing. Yes, it can be done but you really need to watch your spending habits and in all honesty, $1500 for Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam would be much better. You have a little breathing room and don't have to pinch pennies. If one person wants to eat Thai food all the time, it would be $200-$300 a month. I go to the grocery and spend about $600 a month and this is basically just for me. We probably spend $1200 a month for groceries and dining out. We are a family of four, although our one son is in college now and he's only home once a week. Groceries in Ecuador are cheaper, definitely, I went grocery shopping in Ayampe and couldn't believe the difference. If you want to stay in a dive apartment, it'll cost you $100 a month. A halfway decent place is $200-$300. A nicer place - as in modern is $400-$1000 a month. FYI - electricity in Thailand has gotten more expensive. Our bill has gone from 4000-5500 baht a month ($133-$175) to 7000-8000 baht - it's not on all the time either. Electric costs have risen and when it's hot, it is nice to have it. Add in all the additional expenses (electric, water, internet, mobile phone, insurance, visa, etc.) and money starts getting tight.
This was my thought...you can "exist" on $1000 if you live a miserable life eating beans & rice and never doing anything...well, you can do that in the USA also.
We've been in Bangkok for three years and a place that is fitted out to modern standards is definitely at that $400 and above mark (likely closer to $800 if you want a bit more room and natural light). I agree that, at least in BKK, all the supplemental bills start to add up in a not-so-affordable way. There is also a two-price system where foreign passport holders--even those with work visas who are paying taxes--have to pay a much higher fee to visit national parks, museums, etc., than Thais.
The cost of living here in Hua Hin Thailand has gone up so much over the last year that it's crazy. If you count Visa and health insurance there's no way to even live on $1,500 usd a month. Electric bill here has gone through the roof also. It's gotta to the point that my wife I are leaving Thailand soon.
Siem Reap is very interesting. Would love to try it for a year and learn some of the language. Other than that, Amazonian Peru is where I really want to end up because of having already learned the language by staying there a total of about two years. The medicinal plants are super interesting and the people are mainly easy-going and good-natured, and also have great foods.
Im a Filipino live in d states but never live d american way. Now i hav a basic house in El Salvador and able to survive 300$ a month. I speak fluent spanish i ride d bus or walk, and eat just 2x. I just live d basic minumum way of life so i agree all this list.
Vietnam is pretty much off of this list. Americans can usually get a visa for one year but you must exit the country every three months. There is no guarantee they will give you a new visa when the one year is up either. Another possibility in SE Asia is Laos. It is a sweet little country, and you can buy a business visa for about 600 USD a year. Sadly, India just changed their visa requirements, and you are only allowed to stay 6 months out of any 12-month period. Before Americans could get a ten-year visa but had to cross a border every six months. Those days are over.
Good list. The raise of the value of the Mexican pesos (+ 20% in 1 year with the CAD) makes Mexico les affordable. South east Asia is the best but the visa stuff is very complicated in most countries, except in the Philippines.
This is a fascination video. Most people only name the same top 5 over and over, and I have never heard of living in some of these places, like Albania. But I think you should consider Turkey. Love that country.
OUT OF ALL OF YOUR SAID TEN(10) "BEST" COUNTRIES , ONLY ALBANIA IS SAFE , AND ONLY ALBANIA HAS A BASICALLY PLEASANT , TOLERABLE WEATHER CLIMATE. BE WELL. AND , STAY STRONG. PROFESSOR EMERITUS BJNG (BRIAN). ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
I am in Viertnam right now and I don't see how you can become a resident here. Soon the visa will be increased to three months but as far as being welcomed as a full time resident, I don't think Vietnam is going to do that for a while.
Are you serious Ecuador? Noo. I am sorry it is not anymore. Colombia is not a cheap country everything has gone up. We moved to Ecuador is nice and welcoming country but sadly you can't leave with 1000 a month specially with expats. That is why we are going to explore Argentina 🇦🇷 due to economics and quality of life. You guys need to travel more and mare those comparation having a real experience
Thats good that Albania gives a one year visa always wanted to go there last time I was in the area it was pretty much impossible to go to in the 1980s definitely sounds interesting.
Thats the catch with many of them ! -- It is an expense many are unable to afford. And it makes little sense to me why they purposely make it out of reach for so many who could otherwise afford to be there & spending their money helping that countries economy ?
i used to live in Tijuana, Mexico and work in the US. I paid $200/month for a one-bedroom apartment. My Ophthalmologist graduated from Massachusetts Eye and Ear, which is HARVARD. The food was good and mostly cheap. I had a neighbor on SSI, that was quite happy there. It is OFFICIALLY THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN THE WORLD. I feel safer in downtown Tijuana, than downtown San Diego. I moved away from Tijuana eight years ago. If I go back, I stay in Tijuana because I can pay $30/night as opposed to $100 + in San Diego. The downfall is crossing into the US, (OF COURSE), takes two to three hours, unless you pay the bribe to the US government.
I have lived in Ecuador for 20 years and I live in Cuenca. In Sept I will be traveling to Cebu and Dumaguete Philippines. I will be going to live there for awhile.
Fantastic video, I recently relocated to Thailand and it’s been a blast! I’ll be here for a year scouting out various cities and regions to find the place that works best for me.
Love your videos! I never seriously considered relocating outside the US until I came upon your content. You two should host a conference in Ecuador with all the info and contacts to make the dream a reality! If it ever happens…I’m there!
You seem to have an interesting list but you don't really understand what can happen in some of these these countries have just one person makes a false accusation against you. You can lose everything. This has happened to some Americans in Nicaragua. It might be very cheap but you have to watch what you say all the time.
Wow. We are in agreement. As you know, I am about to start housesitting in Europe. However, when I have breaks with that, I am heading to Saranda, Albania! I am thinking of basing myself there for the future. Second choice is Panamá. All the best to both of you.
@warrenr.johnson7990 I spent a month in Saranda in the offseason. A lot of restaurants were closed then. Was told the town is absolutely packed with nonstop at a crawl traffic during the summer. It's not really a beach town. It's a forest of apartment buildings overlooking a pretty harbor. Someone described it to me before going as being structured like a stadium. I found out what he meant when I arrived. The streets the buildings sat on were like level shelves but the streets that connected one to the next shelf up were very steep. Like walking up a stairmaster. At least you get a good workout. My apartment was decent but she wanted more than what she was charging that time of year in Airbnb to stay longterm. She could easily get a lot more in the summer. There's access to Greece from there on a fast ferry but it's expensive. Unless you're willing to spend a lot going to Greece for a nice day out isn't feasible. I'd have to look at my guidebook, don't remember the name, but there's a town south of Saranda that's a real beach town. Albania has beautiful beaches and it would be more to my liking if I ever go back.
My son just returned from Thailand and said it was just too hot. Cambodia also. Just before covid I had decided on Nicaragua, but ended up stuck in the US. However I have now heard that the healthcare is not good and I am 77. Sigh. Albania sound fascinating. But Ecuador and Mexico are my top two. I wish the flights to Ecuador were cheaper!
Portugal has gotten more expensive and would not be as easy to live there on less than $1K now. El Salvador is not a top pick yet for expats. If their crime experiment works and doesn’t turn into another latam dictatorship, it might start making our lists in a couple years.
@@AmeliaAndJP well, the U.S. has actually become the dictatorship, while crime/ho.elessness/corruption ramps up aggressively. It seems as if El Salvador is actually solving problems, although I have no idea the cost to live there. Just my opinion. I am visually disabled pretty severely period have you ever done a video on the best places to live for those with disabilities? Specifically transprotection, comma access to health care an safety come to mind period.
I lived in Philippines for 2 years. The culture shock you mentioned was negligible (for me at least), but you are 100% correct about traffic. It’s horrendous around big cities. I’d definitely like to go back and stay.
@@climeaware4814 unfortunately not everyone can do that. The better jobs are in Manila for instance, but cost of living, while cheap by our standards, is much higher there than in neighboring towns. Also a big problem with traffic is many of the people just purchased their drivers license without taking any tests.
Its the most dense city in the world. Manila is not big by land but it is home of 20 million people. That's why they are building a new city in Clark to decongest Manila. The long subway that will finish in 2028 will also help ease the traffic.
@@politicfrog I hadn’t heard about that. Would be a long ride, but yes should ease congestion. I have relatives in Tarlac. Clark isn’t that far. Would make easier to see them if I should move back to Philippines.
Spent three months in Argentina but had to return to the States due to my elderly father's health. Argentina's cost of living is already less than half of the U.S. but if you have money sent to you by Western Union you get almost double the current official exchange rate in Pesos. Reason being that Argentina's economy has crashed and the Pesos value is eroding very fast. Argentine want Dollars to preserve their wealth and have to pay a premium to get them. I found the people to be very pleasant to deal with inspite of my limited Spanish. I was in Albania just before the pandemic hit and barely got out of the country. I'm not certain but I believe Albania has changed their visa concerning Americans and aren't allowing a full year now.
That's good, wouldn't want to spread bad info. I was told while there they would give a 1 yr visa but expected you to apply for residency if you want to stay longer. Another choice is Georgia, which gives a year to many nationalities and you just have to cross the border to renew. What I liked about Georgia beyond that was signs everywhere were in both Georgian and English. Made life a lot easier.
