How Much Will It Cost To Live Overseas?
The cost of living overseas varies widely and depends on your location and personal lifestyle preferences. You can control expenses almost anywhere, making it possible to live within your means in most locations. Here’s a look at the cost of living in our favorite overseas havens this 2026…
When it comes to a move overseas, the cost of living is a key deciding factor for most people. Since you’re reading this, we’re going to bet that you’re searching for a richer life for a lower cost and we’re here help.
So, how much will a move overseas slash your cost of living by?
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: You can spend as much or as little as you want to live almost anywhere.
Some places are generally more affordable than others, and a handful of places are downright cheap. But globalization means you can enjoy more or less any standard of living more or less anywhere on earth, if you’re willing to pay for it.
As with any rule there are, of course, exceptions. In some places, your cost of living is artificially low because, frankly, there isn’t much for you to spend your money on. This is not to say that, in these places, you couldn’t enjoy a comfortable, interesting, exotic, even fun, exciting, and adventure-filled life. But you’d be living simply, because you’d have no option. The only life in these places is the simple life.
If cost of living is your primary motivation for thinking about moving to another country, the bargain havens we identify are your best starting point.
And, if you’re not looking to move on a super-tight budget (of, say, $1,500 a month or less), you have many good options, and here’s what we strongly suggest:
Stop obsessing over this cost-of-living question. Yes, of course, you need to know that you’ll be able to afford to live in whatever country you decide to try on for size, but here are a few other things to remember, as well.
For example, your cost of living almost anywhere is controllable. It will not be the same as our cost of living in that same place or, necessarily, the cost of living in that place for anyone else you might speak with.
Most expense items–everything from housing to health care, from travel to entertainment, from your monthly grocery bill to your phone/cable/Internet package–are hugely variable and can be managed.
For instance, there is a gentleman, an American, living in downtown Panama City on a budget of $950 a month. We wouldn’t have believed it if he hadn’t itemized his monthly costs for us. He’s renting a small furnished house (without air conditioning), in a local neighborhood, for $500 a month and controlling his other expenses so effectively that they amount to no more than another $400 a month.
Others are spending more than five times that amount each month to live in the same city.
Maybe you could live in Panama City on under $1,000 a month, or maybe that lifestyle would make you miserable. Maybe you’d spend more than others are spending to enjoy the standard of living you’re looking for. We know people who do.
Panama City is a place where you can find almost any product or service you might be in the market for… and avail of it if you’re willing to ante up.
Second, cost of living is a forever-moving target, especially if you’re living in a country whose currency differs from the currency in which you derive your income.
Third, none of this is really the point.
The point is, again, that you can control your cost of living, within parameters, almost anywhere in the world.
So, one more time, we can’t tell you how much it will cost you to live in any of the places we recommend you consider launching a new life. We can, though, with the help of our far-flung network of correspondents already at home in these places, give you broad and general guidelines for reference… as a solid starting point.
One more thing before you get to the numbers. Just as a one-size-fits-all budget for living in any country is next-to-meaningless, so is any budget that claims to represent the cost of living in any country overall. A budget for a country such as Panama, Portugal, Italy, Thailand, or any other is useless, because the cost of living in Panama City, for example, is nothing like the cost of living in Boquete or Pedasí or Chirté or anywhere else within this rich and varied little isthmus.
All that said, we can and do present general guideline cost of living budgets for our preferred havens. After all, wherever you go some costs—rent, health care, transport, and energy bills for example—are pretty much a given. The variables within them only you can manage.
The cost of living budgets given here are for two. Unfortunately, for singles, the amount doesn’t simply halve. As a guide, singles are looking at around two-thirds of the stated amount, sometimes it will be much the same as the big-ticket item of housing is generally the same for singles.
For now, check out our 12 preferred havens for 2026 and our guideline budgets for each. They run from $1,442 a month right up to $3,305 a month. In our cheapest haven you might want to spend double… in our most expensive you might find you halve that cost… but it’s a solid starting point so let’s dive in…
Budget: Under $2,000 A Month Per Couple
Hua Hin, Thailand
Thailand is one of the least expensive places in the world to live well on a modest budget… If you want to live a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget, it’s probably the best country in the world to do so.
In Hua Hin, studio apartments in well-equipped complexes can be rented for under $400 a month. One-bedroom, furnished apartments can be found for $550 a month. For $700 a month, you could rent a well-located two-bedroom villa or three-bedroom townhouse.
