12 Beautiful Places Where You Can Live for Less Than $2,500 a Month

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Living abroad, whether for one month or a year, is an incredible experience that opens our eyes to new and exciting places, cultures, and opportunities. However, if you’ve never done it, moving to another country can seem daunting.

There are so many fantastic places to choose from that deciding where to move can be challenging. To help you find the perfect place to live abroad, we’ve compiled a list of 12 beautiful places where you can live for less than $2,500 monthly. We’ve selected these entries based on their beauty, wide range of things to do, and value.

Edinburgh, Scotland

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Unfortunately, the English capital, London, is too expensive to make this list. However, the Scottish capital, which has convenient train line connections to London, has just as much to offer, but at a more affordable price. According to Living Cost, one person can live comfortably in Edinburgh for approximately $2,043 monthly, almost $1,300 less than in London.

Edinburgh is a picturesque capital city famed for its beautiful architecture, stunning natural surroundings, and medieval history. When you’re not exploring the Old Town or shopping in the Georgian New Town, hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat, admire the beauty of Edinburgh Castle, and jump on a bus to one of the nearby coastal towns.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

If you have a budget of $2,500 a month, you could make impressive savings or live like a king in Chiang Mai, Thailand. A single person living in Chiang Mai can live on a budget of less than $1,000 monthly. That gives you plenty of extra cash to save, travel around Thailand, or stay somewhere more luxurious.

Founded in 1296, this beautiful city in Thailand’s mountainous northern region is loved for its lush natural surroundings, historic architecture, and many things to do. Popular activities in the city include hiking, caring for elephants, and temple hunting. The most famous attractions include Wat Chedi Luang Temple, Grand Canyon Waterpark, and the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary.

Tahiti, French Polynesia

It’ll probably come as a big surprise to many of you, but living in French Polynesia, an island nation famed for its luxury overwater villas, white sand beaches, and crystal-clear turquoise water for less than $2,500 a month is possible. Admittedly, you won’t be able to live in unparalleled luxury, but you’ll have a tropical island paradise at your doorstep.

A single person can live in Tahiti for between $1,000 and $2,000 monthly. In places like Punaauia, apartments and small homes can be rented for $800 a month or less. Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia. If you make the move, you’ll spend most of your time swimming in lagoons, discovering waterfalls, and generally just living a relaxed lifestyle. What’s not to like?

Mykonos, Greece

Things You Should Know Before Going to the Greek Islands Budgeting — © pkazmierczak / Adobe Stock

If you’ve always dreamt of living on a Greek island, look no further than Mykonos. One of Greece’s upmarket tourist destinations, Mykonos is a gorgeous island with pristine beaches, charming coastal towns, and a vibrant nightlife. It’s not the cheapest Greek island, but you can live comfortably for approximately $2,000 a month.

One of the most appealing parts of the island is Mykonos Town, a traditional Cycladic village built around a bay. You’ll find beautiful whitewashed houses, an old port, the charming Little Venice neighborhood, the iconic Windmills of Mykonos, and countless places to eat, drink, and party. Most of the action in the town is found on Matoyianni Street.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Sadly, many cities and towns in the United States have a cost of living above our budget of $2,500 monthly, but some hidden gems have much to offer. Tulsa, Oklahoma, is one of them. The average cost of living for a single person in the city is approximately $2,014 per month.

Regarding what the city has to offer, Tulsa is a picturesque city that sits on the Arkansas River. It’s best known for its Art Deco architecture and famous landmarks, although many people enjoy the city’s serene parks. Significant points of interest include the Deco District, famed for landmarks like the Philtower and the Mayo Hotel, the Philbrook Museum of Art, and the Center of the Universe acoustic phenomenon.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is one of the finest cities in the world, so it would be a real treat to say you’ve lived there. Despite often being regarded as one of the most expensive cities in Europe, a single person can live in the city for approximately $1,125 monthly without rent. That leaves you with almost $1,500 to put towards an apartment.

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Austria’s capital sits on the Danube River in the country’s east. It’s much loved for its music heritage, imperial palaces, and historic center. Interestingly, famous residents in the city included Beethoven, Mozart, and Sigmund Freud. Noteworthy places to visit in the city include Schönbrunn, Hofburg, St. Stephan’s Cathedral, Belvedere Palace, and Schönbrunn Zoo.

