Cost of living is on the rise everywhere, and city dwelling famously comes at a cost. But some places prove the exception, boasting bargain prices for urban dwelling. Here are the cheapest cities to live in around the world and how you can stretch your dollar in unexpected ways in each one.
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1. Kolkata, India
The capital of West Bengal, Kolkata has a lot to offer for a jaw-droppingly low price. One-bedroom apartments in the city usually rent for as little as $95–$120 a month. 1 You can take all that money you save on rent and put it towards exploring the city’s many museums, sporting arenas, and mouth-watering eateries.
Bang for Your Buck
Shopping is the name of the game in Kolkata. Residents and tourists alike can find a wealth of deals at street markets, scoring bargains on anything from saris to watches to terracotta figurines. But the real winners in Kolkata are book lovers—College Street offers stacks and stacks of books to be bought for half the cost or less of buying the same titles elsewhere. 2
2. Tunis, Tunisia
Over in Tunis, Tunisia, you can doolesha (take a slow, leisurely walk) through the city and enjoy warm Mediterranean weather and bakeries galore. What sounds like a life of luxury will cost you far less than you might imagine—monthly rent and utilities combined only run around $230 on average, and you can enjoy a decent meal for under $2.50. 34
Bang for Your Buck
Party people can have a lot of fun for just a little cash in Tunis, as the bar and club scene is notably cheap. Stopping by a lounge for a shisha can run you anywhere between $1.50–$12, while beers can cost $1–$3 (or even less if you catch one of the many bar and club happy hours). 5
3. Oaxaca, Mexico
If you’d prefer to put down roots in the New World, set your sights on Oaxaca, Mexico for a budget city with plenty to offer. This artisan-heavy old city is nestled in the Sierra Madre mountain range, providing a dry, warm climate year-round.
By some reports, an expat lifestyle will cost you a total of $900–$1,200 monthly (including rent). 6 Others claim even lower living expenses, especially once you inch further away from the city center. One Oaxaca transplant enjoys a 3-story house for only $325 a month. 7
Bang for Your Buck
Of course Mexico draws a hungry audience, with Oaxaca offering local specialties like chicken mole, chapulines, tequila, and mezcal, all for a fraction of the cost north of the border. But residents can especially save when it comes to medical costs. Health insurance, physician consultations, and procedures all cost a fraction of the price of their US equivalents, with prescription medication running 30%–60% less on average than the same drug in the US. 8
4. Karachi, Pakistan
Karachi is a hodgepodge of ancient wonders and modern experiences. You can stroll the old streets by day, taking in the Raj-era historical sites and the Chowkandi graveyard; by night you can luxuriate in the city’s famous nightlife scene. Putting down roots in this metropolitan hub will cost very little by American standards, as rent runs around $123 on average and total monthly expenses are estimated to be as low as $321 (including rent). 9
Bang for Your Buck
While the cost of just about everything is low in Karachi, you can take particular advantage of the megapolis’s many bustling marketplaces (aka bazaars). Go from stall to stall to find everyday wares and gifts like rugs, jewelry, brand-name clothing, and electronics, all for pennies on the dollar of what you’d pay elsewhere.
5. Kampala, Uganda
Situated in the hills just north of Lake Victoria, Kampala offers an urban lifestyle amid the beauty of East Africa. The cost of living is estimated at just over $670 monthly, with rent coming in at $288. 10 While the city offers all the usual conveniences of a metropolitan area—like a developed road network and diverse food options—just outside the hustle and bustle are myriad adventures to be had, including boat trips and safaris.
Bang for Your Buck
A dollar can go a long way in Kampala, affording you local market goods like wood carvings, textiles, and handmade instruments. Carnivores, in particular, can rejoice at the low prices here, as fresh-butchered beef is plentiful and inexpensive. A pound of beef round will cost less than $2. 11
6. Da Nang, Vietnam
One of the most livable cities topping this list, Da Nang offers a peaceful and clean lifestyle complete with a vibrant city center and sparkling beaches. All of this splendor and ease of living comes with an appealing price tag, as an expat can live comfortably there for under $1,000 a month. 12 Locals, on average, make do on even less, with the monthly cost of living totaling around $600. 13
Bang for Your Buck
Eating and drinking is famously cheap all across Vietnam, with local bottles of beer setting you back less than $1 and delicious meals capping out around $2. But an unexpected price perk of living in Da Nang is the cost of fitness. High-end gym memberships can cost less than $15 monthly. 14
7. Caracas, Venezuela
While it may not be the safest city to live in, Caracas is certainly one of the cheapest. The monthly cost of living is estimated at under $950, with rent and utilities sitting around $360 in total. 15 As the cultural hub and most populous city in Venezuela, Caracas is a melting pot that boasts a vibrant food scene and a passion for sports.
Bang for Your Buck
There’s no shortage of entertainment in Caracas, and you can stretch your dollar far here to fill your day with fun activities. If you’re not in the mood to enjoy one of the famous Venezuelan baseball games, you can try your hand at windsurfing for only $1.20–$3 or cool down in a movie theater for just $2. 16
8. Skopje, North Macedonia
Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, holds the honor of being the only European city on the list of cheapest global metropolises. Cost of living is around $650 on average, with a one-bedroom city center apartment renting out for roughly $250. 17 Skopje residents enjoy a high quality of life, considering the low crime rate, beautiful architecture, and ample green space in the city.
Bang for Your Buck
Skopje offers quite a bit on the cheap, with food, drinks, and entertainment all coming in well under a typical American budget. But one of the big areas people save in Skopje is taxes. The personal income tax rate is just 0%–10%, and the corporate tax rate is 15%. 18
9. Banjul, The Gambia
Located on the Trans-West African Coastal Highway, Banjul offers a home base for keen explorers of West Africa who want to save on their monthly expenses. The total monthly cost of living (with rent) is only around $530. 19 This low price affords you life in a multicultural city with nearby access to national parks and tropical islands.
Bang for Your Buck
You can get a range of food on the cheap in Banjul, from $1 lunches to $25 multi-course meals. But home cooks can especially benefit from the staggeringly low grocery costs, with staples like eggs running under $2, a pound of oranges for under $1, and a pound of rice for just $0.30. 20
10. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, is a vibrant city tucked away in the mountains of Central Asia. Nature lovers can enjoy access to a wealth of outdoor adventures while living in this budget-friendly city, where an apartment in the city center will only cost you about $275 monthly. 21
Bang for Your Buck
Foodies will find a hidden gem in Bishkek. Swanky meals and street food alike are well worth the cost in this Kyrgyz capital. However, a truly unexpected way to stretch your cash in Bishkek is by enjoying the water-based activities. After a long day of mountainside trekking, you can relax in one of the city’s bathhouses (which include saunas and cold plunge pools) for less than $5. 22
