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    Super Cheap

    • Chitré, Panama
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    • Phuket, Thailand
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    Cheap

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    • Kyrenia, Cyprus
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    • Las Terrenas, The DR
    • Pisa, Italy
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    • Home
    • Countries

      Top Destinations:

      Whether you’re looking for fun and sun, a peaceful retirement, or the chance to earn some extra income, you’ve got a real world of opportunity open to you… In short, we’ve done our best to narrow down your best options, but only you can decide the right country for you.

      • Spain
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • Colombia
      • Cyprus
      • Mexico
      • France
      • Montenegro
      • Browse All Countries

      Best For:

      • The Best Places To Retire
      • Health Care Abroad
      • Cost Of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Establishing Residency
      • Gun Laws In The World
      • English-Speaking Countries
      • Safest Places For Retirement
      • Best Places In Latin America
    • Budgets

      How Much Will It Cost You To Live Overseas?

      The only honest answer is, we have no idea. And neither does anyone else. The only one who can answer that question is you. Here’s the most important thing to understand about budgeting your new life overseas…

      Super Cheap

      • Chitré, Panama
      • Santa Marta, Colombia
      • Phuket, Thailand
      • Dumaguete, The Philippines

      Cheap

      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Kyrenia, Cyprus
      • Hua Hin, Thailand
      • The Algarve, Portugal

      Affordable

      • Valencia, Spain
      • Cascais, Portugal
      • Las Terrenas, The DR
      • Pisa, Italy
      • La Rochelle, France
      • Mazatlán, Mexico

      Luxury

      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Kotor, Montenegro
      • The Panama City Beaches
      • Paris, France
    • Resources

      Global Living

      • Living & Retiring Overseas
      • Raising A Family Abroad
      • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
      • Offshore & Diversification

      Making Money

      • International Real Estate
      • Banking
      • Employment
      • Investing

      Follow Us:

      • Meet Our Experts
    • Real Estate

      Join our Weekly Newsletter
      Overseas Property Alert

      Sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive expert insights on the best international real estate investment opportunities.






        We Value Your Privacy! We will not share your email address with anyone else, period.

        Buying Real Estate For Cashflow

        • Discover tips and strategies used by global property investing veterans

        Explore Our Latest Posts

        • Learn how to invest and purchase property abroad…

        Go To The Overseas Property Alert Site

        • How To Become Independently Wealthy And Fund The Lifestyle Of Your Dreams
      • Conferences

        Upcoming Events

        • Explore Our Events Site

        Live and Invest In Spain Conference

        Offshore Wealth Summit

        Greece Workshop

        VALENCIA, SPAIN

        Sep. 17-19, 2025

        PANAMA CITY, PANAMA

        Oct. 15-17, 2025

        VIRTUAL

        Nov. 13, 2025

        LEARN MORE
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        LEARN MORE
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        LEARN MORE
        PRE-REGISTER
        • MORE EVENTS

        Contact Our Events Team

        Toll-Free U.S. and Canada:
        1 (888) 627 8834
        From Outside North America:
        1 (443) 599 1221
        Working Hours
        Monday – Friday 08:00 am – 17:00 pm EST.

        Reach us with your questions by email at: events@liveandinvestoverseas.com

      • Store

        Unlock The World

        • Access Your Library

        Overseas Havens Reports

        • Expats' comprehensive destination guides

        Conference Kits

        • Hours of coverage  from our latests conferences

        Lahardan Books

        • Titles on living and investing around the world
        • Explore Our Store
        Your passport to a life well-lived abroad

        Services

        overseas living letter offers affordable retirement guidance
        The Simon Letter Wealth Protection Insights
        Global Property Advisor Global Investment Opportunities

        Our Customer Service team is here to assist with any questions or concerns CustomerService@LiveandInvestOverseas.com

      • My Library
      Live and Invest Overseas
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        Home Retirement/Living

        A Royal Resort, A Mountain Town Retreat, And A Tropical Island Getaway

        by Kathleen Peddicord
        Dec 28, 2023
        in Retirement/Living
        0 0
        Palm tree at beach in Penang Malaysia

        AdobeStock/kjekol

        For most people thinking about retirement, either at home or overseas, budget is a key factor.

