I’m proud Bulgarian. Moved to NYC in 2014, never thought I would say that, but the live in Bulgaria is way better than the live in NYC. Love your videos Briggs
The thing that messed with me is that Bulgarians move your head left to right for "yes" and up and down for "no". My friends from there confused me so much for a couple weeks when I first met them.
My husband is from the Philippines and I have been fortunate enough to visit 3 times and it has changed dramatically over that 30 years, for the better. If it weren’t for my sons, I would live there in a heartbeat, but this Momma could never leave her “babies” who are actually adults. One thing not mentioned is that most people born in the Philippines also speak English.
It's tempting at first but once you've spent a significant amount of time there, the novelty wears off, and then the reality starts setting in... I would know. I tried that. Happens to most people. Ater a few months they're all ready to go home.
I live in Davao. The English spoken here is extremely poor and most are unable to use it. Is still corrupt to the core, and scammers are natural born by the millions. Fortunately, a strong mayor has made this city safe.
@@marions.120 Actually, I’m looking forward to grandchildren some day. They are still relatively young adults and are doing very well, but not ready for their own babies yet.
Currently living in Guatemala by Lake Atitlan. Here on disability and I truly live like a king on $1500 a month. The house I rent is $650 a month but it's a 3br 2.5 bath with an enclosed garage. This was a good list as I'm looking to move to one of the other ones higher up. The Philippines.
I'm a US citizen living in the Philippines. I like it a lot here and it is a lot less expensive than my home state of Oregon. However, living comfortably on $500 to 600, not so sure about that. Surviving on that sure, but in hot climates most of us westerners are going to require a few luxories, like A/C. If you're on a low income and thinking of moving overseas, don't take these lowball numbers as the gospel. Best to first make an exploratory trip to where you might want to live. What you can survive on may not be how you want to live.
I agree. As a US citizen, I am on an exploratory trip to Indonesia right now and although many things are inexpensive, there are other things that can make up the cost. My thinking right now is that if cost is your biggest concern, you can live in the US for just as cheaply overall if you move to the right place and live simple. There are pros and cons to each situation and you just have to know what you can and can't deal with. Definitely don't even think about moving to a foreign country without several visits and really understanding the differences.
That's y I questioned if these countries are more for retirees than working age people. Low cost of living= low wages, I'm guessing that's why many people immigrate from those countries.
@@jeffs9302I thought about that too: live in small town U.S. and if ur lucky enough to work remotely for a company in a higher wage state, you'd be set
@@jikook7457Unfortunately, large companies with remote workers have caught onto that. They will "adjust" your salary to match whatever they say is the cost of living for your address. Maybe keep an address in a high cost city?
I've been living in Vietnam for a couple of years in a mountain town of about 300k people. The prices are insanely cheap here. The air is clean, and the weather is nice most of the year.
@domdrty While it's true, a retirement Visa is very difficult to get. But you can easily get what's called a business visa that lasts for 1 year. And that can be renewed every year for a low price. Marriage is another way.
@@geoffbendel9467 It depends what you do for a living. If you're working online or something you pick wherever you want. If you're a teacher, You just have to get lucky and find a spot. There aren't many schools in the north mountains but there are a few.
Bulgaria is a real gem. It is the former Greek state of Thrace. They have a unique and original wine industry. They raise roses as an agricultural crop, which they harvest and distill in June, the locals wearing colorful costumes and singing while working. The world's best male choirs are Welsh, but the best female choirs are Bulgarian. They invented yogurt, the air there having a unique bacteria that makes it. Greek and Roman ruins are everywhere. The second largest city is Plovdiv, which was once called Phlipopolis after Alexander the Great's father. The oldest gold objects ever found are in a museum in Varna, near where they were found. Medical care is very good. There are 4 medical schools that teach in English because it is cheap for students (and it is up to EU standards since they are in the EU). Bulgarian is a Slavic language like Russian but it is unique in having grammar unusually close to English. It is the most interesting country that people don't visit, but that is changing. 🇧🇬
Thank you for information. I had never considered Bulgaria prior to this video but it's definitely on my list of where I may eventually want to retire.
A few thoughts...First, when moving to these destinations find out how common it is for the area residents to speak English if you cannot speak the local language. Second, find out about the availability, quality and cost of medical care. Third, regarding SE Asia countries, I would recommend that you spend a rainy season there BEFORE you move. The rainy season lasts for months and even during the part of the season where is will rain for a period then clear for a period then rain again, it can become very tiresome. I spent part of the rainy season in Indonesia and also in Thailand, it definitely takes some adjustment. Also, with the rainy season find out about the rice paddy burning season. That season too, with the smoke-filled skies, can last for an extended period.