@peterparker-gc8xl I've managed to visit 14 countries including Mexico and Colombia and I prefer Argentina by far. If I could afford it I think I would like Portugal. But Argentina is amazingly affordable and I love the beef. I spent two months in Albania including a month in Saranda. It is a bit lacking in infrastructure but the people are nice.
I enjoyed my time in Peru. I would think India is nice and it is a big country and I would hate to generalize but there are so many Indian immigrants in the USA, that it makes you wonder how good it actually is.
After 90 days in Southern Turkey, this past spring, we drove over to Albania on our return drive to Ukraine. Cheap to live, friendly and helpful people for sure. Brutal roads for driving and there are still vestiges everywhere of the Soviet days, which lends to a somewhat less than cheery atmosphere. On the plus side is the one year visa free policy for Americans with extensions after that being a simple process, unlike other countries that we are familiar with. For anyone who likes rural living, inland areas are beautiful, and land can be bought for a song.
Thank you for uploading this awesome video. My favorite on the list is Thailand. I've been there and love that country especially city of Bangkok. If you're thinking about retiring there you must learn the language. Nobody speaks English. And treat Thaïs with respect and they will reciprocate with great kindness and respect for you. But if you go there with a Western country superiority attitude you will regret it.
I have lived in Bangkok for 6 years. Of course people here speak Thai but it is quite easy, especially in the city, to get around and do your daily business. There are Thais that speak English. Some fluently. There is also a large expat community here.
@@martypoll that is true there is a large English speaking expat community in certain areas of the country. But even in city of Bangkok the capital of Thailand when I visit I go down the unbeaten path where the tourists and expats don't go and interact with local Thai's in their own language. That experience is priceless and would not be possible if I didn't learn their beautiful language. By the way I go to the restaurants the locals go to and pay the cheap prices they pay. Those restaurants serve better food than the overpriced restaurants in tourist areas.
@@richard135b7 I am all for learning Thai. I just don’t want people to be scared away from Thailand thinking that it is too difficult to live here. It may not be an English speaking country but it isn’t that bad either
You can live extremely an comfortable upper middle class life in about 80% of the world outside of the US and parts of Europe for about $3000/month. Portugal, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Dubai etc
You are biased. I should have known your list would have Ecuador as numero uno. Check out Croatia. It has beautiful beaches and crystal clear water much like Italy.
@@ketoauntie7301 Ecuador has canceled for CBDC. Central Bank Digital Currency Tracker-Atlantic Council. The site has a map showing the entire world and what stage each country is in with CBDC.
We're back in the states after six months in South America. 110F in Arizona! Gah! Last week it was 34F in the mornings. Weird and expensive to be back in the US. This month in the US is going to cost us 2.5 months in Ecuador and 3+ months in Argentina. But, family, right? Looking forward to six months of Southeast Asia, maybe in late 2025. Thai food was my first stop back in the US, followed by authentic Mexican near the border.
I have traveled the globe from high-end business to eco- tour personal vistas for over 40 years. For culture (but that's to each his own), history (Afro to indigenous peoples) plus food ... and beyond esp. the friendliest people on the planet bar none ... nearly nothing beats all of Latin America, Mates.
An American expat there that has lived in Vietnam nearly 30 years, good luck living in Sai Gon for a $1,000 a month. It's possible but hard and your home won't be anywhere near downtown or the best areas of town. Our last apartment was very old but still close to downtown and it was $600/month with a year lease. Visas are quite pricey and your utilities and HOA fees will add up to at least another $100/month. Food is reasonable unless you have a taste for food from back home and then it will cost you.
What about Argentina? Buenos Aires is a city that makes these destinations look, provincial. And talk about the cost of living, The cost of living in Argentina, an apartment with the ammenetties of life, like running water and electricity, there is more bang for the buck there than anywhere else. It far surpasses any of these places in price and comfort for those who are accustomed to the standard of living in the USA.
Hi, JP and Amelia. I've been listening and watching your dedication to living abroad and wanting others to know a different life is possible. I've spent years in Taiwan and was trying get permanent residency there but covid threw that plan away... I'm 65 now and my plan for getting that status involves lots more uninterrupted employment there. But since my plan has been to leave or frankly, I plan to die in a country that is so much more enjoyable, I'm still on track for the move. I've sold my house two months ago, down to a few personal items. I have been brushing up on my Spanish ❤. I do speak mandarin, even teach first year chinese however the visa process leaves many many foreigners there just leaving every three months and same day return which works fine. There is so many places to fly to for a nice two day trip. I'm. Thinking of coming soon, end of August, to Ecuador for a couple months to check out something different! Though I do prefer Taiwan, been back and forth since university years! I hope to get more connected with some expats... I've got your videos to keep me company! And, I love to encourage Taiwan to young people. (China has been a threat since the 80s that I know of. It is only in the news now because of a myriad of world power issues. It's fabulous there. But I look forward to expanding my horizons!
Realistically speaking, living on $1000 per month in any popular expat destination in Colombia - while theoretically possible - would not leave you with much of a life. That amount just about covers my basic monthly living expenses here in Medellín, but would leave very little for discretionary needs. Not to mention typical expenses for a pensionado visa - the costs paid for all expenses involved to obtain my second one earlier this year came to $1800 U.S., including supplementary travel health insurance and acquisition, translation and apostille of my pension documents from the U.S.
We love your videos. We live in Mexico, migrated from the US. We’ve lived in or visited 32 countries, all with an eye to find our eventual retirement spot. The only thing we felt was missing is that if you’re going to mention crime in Latin American countries, we think it’s only fair you mention the s*x trade in Asian countries. We tried the Philippines for a bit, but we were surprised to see that the number of married couples going there together is quite small. The number of American male expats going there at 60 or 70, looking for a 20 year old to have as a girlfriend or wife, or just a “good time”is huge. I’m not judging. Consenting adults and all that, but it’s a definite consideration. Another culture shock to add.
Thailand is a bit like that too. North Thailand, around Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai, is a lot better - still a lot of guys living there wanting or marrying a Thai wife or girlfriend but the overall vibe is better, not so exploitative.
One concern for me. Albania is about 60% Muslim. There doesn't seem to be much open tension between groups. Most people seem to be only nominally Muslim or Christian. But some Albanians did go to Iraq to fight against Americans along with many other Muslims. I observed a few mosques having prayers with just a few there. Not concerned with most there, just concerned that a few may take things very seriously concerning Westerners, especially Americans.
@@User12345fan I have read that Albania's religion is Albanianism. Found it interesting that your national hero was a Christian fighting against the Ottomans. I in no way mean to disparage your country. It's a beautiful place. Just giving an honest concern.
Thanks for giving Colombia a try. I'm an American exPat in Bucaramanga, very different from M/dellin. My wife & I can show you around if you ever come back.
My husband and I are thinking to move to Colombia not sure how much we will need at month and the paperwork he needs to get his retirement and pension money over there without problems lots of questions but we have to start from somewhere
@@patriciaarnett5181 Any necessary paperwork re: retirement and pension funds will have to be worked out in your home country. The Colombian govt is not involved with that.
No doubt it's next to impossible to predict the future, but do you foresee yourselves ever leaving Ecuador? Also, I noticed you rarely ever mention Chile or Argentina. Thoughts, if any, on those countries?
The visa situation in Chile and Argentina is not as easy as other countries. Argentina also has tax consequences for foreign residents and you can’t renounce citizenship if you decide to go that route.
On the other hand Argentina is one of the most relaxed places in the world concerning visas. A lot of people overstay their 90 days, many by a year or more, then pay a small fine on their way out at the airport. That's what I did. As long as you pay the fine you can reenter no problem. There are Facebook expat groups that discuss this for more info.
@@kennethkilpatrick3758 The flip side is, like in any other country, if you get caught, it could lead to detention and immediate deportation. Besides, personally, I would not want a "visa overstay" strike on my passport.
@Trade2Travel Considering most countries that sounds plausible. But Argentina literally has in their constitution that human beings can't be illegal. If you overstay your immigration status is classified as irregular. You just need to pay the fine on leaving the country to be regular again. When I say they're extremely relaxed about immigration I'm not exaggerating. After my dad passes away I'm heading back. There's no worries about being caught, nobody is looking. I'll be heading back after my dad passes.
do not even think about Chile, unless you are willing to live in not so nice areas, eat poorly, with limited choices with a small budget, you need a lot more than1K a month, unless you want to stay at a hostel type situation and eat at flea markets, and I am sorry if I offend anyone, but met a lot of Americans that had been taken for a ride with different 'opportunities" to buy property, wineries, cars, you name it or even simple household items, I swear everyone was out to make a buck out of you. Cable or a regular telephone line are also a pain, paying your bills, you got to stand in a line. If you want to receive packages they add taxes that are incredible and way more than whatever you ordered. Even regular everyday food, like pizza, burger, are horrible, the chickens are fed with fish feed so they taste like fish. Also their spanish is the weirdest dialect that they use, not recommend it at all, Colombia is NOT cheap at all, and is still a dangerous place if you are a foreigner or even from there.
Mexico on 1,000? Maybe only if you own a house there. Living in areas with good services and security calculate at least 2000 if you be lucky and get a $1000 rental.
Rentals can be had for considerably less than $1,000. I lived in Mexico for five years, and rented several lovely apartments/houses. My rent never exceeded $300 a month.
