Cost of Living

Our cost of living estimates are based on publicly available data sources including local housing listings, grocery prices, transportation costs, and utility rates. All amounts are in USD for easy comparison. Data was last updated February 2026. Actual costs vary by lifestyle, neighborhood, and personal spending habits.

We break down costs into three budget tiers: Budget (shared housing, cooking at home, public transport), Moderate (private apartment, mix of dining out and cooking, occasional taxis), and Comfortable (premium housing, regular dining out, private transport). Most expats find the Moderate tier provides a good quality of life.

Our comparison focuses on day-to-day living expenses: rent, food, transport, utilities, and lifestyle costs. Visa fees, health insurance premiums, and one-time relocation costs are not included as they vary significantly by nationality and personal situation. Check our Visa Checker tool for destination-specific visa information.

Popular expat destinations in Latin America and Southeast Asia can be 40-70% cheaper than major US cities. For example, cities like Playa del Carmen (Mexico), Da Nang (Vietnam), and Boquete (Panama) offer significantly lower housing and food costs while maintaining good infrastructure and quality of life.

Yes! Select any two cities from our database of 250+ destinations to see a detailed side-by-side comparison. The tool breaks down costs by category (housing, food, transport, utilities, lifestyle) so you can see exactly where savings come from.