Whistler, Canada

Whistler is a beautiful town north of Vancouver, British Columbia. Offering some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the winter and excellent hiking and mountain biking in the summer, there’s arguably no better place to live if you love the great outdoors. Whistler is most famous for Whistler Blackcomb, one of the largest ski resorts in North America.

The area is also famous for snowshoeing, ski jumping, and tobogganing. In summer, ride the Whistler Village Gondola while keeping your eyes peeled for the town’s bear population. Enjoy the picturesque surroundings in the town, admire the chalet-style buildings, and tuck into a feast overlooking the mountains. Regarding prices, living in Whistler costs approximately $1,843 monthly.

Cancun, Mexico

Next, we have Cancun, a lively Mexican city on the Yucatán Peninsula, bordering the Caribbean Sea. This vibrant city is a fantastic place to live if you want to spend your days soaking up the sun on white sand beaches, swimming in crystal-clear turquoise waters, and indulging in Mexican cuisine.

The best beach in the city is Playa Delfines, otherwise known as Dolphin Beach. When you’re not relaxing on the beach, explore the city’s two distinct areas: the downtown area, El Centro, and Zona Hotelera, a beachfront strip featuring shops, restaurants, and nightclubs. Points of interest in Cancun include El Rey Archaeological Zone, La Isla Cancún, and Playa Tortugas. Expats can live comfortably in Cancun for $1,397 monthly.

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels consistently ranks among the most expensive cities in the world. However, living in the city for less than $2,500 monthly is possible. An expat’s average cost of living is $2,243 a month, including rent, utilities, and groceries.

Many people might know this beautiful city best for its chocolate, waffles, and fries, but it has so much more to offer than that. The Belgium capital is a fascinating city filled with beautiful Gothic cathedrals, Art Deco taverns, stunning Flemish art, and quaint houses. Famous attractions in the city you don’t want to miss include the Grand Place, Atomium, Parc du Cinquantenaire, and Mount of the Arts.

Melbourne, Australia

The cost of living in Melbourne, the capital of Australia’s southeastern state, Victoria, is high, but you can keep your monthly costs below $2,500. According to Instarem, a single person’s total cost of living can be kept at $2,367 monthly. However, if you’re savvy with your money, you could make some small sacrifices to keep costs down.

Regarding what the city offers, Melbourne is a picturesque coastal city with an impressive cityscape, lush parks, and a scenic coastline. In the city center, spend time walking along the banks of the Yarra River, watching shows at Federation Square, exploring the Southbank area, and visiting the National Gallery of Victoria. Alternatively, kick back at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria or St Kilda Beach.

Morro de São Paulo, Brazil

Places to Live for Less Than $2,500 a Month Morro de São Paulo, Brazil — © Andreas / Adobe Stock

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of big city life, look at Morro de São Paulo. Morro de São Paulo is a gorgeous car-free village located at the northeastern tip of Tinharé Island in Brazil. Here, you can spend time roaming the palm-tree-lined beaches, floating in the calm waters, and immersing yourself in local cultures.

Better yet, the cost of living in the village is reasonable. Couples looking to rent a one-bedroom house or apartment in the village can do so for as little as $460 monthly. That leaves you with a whopping $1,000 monthly for everything else. Popular attractions in Morro de São Paulo include First Beach, Second Beach, and Morro de São Paulo Lighthouse.

Tokyo, Japan

The final destination on our list is Tokyo, Japan’s busy capital. This city beautifully combines traditional culture with ultramodern architecture. One minute, you’ll stroll through streets lined with tall neon-lit skyscrapers. Next, you’ll discover ancient temples. If you’re lucky, you’ll even glimpse spectacular views of Mount Fuji on the horizon.

Aside from its apparent beauty, one of Tokyo’s major draws is its wide range of activities. When not hunting down the best temples or tucking into a tasty bowl of ramen, explore the vibrant shopping districts and have fun in one of the many giant arcades. Notable attractions include the Shibuya Crossing, Sensō-ji, Tokyo Skytree, and Asakusa. The cost of living for expats in Tokyo is approximately $1,922 monthly.