I always enjoy your vídeos but was wondering the source for this information. We have been living in Colombia for the past 6 months and the information seems very general. I really feel your numbers are very low especially with the decline of the dollar. But also thank you for all your good content.
The only real good thing about the south american countries metioned on this list is that if you live in america or Canada your near to home, the crime is a major problem is all of the south American countries mentioned here and who on earth wants to retire or live in a place where you are constantly having to look over your shoulder and all asian countries are safer and just as cheap of not cheaper and portugal, spain and south of france are all very affordable slightly more expensive but far safer
@@AmeliaAndJP what part of america are you visiting some rum down area where they tell you not to go? the whole of south america ya need to watch over your shoulder
Malaysia has been on my short list till recently. The cost of the retirement visa (MM2H) has taken it off. WAY too much for it. Love Ecuador but my apnea doesn't like high altitudes and that seems to be where all the good places are. 😞
Hmmm? With the US economy failing rapidly, I wonder what the impact on Ecuador's economy and currency might be. Maybe this isn't the best time to think of settling there. What do you think?
I lived in Thailand for a while as well as Cambodia and Visited Vietnam more than a few times. I live now in the Philippines now. I've lived here off and on for about 20 years. For me, the Philippines is the best bet for an American because English is so widely spoken and just about everybody speaks some English especially in the cities but in the interior, it can be less common. The country's newspapers and official government documents are also in English. Thailand is a beautiful country, the food is great but as far as the Thai people go: you got to be careful with them. Personally, I don't trust them as far as I can throw them.
Heh. Last sentence right out of the Jimmy Buffett/Steve Goodman song: First you learn the native customs Soon a word of S̷p̷a̷n̷i̷s̷h̷ Thai or two But you know that you cannot trust them ‘Cause they know they can’t trust you
Uruguay is not cheap for day to day living. Land is much more reasonable than the US though. And currently the water in the capital is not potable. Life out on the beach is really nice though. Relaxing place with great people. The wine is great and very reasonable but a lot of other basic staples are expensive.
Hey Amelia and JP! I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for all the work you do! I’m thinking of coming to Ecuador in November and I was wondering if I’m there through January 1st does my normal tourist visa reset and allow me to stay for 3 months in the following calendar year of 2024? I know I’m only allowed to stay for 90 days each calendar year. But what happens if I’m there through the new year? Thanks!
@@AmeliaAndJP thanks for responding! Much appreciated! My first day of arrival was January 17 2023. I stayed for one month. So I have 2 months left this year. If I go to Ecuador in mid December for example, and I stay through that date of January 17. (My first arrival) does my new 90 day visa begin? I’m curious if the standard 90 days automatically resets or I have to apply for a visa extension. I’m not sure of how that transition works while I’m in Ecuador. It’s kind of a specific situation I guess and I’m not sure the best place to find answers. I try calling the Ecuador embassy here in the states but I can’t get through for 2 days. Maybe I’ll try another embassy. Thanks for your time!
I was in Thailand many times years ago and it is hot and humid but worth being with nice people and unbelievable low cost for a lot of things. Malaysia was hot and lots of construction around KL led to poor air quality.
I’ve been living in Manila under a retirement visa (SRRV), which was both straightforward to get and that allows me to say in the country indefinitely. In some countries, one can only get a 90days visa, which means having to leave and re-enter the country each time. It’s a pain in the ass. Do your diligence on these 3 countries. I can tell you that the Philippines does not tax income sources (ie pensions) from outside the country. This is not the case with many countries, who tax worldwide income. While some of these countries have a tax treaty with the US, this may often only result in a tax credit. But if you move to Mediterranean Europe, their tax rates are higher than the US, which means you will pay more tax to live there. Finally, if you are an expat and a US resident, you will, unless you renounce your US citizenship (which is an absurdly stupid thing to ever do) pay income taxes on your worldwide income. However, as such, if you are living outside the US when you actively earn income, you may qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. This means the 1st $120,000 of income is Federal income-tax free (2023, indexed annually for inflation), which is a sweet deal (you do have to pay self-employment tax, however, of 15.6%). I can’t comment on living in the other 2 countries, but I’ve been here for 15 months. I love it.
It depends on how you live and if you run a car for example. Tourist traps like chiang mai in Thailand would cost more than places off of the usual tourist hotspots. Capital cities and popular areas close to the beach are expensive. Vietnam is a beautiful country, great people great food. Get to eat where the locals eat for example will be the best food and prices.
Yes! NICARAGUA. Do recommend NICARAGUA. There you will be held incommunicado for an extended and arbitrary period of time. You will love the accomodations Daniel Hortega will frolic upon providing these accomodations for YOU !
Because a lot of people are moving there for the legal weed. Same thing happened in Denver. More demand reduces the supply and drives up the price of what’s left.
When I was in Thailand years ago the cost of many things were so much cheaper that it's probably higher just from lots of people moving there. The costs are probably still low. The pollution was better in Bangkok after they built the subway system and the sky train. Before the trains, it was difficult to breathe just walking around.
@@Ara9gorn999$500 = £389. Not likely given utility bills and property taxes. Free healthcare and competition amongst retailers are strong points plus English language.
I travelled around the world, 54 countries in total. Lived short term in 7 countries. Did Asia, Europe Mid East, Europe, central and South America. In the end, I keep thinking of Toronto. The safety, convenience, lack of insects, weather, bad smells, cleanliness, corruption, etc etc etc makes allllll these countries not worth it. I genuinely tried. I wish Canada had less woke, mass migration and of course tax theft, it would be the best country in the world. Unfortunately many parts of Canada are going in the wrong direction. It now feels like NO WHERE is worth escaping to 🤷♂️
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I know, I know...I already said this. I have lived in Brazil for 22 years...I live in a little city in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro now. I have a 5 bedroom three bath home..(rented). My total cost of living, including doctors' appointments and medicines is $850.00. I have recently decided to move to Asia for my 'later years' (I am 74)....I just rented a little apartment for 100 dollars just outside of Pattaya, Thailand. Food is cheaper and better than in Brazil...so I will probably be able to get my col under 500. One hour bus ride to Cambodia. 8 hours to Vietnam...a 100-dollar flight to the Philippines.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
I had to go to Rio for work once. It felt very sketchy and unsafe even in the "bubble" or touristy areas that are supposed to be safer according to my coworkers there. I visited Peru once and felt much safer there. Cusco, Peru was amazing. I could retire there.
@@concernedcitizen6572 I rarely go into RJ even só, I think you are wrong. Been here for 20 years ..never had an issue. Last time in Seattle I felt more threatned. Anyway, I am in a very small city 3 hours out of RJ and it's very safe. Lots of digital nomads here would tell you the same thing.
I hope you have a great time. I'm sure you will.
Yes, Thailand is very cheap and good quality too. I live 4 hours northeast of Bangkok and my rent is $85 per month utilities are another $40ish... meals are as cheap as $1.50 to $2.50. Alcohol is the most expensive thing with 1 large beer costing $2 - $4. ($1.75 at 7-11)
Argentina is the cheapest country on Earth, great high quality of life, great food, great cities and landscapes plus FREE health care and hospitals!!!!! We wait for you! Great dinners wine and everytging for 5 dollars. Renting an equipped apartment costs 200 /300 us per month . Please only change dollars in the black market!!!! Never in banks! Black market gives you double the pesos for each dollar!!! Ask the locals.We will help you
See you soon!!Im very excited to see your country!
Coming for a month in November, looking to possibly buy a place, wife is from BA. But we feel badly for Argentina now, what a quilombo.
I visited and traveled through Argentina two years ago.. great visit and culture and value.. rib eye steak, salad , bread and wine dinner at a nice restaurant for $18
@@hump1953 they ripped you off. Here you eat nicely for 8 us
wow@@AnavonRebeur
During COVID, I worked with several people who were doing the digital nomad thing out of Tbilisi, Georgia. They found it affordable and enjoyable. And, Americans don't need a visa to stay for anything under 365 days.
No longer the case due to war migrants from Russia
Tblisi has been on our short list for a while. We'll go there once the Ukraine war is over Right now, there have been a ton of people flooding in from displacement or avoiding army mobilization. Prices are 3x what they were, as told by family living there. We're going to sit it out until things stabilize. But, we are definitely very interested in hanging out.
@@BOULDERGEEKthat's true. Many Russians and Ukrainians over there. But right now many of them are moving to Argentina 😅
To Amelia & JP, I just want to add that you are providing a priceless service to your viewers. While we are all very sad to watch the U.S. become an unstainable way of life, taking control of our own lives is the number one priority. As I
said in a recent post , a recent 3 week visit to the U.S., left me not only shocked but turned the stress level dial up to
it's top limit. Now I am back home and the dial is back down to a slow idle. It's worth mentioning that many people stay put because of the fear of a move. What they need to understand is that a 10 mile move is in reality no different than a 10,000 mile move. It's pretty much the same
physical effort with the only difference being a few extra days for them and their belongings to arrive at their new home.
Keep up the good work as undoubtedly you are saving a lot of lives because of your prompting.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts 😊👍
U can live a very good life in Argentina with 500 dollars/euro's a month, BUT u need to use the blue dollar exchange. It's very easy through Western Union and it will give u twice the amount of pesos compared to the official exchange rate.
