You Can Live In These Charming Destinations For Less Than $1,000 A Month

Let's face it, with the cost of living ever rising in many places, the idea of moving to a more affordable place is becoming increasingly enticing. In many parts of the world, housing costs have skyrocketed, groceries are on the rise, and in some places — like the United States – healthcare costs are enough to put a person in financial ruin. All of these expenses, combined with the burnout that comes from the amount of work required to survive, leave many ready for a change of pace. 

With many charming, vibrant, and affordable destinations across the world, there are still many wonderful places to call home that won't break the bank, even if you're looking to spend less than $1,000 a month. Think that sounds too good to be true? We've compiled a list of 11 fantastic locations where you can live on a budget, and not just scrape by, but where you can live an enjoyable life. We took into consideration multiple factors that affect the cost of living, including housing, utilities, transportation, dining, and groceries, to determine an approximate cost of living in each location. All of these major costs had to total $1,000 or less per month to qualify for the list. We'll dive into each destination, exploring what makes it so special and breaking down the cost of living. 

It's hard to find a more charming and idyllic affordable destination than Bali, Indonesia. This small island has it all: pristine mountains, gorgeous coastline, dense green forests, picturesque rice patties, and a vibrant culture. There's plenty to do in Bali, whether it's sunbathing on any of the gorgeous beaches, exploring the many historic and culturally significant temples, eating excellent street food, or climbing a towering volcano like Mount Agung. You will truly never be bored living in Bali.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in a pleasant town such as Canggu, Sanur, or the surrounding areas will vary significantly depending on the level of amenities you require. You can rent a lovely guesthouse with one bedroom, a private kitchen, and a bathroom from a local for as little as $250 a month, or you can find more luxurious long-term rentals on Airbnb for as little as $400 a month. 

The most common form of transportation in Bali is a motor scooter, which can be rented for as little as $70 per month. Fuel is quite affordable, too, at just $0.75 per liter. When living in Bali, it is common to spend a total of around $100 a month on transportation, including fuel, rental, and general maintenance costs. If you cook your own meals and dine at local restaurants, you can spend very little on food each month. At a warung, you can get a large, regional, and delicious meal for as little as $1 and a month's worth of non-imported groceries from a local store for around $100.

Situated in the northwest of Thailand, Chiang Mai is a cultural hub with vibrant night markets, gorgeous surrounding mountains, and fantastic food. If you're looking for an affordable and charming destination, Chiang Mai is hard to beat. Being the historic capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, there are numerous beautiful architectural structures, gorgeous Buddhist temples, and timeless art inspired by neighboring regions of Myanmar, India, and China. This city is unique in Thailand, with its own distinct cultural identity that stretches back nearly 800 years. You can see remnants of this ancient culture within the old city center of town, surrounded by a moat and speckled with over 300 temples. At the base of some of the most pristine mountain ranges of northern Thailand, you cannot help but feel a spiritual connection with this place, and it beckons you to stay longer. 

Luckily, staying in Chiang Mai won't cost you a fortune, and living here for under $1,000 a month is relatively easy. Rents in the city run for around $380 to $500 a month for a decent one-bedroom apartment or condo in the city center, and can be found for even cheaper if you're willing to live more on the outskirts of the city. Food is also quite affordable, with delicious local food costing as low as $1 to $3 per meal. Transportation is affordable here, with a bus ticket for a nice day trip to a place like the hidden, local favorite town of Pai for less than $6. All in all, it's possible to live in this area for around $800 to $900 a month comfortably. 

For a beachside paradise with great food and a small but close-knit immigrant community, look no further than Da Nang, Vietnam. Vietnam is no stranger to lists like this, as it is a notoriously affordable destination to live in. But few places in Vietnam offer as much without being too overwhelming or too far off the beaten path. Da Nang, however, is a coastal city that has a little bit of everything — white sand beaches, a large river, and proximity to popular destinations like the ancient port city and UNESCO site Hoi An. Whether you crave quaint beachside bliss or bustling city vibes, you will feel right at home here. 

Da Nang is also incredibly affordable to live in, with rents costing as low as $250 a month, which leaves a lot of room in the budget for dining, groceries, and activities, which are also all quite reasonable. To get a nice local meal in Da Nang, you're looking at around $1 to $4 each, depending on the level of dining you are searching for. Street meals are the most affordable option, where you can get banh mi and pho for under $2. Altogether, you'll likely be able to live a comfortable life in Da Nang for less than $800 a month.