Little luxuries like massages can also be a part of your weekly routine here with an hour-long massage costing as little as $10. A visit to a national park is around $8, a pass for the nearby water park is $35, a one-day cookery class is $55, and a kite-surfing lesson is around $100. For golfers, 18 holes will set you back anywhere from $45 to $120 depending on your pick of the nearby courses.
- Rent:$700 a month
- Coffee: $1
- Beer: $2
- Meal Out: $10
- Movie Ticket: $4
- GP Visit: $15
Crete, Greece
Crete is an affordable place to live, and because the island is so big, there’s enough room for budget flexibility. Outside of the cities, rent can be as little as $500 per month.
Local produce and olive oil are cheap, and so too is dining out, with the average meal at a taverna costing about $18.
Two expenses you’ll most likely have to take on are the cost of car ownership (fuel can be pricey) and electricity because you’ll definitely want air conditioning at home.
- Rent: $850
- Coffee: $3
- Beer: $4
- Meal Out: $18
- Movie Ticket: $6
- GP Visit: $35
Mendoza, Argentina
Mendoza is one of Argentina’s most affordable cities. You can rent a semi-furnished two-bedroom apartment for around $800 a month and getting around is cheap and easy—a bus ride costs less than $1 and the public transport system is fairly well-organized.
The catch? Argentina’s high inflation and fluctuating peso mean you need to be savvy with money.
- Rent: $800 a month
- Coffee: $2
- Beer: $2
- Meal Out: $20
- Movie Ticket: $10
- GP Visit: $20
Mid-Range: Under $2,500 A Month Per Couple
Tarragona, Spain
In Tarragona, you’ll pay less for housing, groceries, transport, eating out, and utilities here than in Spain’s big cities. Furnished studio apartments can be rented for under $650 a month. Two-bedroom, furnished apartments can be found for under $900 a month.
For groceries, it’s worth heading to the Central Market (Mercat Central) or smaller neighborhood markets for fresh produce, seafood, and local specialties, which are often cheaper and fresher than what you’ll find in the big chains.
Tarragona is a compact and very walkable city, which helps keep transport costs low. Most errands, the beaches, and historic areas can be reached on foot. Local buses are inexpensive, and a single ride typically costs just a couple of bucks.
- Rent: $875 a month
- Coffee: $2.50
- Beer: $2.50
- Meal Out: $15
- Movie Ticket: $8
- GP Visit: $45
Santa Familia, Belize
The cost of living in Belize’s Cayo district varies depending on your personal preferences and habits… You’ll go through an adjustment period as you learn where to find the best local meal and venture away from the costlier restaurants that feel familiar but charge more than locals could afford on a regular basis.
One of the key differences for North Americans moving to Belize is that you won’t find big box stores here for one-stop shopping. To get everything you need you’ll likely need to take a trip to a market, a butcher, baker, and so on.
Telephone, internet, water, and basic utilities are very reasonable compared to the States but electricity and fuel is a little higher.
- Rent: $825 a month
- Coffee: $1
- Beer: $2
- Meal Out: $12
- GP Visit: $25
- Monthly Average: $2,035
Gascony, France
Gascony is yet another destination that proves that life in Europe is not financially out of reach for Americans…
This part of France can be easily affordable, especially if you live like a local and make use of the local markets, which sell affordable local goods and produce.
You can rent a studio apartment here for under $500 a month or a house with a garden for around $800.
- Rent: $850 a month
- Coffee: $2
- Beer: $5
- Meal Out: $30
- Movie Ticket: $10
- GP Visit: $40
Sardinia, Italy
Living in Sardinia can be relatively affordable when compared to North America and other parts of Italy. As with most anywhere, life in the capital city will cost more and the same applies to the tourist hotspots. A budget of around $2,000 a month will see a couple living well here and that will include rent in a popular spot like Alghero.
If you’re happy to get off the beaten track and live among the locals you can find homes renting for as little as $400 a month, which would reduce your overall budget considerably.
- Rent: $950 a month
- Coffee: $2.50
- Beer: $5
- Meal Out: $25
- Movie Ticket: $9
- GP Visit: $55
Kotor, Montenegro
One of Kotor’s biggest advantages is the wide budget range it accommodates. You can enjoy a great meal at a local joint for under $20 or splash out at one of Porto Montenegro’s swanky restaurants where dinner and drinks can cost you a couple hundred bucks.
You can indulge in little luxuries here too… a 60-minute massage for $40, a boat trip for $35, a $15 yoga class, a $20 manicure, a slice of freshly made cake for $3…
While newer, larger rentals average around $900 a month, if you’re happy to settle in an older building and a smaller place, studios and one-bedroom units can be found for as little as $500 a month.