Thanks for the tip!!
We just got back to the US after 2.5 months in Ecuador and 3 months in Argentina. Four days in Arizona in summer and I am very ready to go back. Though, international food has been nice. I needed a break from filet mignon and malbec. Time for a liver detox. We found it really hard to rent short term furnished apartments, though. If you have to use AirBnb, you're at $700 and upward, per month. We were are 420:1 when we arrived and 525 when we left. It was 6 official and 10 blue when we were there in 2014. I don't want gringos to know how good and cheap our high quality life was down there. 😲
A lot if countries, including Mexico, will not let you stay if your income is only $1000 per month. You need to look up all the legal requirements for immigration, not just the cost of living.
So true. Totally irrelevant if you can't qualify for residency. Unless you just want to slow travel.
Yes unfortunately they have raised the requirements so only the more "well off" people can get residency.
Yes, although the cost of living in many cities in Mexico is low, the government requires about $2600 usd in monthly income for a retirement visa. Even in Ecuador the required monthly income for a retiree is $1350 usd in 2023. I assume that in 2024 will be $1425 usd. However the cost of living is at least 50% less than the US.
I'm confused. What if a retiree's pension is below $1,000/month, yet his financial portfolio is substantial ? Is he excluded merely because his income is too low ?
@@HemiChrysler either the rentista or the pensionado visa requires 3x minimum wage or $1350. You may have the greatest portofolio but you have to prove that you are drawing at least $1350 a month for one person. The more people, the higher the monetary requirements. Maybe an inversionista visa fits you better 100x minimum wage or $45.000
Georgia also has a one-year visa for Americans.
@@User12345fanTrue.
So true.
I would love the live In Batumi. Maybe later this year.
Georgia is getting very expensive. Food prices are higher than in USA. Rent is high also. Due to the war migrants. No not a good time to move to Europe. Specially places near Russia or Ukraine.
I live in Paraguay, Villarrica with my wife and 3 children. It's very quiet, rural, almost boring. But no serious crime. good climate. Except 4 months a year with high heat. 140 m2 house, 300 dollars, internet 150 MB 15 dollars. Utilities $50. Gasoline 90 cents. Dining out: $7. Monthly groceries: $500. Reserve for sickness: $200. Reserve for engineering, repairs, clothing: $200. We live very well with $1500. Foreign income tax-free. Very friendly people. But very simple lifestyle. Few attractions, no sea. But there is everything here. For 50,000 you can build a simple 100 m2 house.
Great! Thanks for sharing! 👍
Mexico is pretty much out of the 'affordability' picture at this point, as the Peso is down from 20 something to 16.80 to the U.S.D., right now! Everyone always talks about 3 to 500.00 a month for an apartment in all of these countries. That's not so accurate, I'm sorry to say, unless people want to live in a horrible place, of if they have a 'connection.' I just got back (in June) from spending 3 months in Malaysia (and another 3 months in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia) and it's not easy to find a monthly apartment rental for $500.00 or less. All of S.E. Asia is always unbearably hot and humid, so beautiful sunny weather certainly is not a draw for any place in S.E. Asia. It's difficult for everybody including the locals, as these areas are also suffering the intense unprecedented global heat, obviously. Every place in S.E. Asia (as well as Mexico, and most of Eastern Europe,) are experiencing post covid pricing, inflation, and greed-driven price increases. There are numerous RUclips videos where people are talking about how cheap places are and they haven't even been to these places. I spent winter of 2022 (over 6 months,) in Albania, Macedonia, Turkey and Montenegro and it was not at all easy to live on $1,000.00 a month, then- a year ago. And of course, prices have only gone up, especially during this unprecedented summer travel season, and I'm not even mentioning the valuation currency fluctuations, not in the favor of a U.S.S. holder~ As an example, the Albanian lek has gone from 115, last year, to 90 Lek to the dollar (so good luck staying there affordably for your 1-year 'visa' allotment!) There's just so much non-truthful/non-factual travel info. on RUclips, so wanted to share some truthful facts about the current reality, which is not good, and not what people are try9ing to monetize their Youtbue channel with bogus information about! No offense to you guys, or to anyone out there. Truth is a hard pill to swallow. Lastly, none of these channels are going to tell you how to find the "GREAT" deal - with contacts, phone number, websites, etc.! They're just recycling deceptive facts from unreliable sources.
Spot on rjeckardt!! The only people that can live on $500 in most any country is if you live in the hood/sketchy neighborhoods. People can live in these neighborhoods but you must know the countries language. Often the $500 amount wont even get you indoor plumbing. Sure there might be the occasional deal on rent but that is not the norm anymore. Everyone 'must' do a ton of research or you will not be happy in your new country.
@rjeckardt8863 I certainly agree with you on weather. I prefer high mountain towns. But let me tell you about my 3 months in Oaxaca, Mexico. I was on a Oaxaca expat Facebook group and someone mentioned they had rooms for rent. The pics looked decent so I contacted them. 3000 Pesos a month so at the time about $150 a month. I took a chance and flew down from Houston. Had a twin bed, a small table and chair, a hanging rod for clothes. But the room was spacious, had its own private bathroom, and a private entrance inside a secure family compound. Best of all it had excellent wifi that had few issues. Would go out briefly once or twice a week. Sometimes a few minutes, once overnight. But the tradeoff was a very affordable room, had a nice lavanderia(laundry)across the street that washed and folded a weeks worth of clothes for about $5-$6 depending on weight. I was about three blocks from a Chedraui, a Walmart supercenter type store. There were restaurants all over the area including a Chinese buffet that was about $5 all you can eat. I could walk about a mile to the centro for all that interesting activity. A mile and a half to a nice multiplex that I saw several latest movies in English. If you missed home there were a bunch of American fast-food places there. And if you didn't want to walk there was a taxi stand in front of the Chedraui and taxis to most places you wanted to go were around $3. I experienced a drop in Peso value to the level you mentioned when I spent two months in Guadalajara. In Oaxaca it was about 20:1. It fluctuates. My single biggest problem in Mexico? Inspite of being careful I constantly had the trots. Got really sick in the Yucatan. Got a parasite in Chiapas. I really enjoyed Oaxaca but I doubt I'll go back. Others seem to have less issues with it but my system has problems.
Vilcabamba Ecuador the food is cultivated and fresh without chemicals is actually a paradise! You should try near there is Loja or Cuenca where the best cities in my country are quiet, the best education, medicine, everything! a dream climate! there you can take a plane to return to your countries! must try very cheap! don't travel to big cities like my city where I was born there is a lot of crime there don't go to Machala Guayaquil and Babahoyo! that's coast! but on the beaches of Montanita is to enjoy Ayampe Ayangue and Manta beautiful and quiet beaches! I mean, you may not like Ecuadorian gastronomy according to what I read about your experience in those countries, because my husband, who is American, does not like Ecuadorian food, perhaps because when he was younger he traveled to Asian countries and he likes that Asian and Mediterranean food, but for example, there is a dish called encebollado that is delicious and there are other very delicious things, the only thing I don't eat is pork! And regarding house rentals and their maintenance are cheaper than in other countries! nothing happens with trying! My case I want to go to Vilcabamba this summer and Cuenca to share my experience! I have already known but Vilcabamba not yet! I hope I can tell you about that trip that will be soon! Bye
@@kellyname5733 Thank you, Kelly I was harsh in my comment because I've been to most of these countries recently, and this couple has not. They just needed a different subject for yet another video for monetization purposes, which is deceiving. People need to call them out. I leave the U.S. every year for 8 to 9 months and have done this for the past 5 years, so I'm honest in my first-hand experiences of the unprecedented rise of prices in these so called, live on a $1,000. countries, for obvious reasons, COVID, Inflation, Supply Chain issues, opportunism now that people are traveling again, etc. Have a great day, friend.
@@Motabe50 Thank you, Mereli, for being so kind and taking the time to share some of the beautiful areas of Ecuador with ne. It's much appreciated. You're very sweet. Thanks again and have a beautiful day.
l like your videos after my third attempt to live in the USA going back to Peru, cost of living here too expensive,l'm 67 year's old need to rest anyway
You can live in Mexico for less than $1000 if you live, typically, away from the coast and from large cities (GDL, Monterrey, Mex. City). Some recommendations: Durango, Tepic, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, Morelia, Tuxtla Gutierrez, and others. Blessings! 🙂
I live on less than 1,000 in Guadalajara, not by much though.
No you can't maybe in the geto for 1000 dollars a month with food and everything you need the same amount of money as you do in USA to live no less then 3000 dollars a month and on 1000 dollars a month your staying home all month
I loved Albania. I was only there for 1 month. It was a very pleasant surprise because of a last minute travel change. I cant wait to go back.
Just a quick comment on Ecuador. I have an Ecuadorian 1/2 brother & he is leaving there & coming to America (he was born here) because the economy has turned really bad & the crime is getting crazy (not that it's that good here). He's college educated, had successful career, daughter is a doctor, son owns a couple business, but business is not doing well for him either. Could go on about the government corruption etc. but, you get the picture. It's a real shame since I have first hand info from them about what a nice country it is & how it use to be so good a place to live.
All true!!!
Yes Ecaudor now is the 2nd most dangerous country in Latin America with all the gangs violence. Plus Ecuador is also now very expensive to live in.