        In my more than 30 years of traversing the globe scouting out retirement havens I’ve found hundreds of places that are friendly on the pocketbook but don’t tick all the other boxes on my checklist… factors like safety, quality health care, entertainment options, welcoming community, and solid infrastructure.

        For a destination to meet my criteria, it has to be a lot more than simply affordable. It has to be somewhere you would want to spend time. Where you would be not just comfortable but happy, excited, entertained, and safe. It’s how my team and I here at Live And Invest Overseas select the destinations we recommend to you, dear reader.

        For those with an eye on both the bottom line and big adventure, Asia can be a great choice. Not only does it offer some of the world’s most cost-friendly expat havens, it’s also a land of rich culture, stunning natural beauty, and friendly locals.

        Here are three destinations in this exotic wonderland where North Americans can enjoy a rich retirement on a monthly budget as low as $1,200…

        1. Hua Hin, Thailand

        A three-hour drive from Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, takes you to the royal resort town of Hua Hin.

        This Gulf of Thailand locale, once a quiet fishing village, saw a change in its fortunes in the 1920s when the Thai royal family identified it as the ideal spot to build a palace for summer escapes from sizzling Bangkok.

        Well-heeled locals followed suit, lured by town’s four-mile stretch of beach, cooling sea breezes, and laidback pace of life.

        In the decades since, Hua Hin as established itself as a well-developed retirement haven offering excellent health care, housing options ranging from compact condos to beachfront villas and gated communities, and a large expat community and hospitality industry that mean getting by in English is no problem.

        There’s also no shortage of entertainment options here, from kite-surfing to golf, pickleball to paddle-boarding, you can be as active as you please. You’ll also find a wide range of social groups here always happy to welcome new members with interests ranging from running and cycling to wine tasting and reading.

        Depending on lifestyle choices, a couple could live comfortably here on a budget of $1,850 a month—which includes monthly rent of a centrally-located, furnished, one-bedroom, condo at $690. Opt for a three-bedroom villa with a private pool—$1,200 a month—and your overall budget will sit closer to $3,000 a month.

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        2. Da Lat, Vietnam

        In 1893, when Vietnam was part of the French colony known as French Indochina, famed physician Dr. Alexandre Yersin was sent into the country’s highlands in search of a cool-weather retreat for the colony’s French population. He found just what he was looking for in Da Lat.

        Sitting atop the Lang Bian Plateau at 4,921 feet, and surrounded by pine forests and misty peaks, the town had an Alpine-like quality.

        Game-hunting and freshwater were also in abundant supply and the temperate climate made it an ideal spot for growing all manner of produce.

        Quickly established as a French-colonial hill station, Da Lat was soon home to a health complex, schools, a golf course, parks and manmade lakes, villas, and boulevards.

        Today, many architectural and cultural remnants from that era remain giving an otherworldly feel to this hidden haven. It’s a popular spot for honeymooners and while the expat community is small, those that have settled here enjoy a comfortable lifestyle at one of the lowest costs imaginable.

        Large, conveniently located apartments rent for $400 a month, the spring-like climate means energy costs are low and often included in the rental cost, and $75 would cover a couple’s weekly grocery bill. On a monthly budget of $1,200 a couple could live very well in Da Lat.

        There are, however, a couple of caveats. English levels are low here. You can get by just fine when it comes to day-to-day activities like dining out, getting gas, or asking for directions, but if you were to make your home here, you’d need to at least pick up some of the local language.

        For health care, expats tend to use Da Lat’s private hospitals where care is of a good standard and cheap enough to pay for out of pocket. However, for more serious conditions a trip to Ho Chi Minh City, home to two JCI-accredited hospitals, would be recommended.