On the other side of the Pacific Ocean lies another haven for affordable, charming, and cultural life: Arequipa, Peru. Once the capital of Peru during the colonial period, this town is renowned for its historical architecture, featuring majestic white sandstone buildings set against a backdrop of volcanic peaks. As you walk down the cobblestone streets of the city center in this inviting environment, you'll see why this is an excellent destination to call home — and you'll like the cost savings, too. 

Rent in Arequipa is quite manageable, with one-bedroom apartments within the city costing as low as $300 per month. If you plan on eating at local eateries often, known as picanterias, you can expect to spend around $4 per meal, and coffee costs around $2. There are plenty of cheap and free activities to do when you live in Arequipa, including walking all around the old town, spending time in the surrounding wilderness, shopping for small crafts and goods at the many local artisan markets, and enjoying any of the great museums in the area. In total, living in Arequipa will cost you an average of $750 a month.

If you're in search of a charming destination to live with beautiful landscapes, well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture, and comfortably affordable living in South America, Sucre, Bolivia, may just be the place for you. This place offers all the amenities and fun of living in a bigger city, combined with a more laid-back lifestyle that is a great change of pace from the hustle and grind of life. If you're a fan of outdoor adventure, Sucre is a great jumping-off point for various activities, including hiking and trekking, canyoning, and camping. You can even visit Cal Orck'o Cretaceous Park, home to the world's largest collection of dinosaur footprints!

Living in Sucre is incredibly affordable, especially compared to larger, better-known cities in Bolivia, such as La Paz and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment/condo in Sucre's city center is less than $200 a month, and food costs are incredibly low, too. You can purchase a nice local meal for around $2 to $5, or spend around $140 a month for groceries to cook for yourself. Transportation costs are relatively inexpensive, with bus tickets to popular destinations in Bolivia, such as Uyuni, costing around $15 each way for a comfortable, lie-flat seat. This means you can live affordably in Sucre, and still have enough money to travel around and enjoy other parts of the country on a budget. In total, expect to spend around $700 a month here. 

While many countries in Europe are notoriously expensive (and increasingly so), some countries, especially in Eastern Europe, remain relatively affordable and offer charm, culture, history, and quality of life. If you're looking for a picturesque, quiet, and peaceful European destination to call home, look no further than Bacău, Romania. Once a central trading hub in the ancient region of Moldova, dating back to the 14th century, Bacău is rich in history, as evidenced by its distinct culture, traditions, and architecture. Outside the city lies the Carpathian Mountains, which are a hub for outdoor recreation such as hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, and more. 

Bacău is also one of the most affordable areas in Romania, with rents as low as $350 a month, leaving a significant budget for activities, recreation, and travel. Want to spend a weekend or two away each month to visit other awesome Romanian cities, such as Brașov or Bucharest? You can get a monthly Euro Rail pass within Romania for as low as $130 a month. Eating out at local restaurants is relatively affordable, with costs ranging from $8 to $12 per meal. You can save quite a bit when you cook for yourself, as the average monthly grocery bill for one person is a little under $200. All in all, you can live in Bacău for around $900 a month. 

While Greece may seem like a bucket list destination rather than an affordable place to live, there are places on the picturesque island of Crete where you can live for cheap. Villages outside the well-known city of Chania, such as Vamos and Plaka Cafales, or towns in the Apokoronas region, are affordable enough to live on a small budget of under $1,000. 

Rent for a one-bedroom apartment on the island of Crete varies depending on your proximity to the major areas, but you can expect to pay on average $300 to $500 a month for a nice place. If you love food from the Mediterranean, you'll be happy to know that a local meal at a taverna on the island of Crete will cost you only around $10 to $15 per meal. While this is a bit pricey for daily eating, you can save quite a bit of money by cooking for yourself, as the monthly grocery cost is only $300. Transportation is reasonable, too, as you can get yourself an unlimited monthly public transport pass to take you nearly anywhere on the island for as little as $70 a month. Overall, this is one of the more expensive areas on the list, but still affordable, with a monthly cost of around $950 to live comfortably. 

If you're looking for an affordable and charming destination filled with vibrant culture and some of the best food in the world, you'll want to consider Bursa, Turkey. Bursa has it all; it's renowned as one of the country's leading food hubs, with incredible cuisine on every corner. It has a rich Ottoman history that is evident in its buildings and traditions, and it also boasts numerous outdoor recreation opportunities in the nearby Uludag Mountain. 

