Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this video, I'm covering 7 of the best places to live on $1,000 per month. After traveling to dozens of countries across 6 continents, these are some cheap places to live where the quality of life is high.
This is based on my own travel experience as well as research and talking to other frequent travelers who have loved living in these countries.
For each country, I cover data like rent prices, grocery costs, cell phone and internet bill plans, and what percentage of the country speaks English. Hopefully, this video helps you stick to your budget while finding a great place to live for $1,000 a month!
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The cheap places to live on $1,000 a month I cover in this video include:
1️⃣ Romania
Romania is certainly a cheap country to live in with tons of perks. You get Medieval towns and history, wonderful food, beautiful nature, and access to mountains plus the Black Sea. On top of that, rent prices in smaller cities remain affordable. You can also consider nearby countries like Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, and others for affordable places to live.
2️⃣ Colombia
I've spent a lot of time in Colombia, and it's another excellent place to live on $1K a month if you're a bit savvy. Local rent prices in cities and towns can be affordable. Plus, in cities like Medellin, you can find tons of shared housing or hostels that are very affordable. Food is also quite inexpensive, as are cell phone plans. Colombia is also a growing destination for digital nomads, which is one reason I've visited 3 times.
3️⃣ Montenegro
I've spent a summer in Montenegro, visiting towns like Tivat and Kotor. And while Airbnb prices can be high here, local rent prices can be more affordable. Montenegro also has beautiful nature, kind people, and a nice mix of food and local dishes for you to explore. In my experience, it felt like visiting Croatian coastal towns, just way less crowded and cheaper.
4️⃣ Thailand
Thailand is one of the cheapest countries to live in and is also a cheap retirement destination. Plus, cities like Chiang Mai and Phuket are very popular for nomads, as is Bangkok for business. With Thailand, you can find incredibly cheap rentals. Food is also highly inexpensive, and there are tons of markets and fun street food vendors to try. Internet is cheap too, and many people save on transportation with cheap scooter rentals. I spent a few months in Thailand and certainly plan on returning!
5️⃣ Ecuador
Ecuador is another cheap country to live in that's not on everyone's radar quite yet. I haven't been to Ecuador yet, but many of my friends have. The rent is cheap, food is affordable, and people are very friendly. You can also access some excellent hiking, or surfing and beaches if that's more of your vibe. Just note English isn't commonly spoken, so learn some Spanish!
6️⃣ Vietnam
It's impossible to make a video on places to live on $1,000 a month without mentioning Vietnam. Affordable rent/hostels, cheap food, and visitors from all over the world are some of the selling points for Vietnam.
7️⃣ Georgia
Georgia has become a popular destination in recent years ever since it launched its Digital Nomad Visa. This visa is currently paused, but the country remains a cheap place to live in, and is still popular for nomads.
I hope this list of places to live well on $1,000 a month inspires you to choose your next travel destination!
DISCLAIMER: It's 2025, and prices are up. So, please forgive me if some of these places are a tad bit more expensive. I still think you can live well in these countries for around $1,000 to $1,500 if you put in a bit of effort and "do as the locals do."
If you agree or disagree with any of these countries, or have some suggestions of your own, I would love to hear from you in the comments 😊
Have a wonderful day everyone! Cheers!
Timestamps:
0:00 - 0:46 Intro
0:47 - 2:31 Country 1
2:32 - 5:06 Country 2
5:07 - 7:08 Country 3
7:09 - 9:31 Country 4
9:32 - 10:57 Country 5
10:58 - 11:57 Country 6
11:58 - 13:11 Country 7
13:12 - 15:54 Honorable Mentions
15:55 - 17:12 Red Flags & Conclusion
In this video, I'm covering 7 of the best places to live on $1,000 per month. After traveling to dozens of countries across 6 continents, these are some cheap places to live where the quality of life is high.
This is based on my own travel experience as well as research and talking to other frequent travelers who have loved living in these countries.