- Rent: $900 a month
- Coffee: $3
- Beer: $4
- Meal Out: $20
- Movie Ticket: $8
- GP Visit: $40
Las Terranas, Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic remains one of the more affordable options in the Caribbean but thanks to its ever increasing popularity, prices are going up year on year. That said, for the most part, costs here are still about half of what you’d pay in North America.
As a guide for grocery costs, eggs are around $1 for six, a box of pasta is about $3, a loaf of bread is $2, a packet of ground coffee is around $6, a tube of toothpaste is $5, a bottle of wine is $7, and a six-pack of beer is $8.
When it comes to dining out, you can enjoy a local breakfast for $4, for lunch you’ll pay around $15 and dinner around $20.
When it comes to real estate, $1,100 a month will get you a good-sized, furnished rental in a great location but you can find smaller places for as little as $500 a month.
- Rent: $1,100 a month
- Coffee: $1.50
- Beer: $3
- Meal Out: $16
- Manicure: $15
- Gent’s Haircut: $8
- GP Visit: $30
Boquete, Panama
One of Boquete’s strongest selling points is its affordability. It’s true that it isn’t the bargain it used to be but compared to the rising cost of living in North America, Boquete offers retirees a chance to stretch their retirement dollars further without sacrificing quality of life.
As with anywhere, your cost of living will depend on the lifestyle you choose. If you rent a casita, shop in local markets, and use public transport you could get by on $1,500 a month. If you choose to live in a large villa, dine out often, run a car, buy imported goods, and enjoy mornings on the golf course or afternoons at the spa, your monthly budget will easily exceed $5,000.
Housing is a significant expense for most retirees. Boquete provides options to suit a variety of budgets.
If you’re looking for a long-term rental, around a 20-minute drive out of town they can be found for as little as $500 a month but as you get closer to the downtown area the prices can rise considerably depending on the property—price start around $800 a month for smaller units and rise from there.
Daily expenses are manageable. Groceries, particularly locally grown produce, are inexpensive. The Tuesday Market and Mercado Artesanal where local farmers have stands offer everything from ripe avocados to organic honey at a fraction of North American prices.
- Rent: $1,250 a month
- Coffee: $3
- Beer: $2.50
- Meal Out: $20
- Movie Ticket: $4
- GP Visit: $20
- Monthly Average: $2,400
Jet-Set: $2,500+ A Month Per Couple
The Algarve, Portugal
As Portugal’s popularity has exploded in recent years, its cost of living has increased, particularly on the sun-soaked Algarve. For a couple, a monthly budget of around $3,000 is a good guide but of course this will depend on where in the Algarve you choose to call home and how you choose to live.
The minimum wage in Portugal is €870 (around $1,010) per month and the average salary is around €1,800 (around $2,087) per month so people can and do live here for a lot less.
In the central Algarve, about 12 miles west of Faro Airport, lies “The Golden Triangle” an upscale enclave encompassing the ritzy resorts of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago, along with the bustline town of Almancil. The resort town of Vilamoura, while not technically part of the Golden Triangle is often included due to its proximity and luxurious lifestyle offerings. Settle in this part of the Algarve and you’ll both live and spend well. Monthly rentals start from around $2,300 in these parts.
For more budget-friendly options consider the lively coastal city of Portimão in central Algarve or head east to the fishing town of Olhão or the charming riverside town of Tavira—a former Retirement Index winner. In each of these spots monthly rentals can still be found for under $950.
- Rent: $1,700 a month
- Coffee: $1.50
- Beer: $3
- Meal Out: $25
- Movie Ticket: $9
- GP Visit: $45
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
As Puerto Vallarta’s popularity has grown with tourists and expats, its prices have risen. It’s by no means a cheap place to live but it is still largely affordable by North American standards.
For a couple, a monthly budget of $3,305 is a good guide but of course you can spend a good deal less… or more… depending on your tastes and interests…
If you mostly get around by bus, shop and dine in local spots, and stick to domestic beers when going out, you’ll spend little on a daily basis. Those who prefer taking cabs everywhere, fine dining, and European wines will obviously spend much more.
When it comes to property prices, they run the gamut. In a popular spot like Zona Romantica you can expect to pay from $2,500 to $4,500 a month for a two-bedroom condo. Move a little farther from the beach to the Bucerias area and you can find rentals from $700 a month. In a residential community like Valle Dorado you could find a rental for as little as $500 a month.
- Rent: $2,000 a month
- Coffee: $2
- Beer: $4
- Meal Out: $25
- Movie Ticket: $4
- GP Visit: $20