In the US you have to pick areas to live that support the police. Very high risk to live in those areas that don't support the police. Safety has always been my top priority when moving from job to job in the US by never living or working in those high crime risk areas. These are truly not the best of times (would argue the worst of times since the 1930's ) to live in the US considering many other factors as well.
@PaulaVidal-kp7tm very true. Sadly 😢
Thanks for the honesty about Ecuador. Safety is a big concern for me in America so I'll want to move somewhere safer not more dangerous
I’m surprised Indonesia didn’t make it to the list. It huge archipelago country and lot of destinations to explore.
Glad to see that Albania is on the list. I spent 4 months in Albania last year. Was very pleased with the cost of living. It’s a beautiful country with very friendly people. The bus system was actually pretty good. It’s cheap and you don’t have to hunt around to buy tickets. Someone will collect the cash once you are on the bus.
A big negative would be the language. English is not widely spoken. However, once I was familiar with which restaurants and stores spoke English, I would return to those places. The other big negative is that cash is king in Albania. Most places don’t take credit cards.
I've heard Albania is the new "hot spot" for ex-pats and digital nomads.
@@RichardParmelee - incorrect. Although you are considered a resident of Albania after 183 days, you're only obligated to pay taxes to Albania if your income exceeds $142,000. Above that, it's 15% tax. However, if you're a US Citizen, the US Government offsets your own tax liabilities through Foreign Tax Credits to ensure you're not paying double taxes to both countries.
And 90% of the criminals now live in England.
I don’t see “Cash is King” as a negative
@@invader7191was gonna say the same thing
America will never be a cheap place to live. So sad the american dream is now a nightmare financially. Dang
I love Malaysia and, while you can live there on $1k/mo., their MM2H retirement visa requires a huge fixed deposit, plus liquid assets and a monthly income over US $10,000/mo. making it nearly impossible for the average person. Malaysia is reviewing its program and we all hope they will relax the financial requirements. They also offer a 1-yr (renewable for a 2nd yr) digital nomad visa at a more reasonable price but it can take a long time to get approval and many waited months, only to be rejected. Hopefully, the review process will improve!
What specifically do you love about Malaysia if you don't mind?
Thanks for sharing the update 👍
@lindadorman2869 There's a workaround for getting into Malaysia. The state of Sarawak has their own MM2H program with much much more affordable requirements. Once in through that you're allowed to live anywhere in Malaysia.
@@kennethkilpatrick3758 There's still some confusion about the ability to live elsewhere in Malaysia. Some recipients have gotten visa approval letters with a clause stating they must reside in Sarawak and cannot live in peninsular Malaysia. Apparently, it's an internal issue between multiple immigration offices. Also, the financial requirements for S-MM2H increased as well though not as high as MM2H. It used to be "either/or" fixed deposit and income, now both are required.
@@peterparker-gc8xl Malaysia has the ideal combination of city, mountains, island/beach, jungle with reliable infrastructure and modern conveniences. Super affordable low cost of living, great food, friendly people, English-speaking, excellent healthcare, good public transportation. For me, the only downside is the tropical weather as I prefer cooler climates.
Albania 🇦🇱 & Georgia 🇬🇪 are very cool 😎 countries.
USED TO BE that Costa Rica was that affordable - BUT NOT ANYMORE ! We lived there in the period 2004-2009, and lived comfortably with a single SS check of $1,000 (for 2 adults). Of course, we owned our home & truck "free & clear", and embraced local foods & shops (rather than imports). We visited family there in 2022, and the cost of living has SOARED - you'd probably need $2,000/month to cover rent, utilities, vehicle costs, fuel, food, & mandatory health insurance. PURA VIDA - but bring lots of $$$ !
@@misterniceguy67 Yes, it's a shame ! Ever since the Free Trade Agreement was signed under Pres. Arias (2007 ?), cost of living has jumped tremendously. Walmart bought out 3 of the CR supermarket chains. The CR colon is virtually worthless - and all major purchases are in US dollars. Sad - but seems like PURA VIDA is gone !
@@marytica123do you have any social media or anything? I want to move to Costa Rica but unsure
That's how I felt, visiting in 2009. Prices were like Colorado in many ways, excepting food stands on the roadside. I was more partial to Granada, Nicaragua for living than CR. After five months of Central America, I was so excited to get back to Mexico for the food! Boring casados every day made me lose weight, but the lack of diversity was painful.
I first lived in Ecuador with my family beginning in 1969. Over the years it has remained my favorite place to live. It is such a small country but it has a little bit of everything from all over the world!
It cost me 12000 dollars a month to live in the USA. I had a heart attack in january. I am 60.
It’s so expensive there!
i spend 10,000/YEAR to live in USA. I don"t believe you.
I'd have a heart attack too at 12K a month.
@@elmerkilred159 To give you a cheap thrill, when you suffer a heart a attack, I found myself looking at the floor and deciding where on the floor to collapse. Do not hesitate to call an ambulance. It put things into perspective.
@@kyoto32001 do you live in an RV on a friend's property? Walk or take the bus everywhere?
We have one saying the US is $12,000 a month and another claiming under $900 a month. I think we need more info from both of you.
I'm outside of Phoenix metro and exist on $3200 but in reality my expenses are closer to $3800. And I'm very frugal. And that's barring needing car repairs. Which I do need and the repair shops so far have been ripping me off. $2200 for new AC. And when I picked up the car the steering and brakes are grinding. Coincidence ? They broke my motor mounts and want to charge $900 to repair saying they did nothing wrong. Then the next garage says that I suddenly need a new thermostat and wanting to charge $1040 for a new thermostat and water hose! The parts cost $100 max and they claim it's over $300 for just the thermostat. I bought one for $11. I left their shop and on the way home my car overheated. No overheating issues previously since I had the water pump replaced 9 months ago. I just hope the engine head didn't crack.
So I don't know how anyone lives in $10000 a year...?
Living on $1000 a month in any of these places is difficult. I've lived in Thailand for 30 years; $1000 a month to "live" in the country is pushing the limit. It can be done, but careful money management and refraining from going out on a regular basis would be mandatory.
As far as Cambodia: same thing. Yes, it can be done but you really need to watch your spending habits and in all honesty, $1500 for Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam would be much better. You have a little breathing room and don't have to pinch pennies.
If one person wants to eat Thai food all the time, it would be $200-$300 a month. I go to the grocery and spend about $600 a month and this is basically just for me. We probably spend $1200 a month for groceries and dining out. We are a family of four, although our one son is in college now and he's only home once a week. Groceries in Ecuador are cheaper, definitely, I went grocery shopping in Ayampe and couldn't believe the difference.
If you want to stay in a dive apartment, it'll cost you $100 a month. A halfway decent place is $200-$300. A nicer place - as in modern is $400-$1000 a month.
FYI - electricity in Thailand has gotten more expensive. Our bill has gone from 4000-5500 baht a month ($133-$175) to 7000-8000 baht - it's not on all the time either. Electric costs have risen and when it's hot, it is nice to have it.
Add in all the additional expenses (electric, water, internet, mobile phone, insurance, visa, etc.) and money starts getting tight.
This was my thought...you can "exist" on $1000 if you live a miserable life eating beans & rice and never doing anything...well, you can do that in the USA also.
We've been in Bangkok for three years and a place that is fitted out to modern standards is definitely at that $400 and above mark (likely closer to $800 if you want a bit more room and natural light). I agree that, at least in BKK, all the supplemental bills start to add up in a not-so-affordable way. There is also a two-price system where foreign passport holders--even those with work visas who are paying taxes--have to pay a much higher fee to visit national parks, museums, etc., than Thais.
The cost of living here in Hua Hin Thailand has gone up so much over the last year that it's crazy.
If you count Visa and health insurance there's no way to even live on $1,500 usd a month. Electric bill here has gone through the roof also. It's gotta to the point that my wife I are leaving Thailand soon.
@@ELgrandiabloblancohow much is your rent ?
Siem Reap is very interesting. Would love to try it for a year and learn some of the language. Other than that, Amazonian Peru is where I really want to end up because of having already learned the language by staying there a total of about two years. The medicinal plants are super interesting and the people are mainly easy-going and good-natured, and also have great foods.
Im a Filipino live in d states but never live d american way. Now i hav a basic house in El Salvador and able to survive 300$ a month. I speak fluent spanish i ride d bus or walk, and eat just 2x. I just live d basic minumum way of life so i agree all this list.
Vietnam is pretty much off of this list. Americans can usually get a visa for one year but you must exit the country every three months. There is no guarantee they will give you a new visa when the one year is up either. Another possibility in SE Asia is Laos. It is a sweet little country, and you can buy a business visa for about 600 USD a year. Sadly, India just changed their visa requirements, and you are only allowed to stay 6 months out of any 12-month period. Before Americans could get a ten-year visa but had to cross a border every six months. Those days are over.
Unfortunately, medical care and infrastructure in Laos are not great.
CROATIA is # 1 affordable and no crime great respectable hard working people....
It’s on our list to visit!
How's the weather currently in Croatia?
Nobody wants to go there
It's hard to make discent living in Croatia for $1000 per month. I would check neighboring Montenegro as a cheaper option.
@@antonnnn464 not if u live off the popular vacation spots...