        3. Penang, Malaysia

        Just west of mainland Malaysia lies the tropical island of Penang.

        This safe, stable, little island offers excellent medical care, a melting pot of cultures, and diverse lifestyle, entertainment, and recreational options.

        As a former British colony, English is widely-spoken. And, with jungle trails and deserted beaches co-existing with modern infrastructure and luxury, water-front condos, it’s understandable why this island is home to such a large expat population.

        The costs are a draw, too. Penang isn’t cheap but the value for money you’ll find here is outstanding. On a monthly budget of $2,500 a couple could live in luxury, renting a large condo in a unit with a gym, pool, balcony, and 24-hour security. The street food here is world-class meaning you can dine out for just a few dollars or take your pick from a host of fine dining options if you prefer.

        Penang has a thriving arts scene, hosts festivals in music and film throughout the year, and also boasts a popular country club where you’ll find grass tennis courts, a swimming pool, library, bars, and restaurants. The island’s members-only Swimming Club offers an impressive sailing program and facilities including squash, tennis, and badminton courts as well as an outdoor pool overlooking the glittering waters of the Straits of Malacca.

        Until next time,

        Kathleen Peddicord signature

        Kathleen Peddicord

        Founding Publisher, Overseas Opportunity Letter

        Tags: 'Thailand' 'Retire To Southeast Asia''Vietnam'Malaysia
        Share92Tweet52
        Kathleen Peddicord

        Kathleen Peddicord

        Kathleen Peddicord has reported on opportunities for Americans to live, retire, and do business overseas for 40 years. She has traveled to more than 75 countries, invested in real estate in 24, established businesses in 7, renovated and built properties in 6, and educated her children in 5.

        Kathleen has moved children, staff, enterprises, household goods, and pets from the east coast of the United States to Waterford, Ireland, then to Paris, France, and finally to Panama City, Panama, where she has based her Live And Invest Overseas business. Peddicord and her husband, Lief Simon, now divide their time between Panama and Paris.

        Peddicord was a partner with Agora Publishing’s International Living group for 23 years. She opened, staffed, and operated International Living publishing and real estate marketing offices in Waterford, Ireland; Panama City, Panama; Granada, Nicaragua; Roatan, Honduras; San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Quito, Ecuador; and Paris, France. Peddicord launched Live And Invest Overseas group in 2008 and has built it into a successful multimillion-dollar business. Today, she shares her firsthand experience of expat life with more than 500,000 readers of her publications, including Overseas Opportunity Letter and Overseas Living Letter.

        Kathleen has been featured often in The New York Times, MSNBC, AARP, CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, and more and writes monthly about expat matters, international real estate, and offshore diversification for Forbes and U.S. News.

        Kathleen has written several books including the memoirs “At Home In Ireland” and “At Home At Los Islotes” and her latest title “At Home Abroad,” all published by Lahardan Books. Her best-selling "How To Retire Overseas: Everything You Need To Know To Live Well (For Less) Abroad” was published by Penguin Random House in 2018 and her “Buying Real Estate Overseas For Cash Flow (And A Better Life)” was published by Wiley in August 2020.

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          How Much Will It Cost
          To Live Overseas?

          Super Cheap

          • Chitré, Panama
          • Santa Marta, Colombia
          • Phuket, Thailand
          • Dumaguete, The Philippines

          Cheap

          • Medellin, Colombia
          • Boquete, Panama
          • Kyrenia, Cyprus
          • Hua Hin, Thailand
          • The Algarve, Portugal

          Affordable

          • Valencia, Spain
          • Cascais, Portugal
          • Las Terrenas, The DR
          • Pisa, Italy
          • La Rochelle, France
          • Mazatlán, Mexico

          Luxury

          • Ambergris Caye, Belize
          • Kotor, Montenegro
          • The Panama City Beaches
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