For each country, I cover data like rent prices, grocery costs, cell phone and internet bill plans, and what percentage of the country speaks English. Hopefully, this video helps you stick to your budget while finding a great place to live for $1,000 a month!
✈️ Get Personalized Relocation Services!
startabroad.com/aff/tomblake
⭐ Use code TOMBLAKE for 5% off! Move to your dream destination with confidence!
-----
😊 Best Travel Resources & Personalized Consulting
https://linktr.ee/tomblakefinance
-----
💵 Join The Wealthy Traveler (FREE)
wealthytraveler.beehiiv.com/subscribe
-----
💸 Find Remote Work & Gigs
flexjobs.sjv.io/jrQQ1M
-----
💻 Top Laptop Side Hustles
thebudgetdiet.com/make-money-with-a-laptop
-----
The cheap places to live on $1,000 a month I cover in this video include:
1️⃣ Romania
Romania is certainly a cheap country to live in with tons of perks. You get Medieval towns and history, wonderful food, beautiful nature, and access to mountains plus the Black Sea. On top of that, rent prices in smaller cities remain affordable. You can also consider nearby countries like Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, and others for affordable places to live.
2️⃣ Colombia
I've spent a lot of time in Colombia, and it's another excellent place to live on $1K a month if you're a bit savvy. Local rent prices in cities and towns can be affordable. Plus, in cities like Medellin, you can find tons of shared housing or hostels that are very affordable. Food is also quite inexpensive, as are cell phone plans. Colombia is also a growing destination for digital nomads, which is one reason I've visited 3 times.
3️⃣ Montenegro
I've spent a summer in Montenegro, visiting towns like Tivat and Kotor. And while Airbnb prices can be high here, local rent prices can be more affordable. Montenegro also has beautiful nature, kind people, and a nice mix of food and local dishes for you to explore. In my experience, it felt like visiting Croatian coastal towns, just way less crowded and cheaper.
4️⃣ Thailand
Thailand is one of the cheapest countries to live in and is also a cheap retirement destination. Plus, cities like Chiang Mai and Phuket are very popular for nomads, as is Bangkok for business. With Thailand, you can find incredibly cheap rentals. Food is also highly inexpensive, and there are tons of markets and fun street food vendors to try. Internet is cheap too, and many people save on transportation with cheap scooter rentals. I spent a few months in Thailand and certainly plan on returning!
5️⃣ Ecuador
Ecuador is another cheap country to live in that's not on everyone's radar quite yet. I haven't been to Ecuador yet, but many of my friends have. The rent is cheap, food is affordable, and people are very friendly. You can also access some excellent hiking, or surfing and beaches if that's more of your vibe. Just note English isn't commonly spoken, so learn some Spanish!
6️⃣ Vietnam
It's impossible to make a video on places to live on $1,000 a month without mentioning Vietnam. Affordable rent/hostels, cheap food, and visitors from all over the world are some of the selling points for Vietnam.
7️⃣ Georgia
Georgia has become a popular destination in recent years ever since it launched its Digital Nomad Visa. This visa is currently paused, but the country remains a cheap place to live in, and is still popular for nomads.
I hope this list of places to live well on $1,000 a month inspires you to choose your next travel destination!
DISCLAIMER: It's 2025, and prices are up. So, please forgive me if some of these places are a tad bit more expensive. I still think you can live well in these countries for around $1,000 to $1,500 if you put in a bit of effort and "do as the locals do."
If you agree or disagree with any of these countries, or have some suggestions of your own, I would love to hear from you in the comments 😊
Have a wonderful day everyone! Cheers!
Timestamps:
0:00 - 0:46 Intro
0:47 - 2:31 Country 1
2:32 - 5:06 Country 2
5:07 - 7:08 Country 3
7:09 - 9:31 Country 4
9:32 - 10:57 Country 5
10:58 - 11:57 Country 6
11:58 - 13:11 Country 7
13:12 - 15:54 Honorable Mentions
15:55 - 17:12 Red Flags & Conclusion