The cost of living is quite economical in Bursa, where you can rent a nice one-bedroom apartment in town for around $250 to $400 per month. You'll get to experience the world-famous dining without breaking the bank, too, with local street fares costing as low $3 and modest restaurants costing as low as $9 per meal. With tons of great local markets, you can also cook high-quality meals at home with groceries costing only around $200 a month. It's pretty affordable to get around Bursa as well, with bus and tram fares costing around 85 cents, which will take you throughout the city. If you want to travel to other amazing Turkish destinations, such as the bustling bohemian neighborhoods of Istanbul, you can take a bus for as little as $12 each way. Even within a budget of less than $1,000 a month, you'll be able to see quite a lot.

Further east, in the charming "Pink City" of Jaipur, India, you can find a lifestyle that's laid-back, full of vibrant colors, rich culture, and fantastic food. Here, you'll find many bustling markets and bazaars, antique and unique architecture, and a growing infrastructure — it's a perfect blend of history and modernity. It's easy to find things to do in this lively city, with iconic sites such as the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Wind), Amer Fort (pictured above), and, of course, all the beautiful pink-painted structures that give the city its name. The color originates from an 1876 law passed by Maharaja Ram Singh, who ordered the buildings to be painted pink in anticipation of Prince Albert's visit to symbolize hospitality, and it lives on today. 

One of the most affordable destinations on this list, Jaipur is so budget-friendly that $1,000 a month leaves room for more than just a comfortable life. We're talking about rents as low as $150 a month, and that includes the cost of utilities. Great food is abundant in Jaipur, with meals costing just $1 to $2 at a modest restaurant, and just $3 to $6 at a nicer establishment. Groceries are incredibly cheap as well; you can easily spend less than $100 per month on quality items to cook awesome meals at home. Considering all the typical costs of living, you could certainly live a nice, comfortable life in Jaipur for less than $600 a month. 

Africa is a wonderful place to consider when searching for charming and affordable destinations to live, and one of the greatest up-and-coming cities that checks many of the boxes for both digital nomads and retirees is Dar es Salaam, the capital city of Tanzania. Whether you're searching for an urban hub, seeking incredible wildlife excursions, or want to embark on a grand adventure such as climbing the infamous Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania is a great country for all of the above. Dar es Salaam boasts a strong and growing international community, making it a comfortable place to settle for immigrants. This coastal city offers a unique culture and beautiful beaches.

In Dar es Salaam, it's easy to find a lovely one-bedroom house or apartment for $200, and it can even be as low as $100 a month. Experiencing the great local food in Tanzania is also affordable here, with meals costing as low as $1 at a street vendor, or up to around $5 to $10 for a nicer meal in a local restaurant. Groceries won't set you back much either — you can buy a month's worth of great, local, and fresh ingredients for around $150 a month. Getting around is cheap, with a monthly public transport pass costing just $18 a month. All combined, you can expect to pay just $700 a month to live in Dar es Salaam.

Just a 35-minute flight north east of Dar es Salaam is another incredible, budget-friendly African destination, Mombasa, Kenya. A lovely tropical coastal city, Mombasa boasts a rich heritage, a vibrant and lively culture, and incredibly affordable living. There are numerous beautiful beaches, heritage sites such as Fort Jesus, nature parks, and much more to explore. 

The cost of living in Mombasa varies significantly depending on where you live in the city and the level of luxury you expect from your lifestyle. To live in one of the more upscale and immigrant-friendly neighborhoods, such as Nyali, you will pay around $400 to $500 a month for a nice, serviced apartment with amenities and utilities included. If you're willing to venture out further, you can pay much less, even as little as $200 a month. A local meal will cost you anywhere from $2 to $10, depending on how fancy you want to get, and groceries for a month will cost around $150 a month. Public transportation in Mombasa is exceptionally affordable, with weekly unlimited passes costing just under $4. Considering all costs, you can easily live a relatively high-quality lifestyle in Mombasa for around $800 a month, or a more modest, comfortable lifestyle for as low as $600 a month. 

When compiling this list, we took into consideration multiple factors regarding the affordability of each destination, including the cost of housing (specifically the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment), groceries, medical expenses and insurance, utilities, transportation, dining out, and occasionally engaging in local events and activities. Each of these costs must total $1,000 or less per month. We also made sure that each destination is safe, expat-friendly, and pleasant. We used a combination of local insights, personal experiences, and reputable online resources to verify the affordability, ensuring that each location is actually as affordable as stated.