I've become fascinated with Albania having read Ann Bridge's book, Singing Waters.
Good list. The raise of the value of the Mexican pesos (+ 20% in 1 year with the CAD) makes Mexico les affordable. South east Asia is the best but the visa stuff is very complicated in most countries, except in the Philippines.
Cambodia is straight forward
Taiwan is the best... so safe, high tech, forward thinking and people are soooooo friendly and open
Philippines = NO infrustructure.
This is a fascination video. Most people only name the same top 5 over and over, and I have never heard of living in some of these places, like Albania. But I think you should consider Turkey. Love that country.
OUT OF ALL OF YOUR SAID TEN(10) "BEST" COUNTRIES , ONLY ALBANIA IS SAFE , AND ONLY ALBANIA HAS A BASICALLY PLEASANT , TOLERABLE WEATHER CLIMATE.
BE WELL.
AND , STAY STRONG.
PROFESSOR EMERITUS BJNG
(BRIAN).
♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
I am in Viertnam right now and I don't see how you can become a resident here. Soon the visa will be increased to three months but as far as being welcomed as a full time resident, I don't think Vietnam is going to do that for a while.
Good job you two! I like Ecuador a lot since I've been watching your videos, and also Albania.
Are you serious Ecuador? Noo. I am sorry it is not anymore. Colombia is not a cheap country everything has gone up. We moved to Ecuador is nice and welcoming country but sadly you can't leave with 1000 a month specially with expats. That is why we are going to explore Argentina 🇦🇷 due to economics and quality of life. You guys need to travel more and mare those comparation having a real experience
Amelia and JP are traveling constantly this year! And they lived in multiple cities in Ecuador for over 5 years. Your comments make NO SENSE!
Great info. Albania sounds great. Love that 1 year Visa! Thanks JP and Amelia.❤
Thats good that Albania gives a one year visa always wanted to go there last time I was in the area it was pretty much impossible to go to in the 1980s definitely sounds interesting.
On the affordability scene, be aware, the dollar has fallen about 17% against the Colombian Peso (COP) in the past few months.
It was up 20% so now it’s back down where it was at around 4000 pesos to $1.
Mexican Peso is over 17 percent higher vs USD in one year. Ouch!! It hurts.
While you can definitely live in these places on $1000, many of them have a much higher income requirement to get the residency visa to live there.
Thats the catch with many of them ! -- It is an expense many are unable to afford. And it makes little sense to me why they purposely make it out of reach for so many who could otherwise afford to be there & spending their money helping that countries economy ?
Yes it's a lost leader video. If you can't get in the country to live legally than it doesn't matter if the cost of living is cheap
i used to live in Tijuana, Mexico and work in the US. I paid $200/month for a one-bedroom apartment. My Ophthalmologist graduated from Massachusetts Eye and Ear, which is HARVARD. The food was good and mostly cheap. I had a neighbor on SSI, that was quite happy there. It is OFFICIALLY THE MOST DANGEROUS CITY IN THE WORLD. I feel safer in downtown Tijuana, than downtown San Diego. I moved away from Tijuana eight years ago. If I go back, I stay in Tijuana because I can pay $30/night as opposed to $100 + in San Diego. The downfall is crossing into the US, (OF COURSE), takes two to three hours, unless you pay the bribe to the US government.
I have lived in Ecuador for 20 years and I live in Cuenca. In Sept I will be traveling to Cebu and Dumaguete Philippines. I will be going to live there for awhile.
@@misterniceguy67 sorry but my daughter lives in the house. there alot places to rent in Cuenca. good luck
Albania the best option.
Fantastic video, I recently relocated to Thailand and it’s been a blast! I’ll be here for a year scouting out various cities and regions to find the place that works best for me.
do you have a favorite area yet?
@@scottjohnson921 I’m partial to Chiang Mai but currently living in Bangkok. I’ll be checking out Hua Hin soon.
U can try kenya as well 🇰🇪
Excellent list. Ecuador is amazing and I have no regrets about moving here. I budget $1500 for me alone, but $1000 is doable.
Love your videos! I never seriously considered relocating outside the US until I came upon your content. You two should host a conference in Ecuador with all the info and contacts to make the dream a reality! If it ever happens…I’m there!
Maybe one day!
You seem to have an interesting list but you don't really understand what can happen in some of these these countries have just one person makes a false accusation against you. You can lose everything. This has happened to some Americans in Nicaragua. It might be very cheap but you have to watch what you say all the time.
Wow. We are in agreement. As you know, I am about to start housesitting in Europe. However, when I have breaks with that, I am heading to Saranda, Albania! I am thinking of basing myself there for the future. Second choice is Panamá. All the best to both of you.
Keep us posted about the house sitting and Albania!
@warrenr.johnson7990 I spent a month in Saranda in the offseason. A lot of restaurants were closed then. Was told the town is absolutely packed with nonstop at a crawl traffic during the summer. It's not really a beach town. It's a forest of apartment buildings overlooking a pretty harbor. Someone described it to me before going as being structured like a stadium. I found out what he meant when I arrived. The streets the buildings sat on were like level shelves but the streets that connected one to the next shelf up were very steep. Like walking up a stairmaster. At least you get a good workout. My apartment was decent but she wanted more than what she was charging that time of year in Airbnb to stay longterm. She could easily get a lot more in the summer. There's access to Greece from there on a fast ferry but it's expensive. Unless you're willing to spend a lot going to Greece for a nice day out isn't feasible. I'd have to look at my guidebook, don't remember the name, but there's a town south of Saranda that's a real beach town. Albania has beautiful beaches and it would be more to my liking if I ever go back.
shush about Panama...lol
My son just returned from Thailand and said it was just too hot. Cambodia also. Just before covid I had decided on Nicaragua, but ended up stuck in the US. However I have now heard that the healthcare is not good and I am 77. Sigh. Albania sound fascinating. But Ecuador and Mexico are my top two. I wish the flights to Ecuador were cheaper!
Albania, Ecuador and Vietnam . Also those with great transportation.
Surprised El Salvador and Portugal not on lust.
Portugal has gotten more expensive and would not be as easy to live there on less than $1K now. El Salvador is not a top pick yet for expats. If their crime experiment works and doesn’t turn into another latam dictatorship, it might start making our lists in a couple years.
@@AmeliaAndJP well, the U.S. has actually become the dictatorship, while crime/ho.elessness/corruption ramps up aggressively. It seems as if El Salvador is actually solving problems, although I have no idea the cost to live there. Just my opinion.
I am visually disabled pretty severely period have you ever done a video on the best places to live for those with disabilities? Specifically transprotection, comma access to health care an safety come to mind period.
I'm living in Mexico for $400-500 a month. (single person with dog)
I lived in Philippines for 2 years. The culture shock you mentioned was negligible (for me at least), but you are 100% correct about traffic. It’s horrendous around big cities. I’d definitely like to go back and stay.
The traffic network needs to be redesigned. The people need to live,work,access to services and products within a 15 min walk.
@@climeaware4814 unfortunately not everyone can do that. The better jobs are in Manila for instance, but cost of living, while cheap by our standards, is much higher there than in neighboring towns. Also a big problem with traffic is many of the people just purchased their drivers license without taking any tests.
Its the most dense city in the world. Manila is not big by land but it is home of 20 million people. That's why they are building a new city in Clark to decongest Manila. The long subway that will finish in 2028 will also help ease the traffic.
@@politicfrog I hadn’t heard about that. Would be a long ride, but yes should ease congestion. I have relatives in Tarlac. Clark isn’t that far. Would make easier to see them if I should move back to Philippines.
Spent three months in Argentina but had to return to the States due to my elderly father's health. Argentina's cost of living is already less than half of the U.S. but if you have money sent to you by Western Union you get almost double the current official exchange rate in Pesos. Reason being that Argentina's economy has crashed and the Pesos value is eroding very fast. Argentine want Dollars to preserve their wealth and have to pay a premium to get them. I found the people to be very pleasant to deal with inspite of my limited Spanish.
I was in Albania just before the pandemic hit and barely got out of the country. I'm not certain but I believe Albania has changed their visa concerning Americans and aren't allowing a full year now.
Interesting. Have been considering Albania and hadn't heard that news. Safe to say you like Argentina more?
We just checked the Albanian govt website and it says the 1 year tourist visa is still valid for Americans.
That's good, wouldn't want to spread bad info. I was told while there they would give a 1 yr visa but expected you to apply for residency if you want to stay longer. Another choice is Georgia, which gives a year to many nationalities and you just have to cross the border to renew. What I liked about Georgia beyond that was signs everywhere were in both Georgian and English. Made life a lot easier.
@peterparker-gc8xl I've managed to visit 14 countries including Mexico and Colombia and I prefer Argentina by far. If I could afford it I think I would like Portugal. But Argentina is amazingly affordable and I love the beef. I spent two months in Albania including a month in Saranda. It is a bit lacking in infrastructure but the people are nice.
@@kennethkilpatrick3758How did you find a place to stay in Albania? How did you get around the city? Did they speak English too?
Peru and Bolivia certainly qualify
The least expensive and most diverse might be India
Good additions! 👍
India is pushing digital currency & tracking-&-tracing of their people.
I enjoyed my time in Peru. I would think India is nice and it is a big country and I would hate to generalize but there are so many Indian immigrants in the USA, that it makes you wonder how good it actually is.
@@concernedcitizen6572 they make a lot more money in the US and are able to send some home.
After 90 days in Southern Turkey, this past spring, we drove over to Albania on our return drive to Ukraine.
Cheap to live, friendly and helpful people for sure. Brutal roads for driving and there are still vestiges everywhere
of the Soviet days, which lends to a somewhat less than cheery atmosphere. On the plus side is the one year visa free policy for Americans with extensions after that being a simple process, unlike other countries that
we are familiar with. For anyone who likes rural living, inland areas are beautiful, and land can be bought for a song.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for uploading this awesome video. My favorite on the list is Thailand. I've been there and love that country especially city of Bangkok. If you're thinking about retiring there you must learn the language. Nobody speaks English. And treat Thaïs with respect and they will reciprocate with great kindness and respect for you. But if you go there with a Western country superiority attitude you will regret it.
I have lived in Bangkok for 6 years. Of course people here speak Thai but it is quite easy, especially in the city, to get around and do your daily business. There are Thais that speak English. Some fluently. There is also a large expat community here.
@@martypoll that is true there is a large English speaking expat community in certain areas of the country. But even in city of Bangkok the capital of Thailand when I visit I go down the unbeaten path where the tourists and expats don't go and interact with local Thai's in their own language. That experience is priceless and would not be possible if I didn't learn their beautiful language. By the way I go to the restaurants the locals go to and pay the cheap prices they pay. Those restaurants serve better food than the overpriced restaurants in tourist areas.
But Martypoll I can't argue with you. You've lived there for 6 years. I only visit that magical city once a year for a 30 day period.
@@richard135b7 I am all for learning Thai. I just don’t want people to be scared away from Thailand thinking that it is too difficult to live here. It may not be an English speaking country but it isn’t that bad either
You can live extremely an comfortable upper middle class life in about 80% of the world outside of the US and parts of Europe for about $3000/month. Portugal, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Dubai etc
South Africa if you can live without electricity most of the time….
You are biased. I should have known your list would have Ecuador as numero uno. Check out Croatia. It has beautiful beaches and crystal clear water much like Italy.
It’s not really a top 10 list. Just a list of 10. Croatia is a great place and on our future trip list 👍
@@AmeliaAndJPEcuador is pushing digital currency. Human trafficking is also high there.
Well, they ARE human!
@@ketoauntie7301 Ecuador has canceled for CBDC. Central Bank Digital Currency Tracker-Atlantic Council. The site has a map showing the entire world and what stage each country is in with CBDC.
We're back in the states after six months in South America. 110F in Arizona! Gah! Last week it was 34F in the mornings. Weird and expensive to be back in the US. This month in the US is going to cost us 2.5 months in Ecuador and 3+ months in Argentina. But, family, right? Looking forward to six months of Southeast Asia, maybe in late 2025. Thai food was my first stop back in the US, followed by authentic Mexican near the border.
I have traveled the globe from high-end business to eco- tour personal vistas for over 40 years. For culture (but that's to each his own), history (Afro to indigenous peoples) plus food ... and beyond esp. the friendliest people on the planet bar none ... nearly nothing beats all of Latin America, Mates.
I’m only getting $1100 monthly from my social security so I’m most grateful for this informative and practical video. Thank you for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
An American expat there that has lived in Vietnam nearly 30 years, good luck living in Sai Gon for a $1,000 a month. It's possible but hard and your home won't be anywhere near downtown or the best areas of town. Our last apartment was very old but still close to downtown and it was $600/month with a year lease. Visas are quite pricey and your utilities and HOA fees will add up to at least another $100/month. Food is reasonable unless you have a taste for food from back home and then it will cost you.
What about Argentina? Buenos Aires is a city that makes these destinations
look, provincial. And talk about the cost of living, The cost of living in Argentina, an apartment with the ammenetties of life, like running water and electricity, there is more bang for the buck there than anywhere else. It far surpasses any of these places in price and comfort
for those who are accustomed to the
standard of living in the USA.
And it's very European in its architecture, right? I'm going to need to visit soon.
It’s dangerous as hell though.
Spent 3 months in multiple locations. Never felt threatened. Great people.
I had never looked at Albania as a destination before!
Neither have i
Hi, JP and Amelia. I've been listening and watching your dedication to living abroad and wanting others to know a different life is possible. I've spent years in Taiwan and was trying get permanent residency there but covid threw that plan away... I'm 65 now and my plan for getting that status involves lots more uninterrupted employment there. But since my plan has been to leave or frankly, I plan to die in a country that is so much more enjoyable, I'm still on track for the move. I've sold my house two months ago, down to a few personal items. I have been brushing up on my Spanish ❤. I do speak mandarin, even teach first year chinese however the visa process leaves many many foreigners there just leaving every three months and same day return which works fine. There is so many places to fly to for a nice two day trip. I'm. Thinking of coming soon, end of August, to Ecuador for a couple months to check out something different! Though I do prefer Taiwan, been back and forth since university years! I hope to get more connected with some expats... I've got your videos to keep me company! And, I love to encourage Taiwan to young people. (China has been a threat since the 80s that I know of. It is only in the news now because of a myriad of world power issues. It's fabulous there. But I look forward to expanding my horizons!
Thanks for sharing!
We are 2 retired, we live in DaNang for $1000 cad a month, rent, utilities and grocery.
Realistically speaking, living on $1000 per month in any popular expat destination in Colombia - while theoretically possible - would not leave you with much of a life. That amount just about covers my basic monthly living expenses here in Medellín, but would leave very little for discretionary needs. Not to mention typical expenses for a pensionado visa - the costs paid for all expenses involved to obtain my second one earlier this year came to $1800 U.S., including supplementary travel health insurance and acquisition, translation and apostille of my pension documents from the U.S.
You make sense!!!
We love your videos.
We live in Mexico, migrated from the US.
We’ve lived in or visited 32 countries, all with an eye to find our eventual retirement spot.
The only thing we felt was missing is that if you’re going to mention crime in Latin American countries, we think it’s only fair you mention the s*x trade in Asian countries.
We tried the Philippines for a bit, but we were surprised to see that the number of married couples going there together is quite small.
The number of American male expats going there at 60 or 70, looking for a 20 year old to have as a girlfriend or wife, or just a “good time”is huge.
I’m not judging. Consenting adults and all that, but it’s a definite consideration.
Another culture shock to add.
I agree! I've seen some older male expats in Asia make some extremely cringe worthy remarks about women on their RUclips videos.
It’s kinda like that in Colombia too. Even Ecuador has quiet a bit of May November going on.
Where in Mexico did you settle? I am choosing Mérida. I don't live there full time yet but I did buy my retirement house, currently an air bnb.
Thailand is a bit like that too. North Thailand, around Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai, is a lot better - still a lot of guys living there wanting or marrying a Thai wife or girlfriend but the overall vibe is better, not so exploitative.
@@DestinationRetirement we’re on lake Chapala. In a small town about 20 minutes from Chapala.
35 minutes from Ajijic.
This was remarkable ❤
Like Amelia, I was super surprised about Albania. Wow, what an interesting country.
Thank you.
One concern for me. Albania is about 60% Muslim. There doesn't seem to be much open tension between groups. Most people seem to be only nominally Muslim or Christian. But some Albanians did go to Iraq to fight against Americans along with many other Muslims. I observed a few mosques having prayers with just a few there. Not concerned with most there, just concerned that a few may take things very seriously concerning Westerners, especially Americans.
@@User12345fan I have read that Albania's religion is Albanianism. Found it interesting that your national hero was a Christian fighting against the Ottomans. I in no way mean to disparage your country. It's a beautiful place. Just giving an honest concern.
Thanks for giving Colombia a try. I'm an American exPat in Bucaramanga, very different from M/dellin. My wife & I can show you around if you ever come back.
My husband and I are thinking to move to Colombia not sure how much we will need at month and the paperwork he needs to get his retirement and pension money over there without problems lots of questions but we have to start from somewhere
@@patriciaarnett5181 Any necessary paperwork re: retirement and pension funds will have to be worked out in your home country. The Colombian govt is not involved with that.
No doubt it's next to impossible to predict the future, but do you foresee yourselves ever leaving Ecuador?
Also, I noticed you rarely ever mention Chile or Argentina. Thoughts, if any, on those countries?
The visa situation in Chile and Argentina is not as easy as other countries. Argentina also has tax consequences for foreign residents and you can’t renounce citizenship if you decide to go that route.
On the other hand Argentina is one of the most relaxed places in the world concerning visas. A lot of people overstay their 90 days, many by a year or more, then pay a small fine on their way out at the airport. That's what I did. As long as you pay the fine you can reenter no problem. There are Facebook expat groups that discuss this for more info.
@@kennethkilpatrick3758 The flip side is, like in any other country, if you get caught, it could lead to detention and immediate deportation. Besides, personally, I would not want a "visa overstay" strike on my passport.
@Trade2Travel Considering most countries that sounds plausible. But Argentina literally has in their constitution that human beings can't be illegal. If you overstay your immigration status is classified as irregular. You just need to pay the fine on leaving the country to be regular again. When I say they're extremely relaxed about immigration I'm not exaggerating. After my dad passes away I'm heading back. There's no worries about being caught, nobody is looking. I'll be heading back after my dad passes.
do not even think about Chile, unless you are willing to live in not so nice areas, eat poorly, with limited choices with a small budget, you need a lot more than1K a month, unless you want to stay at a hostel type situation and eat at flea markets, and I am sorry if I offend anyone, but met a lot of Americans that had been taken for a ride with different 'opportunities" to buy property, wineries, cars, you name it or even simple household items, I swear everyone was out to make a buck out of you. Cable or a regular telephone line are also a pain, paying your bills, you got to stand in a line. If you want to receive packages they add taxes that are incredible and way more than whatever you ordered. Even regular everyday food, like pizza, burger, are horrible, the chickens are fed with fish feed so they taste like fish. Also their spanish is the weirdest dialect that they use, not recommend it at all, Colombia is NOT cheap at all, and is still a dangerous place if you are a foreigner or even from there.
Mexico on 1,000? Maybe only if you own a house there. Living in areas with good services and security calculate at least 2000 if you be lucky and get a $1000 rental.
Rentals can be had for considerably less than $1,000. I lived in Mexico for five years, and rented several lovely apartments/houses. My rent never exceeded $300 a month.
Me encanta Colombia.
I am surprised that Indonesia didn't make to list. What about Bali?
I always enjoy your vídeos but was wondering the source for this information. We have been living in Colombia for the past 6 months and the information seems very general. I really feel your numbers are very low especially with the decline of the dollar. But also thank you for all your good content.
What about Asunción, Paraguay! 🇵🇾 Anyone been to Paraguay?
The only real good thing about the south american countries metioned on this list is that if you live in america or Canada your near to home, the crime is a major problem is all of the south American countries mentioned here and who on earth wants to retire or live in a place where you are constantly having to look over your shoulder and all asian countries are safer and just as cheap of not cheaper and portugal, spain and south of france are all very affordable slightly more expensive but far safer
We look over our shoulders every time we visit the US, which we is just a dangerous.
@@AmeliaAndJP what part of america are you visiting some rum down area where they tell you not to go? the whole of south america ya need to watch over your shoulder
What about Arequipa Perú?
Malaysia has been on my short list till recently. The cost of the retirement visa (MM2H) has taken it off. WAY too much for it.
Love Ecuador but my apnea doesn't like high altitudes and that seems to be where all the good places are. 😞
I am planning to move to Cuba. Cheap, nice weather and almost no crime. Just The Best to move!
Really? Are you blood related to a Cubano/a? Otherwise it's not realistic to expect getting residency.
No crime?
@@belle42 almost! (Give me the name of a country where crime is not present).
What about Bulgaria, seems to be quite economical from vlogs
Hmmm? With the US economy failing rapidly, I wonder what the impact on Ecuador's economy and currency might be. Maybe this isn't the best time to think of settling there. What do you think?
Same currency but completely separate economies. Inflation peaked at 4% and its been back under 2% for several months.
Can't live your best life in Mexico for $1000. The huge emerging middle class makes about $1800-2100+ a month. Do your own research.
i want to go to the phillapenes
Thanks!
Muchísimas gracias! 🥳
Brazil, Belize, the Azores Portugal, Dominaca, Montenegro
I lived in Thailand for a while as well as Cambodia and Visited Vietnam more than a few times. I live now in the Philippines now. I've lived here off and on for about 20 years. For me, the Philippines is the best bet for an American because English is so widely spoken and just about everybody speaks some English especially in the cities but in the interior, it can be less common. The country's newspapers and official government documents are also in English. Thailand is a beautiful country, the food is great but as far as the Thai people go: you got to be careful with them. Personally, I don't trust them as far as I can throw them.
Thanks for your perspective since you've lived in Asia so long.
Heh. Last sentence right out of the Jimmy Buffett/Steve Goodman song:
First you learn the native customs
Soon a word of S̷p̷a̷n̷i̷s̷h̷ Thai or two
But you know that you cannot trust them
‘Cause they know they can’t trust you
👍🏾
It depends on the crowd you chose to be around. If you love to hang out around the bar, then you will find like minds.
What do you think of Uraguay?
We like Uruguay except that it’s about a 9 hour flight from Miami and 6 hours from Quito 😬
Stay away from the large cities where trash 🗑 is heavy in the streets & more expensive.
Uruguay is not cheap for day to day living. Land is much more reasonable than the US though. And currently the water in the capital is not potable. Life out on the beach is really nice though. Relaxing place with great people. The wine is great and very reasonable but a lot of other basic staples are expensive.
Uruguay
@@michaelirimia thanks for the information...
Thanks for the info !
Hey Amelia and JP! I really enjoy your videos. Thanks for all the work you do! I’m thinking of coming to Ecuador in November and I was wondering if I’m there through January 1st does my normal tourist visa reset and allow me to stay for 3 months in the following calendar year of 2024?
I know I’m only allowed to stay for 90 days each calendar year. But what happens if I’m there through the new year?
Thanks!
It’s based on the date of entry, not the calendar year. You would need to apply for the 3 month extension to stay longer.
@@AmeliaAndJP thanks for responding! Much appreciated!
My first day of arrival was January 17 2023. I stayed for one month. So I have 2 months left this year. If I go to Ecuador in mid December for example, and I stay through that date of January 17. (My first arrival) does my new 90 day visa begin? I’m curious if the standard 90 days automatically resets or I have to apply for a visa extension. I’m not sure of how that transition works while I’m in Ecuador. It’s kind of a specific situation I guess and I’m not sure the best place to find answers. I try calling the Ecuador embassy here in the states but I can’t get through for 2 days. Maybe I’ll try another embassy.
Thanks for your time!
I love heat and humidity so I think I will like Malaysia, Thailand or the Philippines.
I was in Thailand many times years ago and it is hot and humid but worth being with nice people and unbelievable low cost for a lot of things. Malaysia was hot and lots of construction around KL led to poor air quality.
I’ve been living in Manila under a retirement visa (SRRV), which was both straightforward to get and that allows me to say in the country indefinitely. In some countries, one can only get a 90days visa, which means having to leave and re-enter the country each time. It’s a pain in the ass.
Do your diligence on these 3 countries. I can tell you that the Philippines does not tax income sources (ie pensions) from outside the country. This is not the case with many countries, who tax worldwide income. While some of these countries have a tax treaty with the US, this may often only result in a tax credit. But if you move to Mediterranean Europe, their tax rates are higher than the US, which means you will pay more tax to live there.
Finally, if you are an expat and a US resident, you will, unless you renounce your US citizenship (which is an absurdly stupid thing to ever do) pay income taxes on your worldwide income. However, as such, if you are living outside the US when you actively earn income, you may qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. This means the 1st $120,000 of income is Federal income-tax free (2023, indexed annually for inflation), which is a sweet deal (you do have to pay self-employment tax, however, of 15.6%).
I can’t comment on living in the other 2 countries, but I’ve been here for 15 months. I love it.
Good list of countries, but Paraguay could be added as well 🇵🇾 ❤
if mexico so cheap then why did they raise the pension requirments up to 3500 dallors to get into the country on a pension visa
Probably to keep older people with poor health off the public healthcare system. A lot of countries are doing the same thing.
ok thanx so if ur old stay home, got it@@AmeliaAndJP
Yes old people should pay their own way. If you have health issues, you need to stay home @@randymelville9597
It depends on how you live and if you run a car for example. Tourist traps like chiang mai in Thailand would cost more than places off of the usual tourist hotspots. Capital cities and popular areas close to the beach are expensive. Vietnam is a beautiful country, great people great food. Get to eat where the locals eat for example will be the best food and prices.
What about Andorra? Its not available for under €$ a month but it has many tax benefits....
Yes! NICARAGUA. Do recommend NICARAGUA. There you will be held incommunicado for an extended and arbitrary period of time. You will love the accomodations Daniel Hortega will frolic upon providing these accomodations for YOU !
I appreciate all of your guidance, wisdom and insight. Gracias
Why would legalizing weed make rent prices go up? It’s ok if you don’t know, I thought that was strange
Because a lot of people are moving there for the legal weed. Same thing happened in Denver. More demand reduces the supply and drives up the price of what’s left.
@@AmeliaAndJP oh ok thanks for explaining
When I was in Thailand years ago the cost of many things were so much cheaper that it's probably higher just from lots of people moving there. The costs are probably still low. The pollution was better in Bangkok after they built the subway system and the sky train. Before the trains, it was difficult to breathe just walking around.
What about Bali?
I consider $1000 a month to be very expensive. I live on $500 in the UK
Please tell me how you do that, I would love to live in the UK.
@@Ara9gorn999 They do it on the dole.
@@Ara9gorn999$500 = £389. Not likely given utility bills and property taxes. Free healthcare and competition amongst retailers are strong points plus English language.
I travelled around the world, 54 countries in total. Lived short term in 7 countries. Did Asia, Europe Mid East, Europe, central and South America. In the end, I keep thinking of Toronto. The safety, convenience, lack of insects, weather, bad smells, cleanliness, corruption, etc etc etc makes allllll these countries not worth it. I genuinely tried. I wish Canada had less woke, mass migration and of course tax theft, it would be the best country in the world. Unfortunately many parts of Canada are going in the wrong direction. It now feels like NO WHERE is worth escaping to 🤷♂️