Good pointers, although rainy season was a non issue for me, coming from a place with lots of precipitation year round. The haze is quite a hassle though. I'd say the climate generally is much more of an issue. The tropics just aren't for me I guess. It's really hot and humid all the time and you can barely be out during the day unless you want to get burned to a crisp. And you're sweaty all the damn time. You can't get me back to the tropics for more than one week, everrrrr.....
Most Americans are so arrogant about immigrants speaking English the moment their toe crosses the border. Funny how Americans moving to other countries don't think they should learn that country's language.
I know lots of american expats here in the Philippines that get purple in the face when the locals speak their own language. Call it yap yap or bamboo. They don't possess the mental capacity to learn another language.
This is the funniest comment. People come to America to live comfortably 🤣, the tradeoff is that the government doesn't treat you like a person but an employee
Moved to Bishkek Kyrgyzstan. What a wonderful and inexpensive place. You can truly live like a king here for not much money. It has a great climate - dry and not too hot, unlike most of the sweltering others on this list. Good food, healthcare, and the people are friendly once you get to know them.
Around 250 Days from my Civil Service Retirement... SE Asia is where I plan on traveling for about three years. I have some shirttail relatives in the Philippines & school friends working in Indonesia & Malaysia.
I always enjoy your videos. My wife and I lived in Thailand for seven months and did a Visa run for a few days in Siam Reap, Cambodia. Beautiful Countries, warm, friendly people. Food cheap and tastes great BUT we suffered a lot of food poisoning. You go to the market and none of the meat or fish is refrigerated or iced. Even the modern Western Tesco Lotus stores do not refrigerate their meat or fish. Thailand government is becoming less and less friendly to Expats. You cannot get a long term visa or retirement residency without depositing a large amount of cash in a Thai bank account. All that aside what inquiring minds want to know is cost of alcohol, tobacco, and entertainment. In some Countries vape is illegal.
I think in our lifetime we'll experience something new: migration OUT of the USA. And when that happens, I'm so incredibly interested to see how all these countries that will be on the receiving end of immigration for once handle it.
@@rexx9496 You mean, the way the coastals have gentrified most of the rest of the US? Yeah, it sucks. I really hope they get bored and either move back to their crappy cities or leave the country. Maybe this list will help motivate them.
The only thing with Vietnam is if you're not native you get the "foreigner" tax. You get charged double if not triple. It may have changed since i was there in the 90's.
In some places they call it the skin tax. It is very common. For example I loved Turkey before the takeover and went there four times for long trips, and people are very nice. But an American guy who had a Turkish gf said they went separately to the same resto and he was charged 2 or 3 times more. This is happens in many places so just dont be naive.
I haven't even watched it yet and there's condos and such in Thailand and the Philippines with balconies fully furnished modern with swimming pools under $300
Be sure to check temps and humidity. I like Guatemala because the highlands have an eternal spring climate. And check out internet quality. I've been in countries where the internet quality was terrible. And others where it was quite good. Sometimes both in the same country. If you stay long term you'll come to love having English language access. Makes a huge difference.
Yeap. At least the language is less of an issue in south America. It's fairly easy to learn and you can use it (almost) everywhere. You should try Thai or Vietnamese sometime... That's a whole different ballgame.
You have to be careful moving to one of those countries, there's a lot of things to consider clean water, medical and cleanliness would be at the top of my list.
Lived in Thailand for a yr, will be moving back. But also would live it Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Have visited all but VN. Also lived in Japan for 2 yrs. Also been to South Korea and China. All awesome places but my heart is for Thailand.
Yes, you can live in any of these countries cheaply, but do you want to? Aside from Bulgaria, I'm not sure I do! Sofia is beautiful and affordable. No one talks about Tbilisi Georgia, but it is gorgeous and also not expensive.
@@jamesballard6564 English is one of the three widely spoken languages in Tbilisi. The young generation primarily speaks Georgian and English, and the older generations speak Russian in addition to the native language.
@royjaber571 what gave you this impression? I'm not denying that you can live anywhere on the planet. You literally can do whatever you want, but you might prefer a certain lifestyle over another or a certain type of food or culture. Life is full of possibilities, and we all have a choice to do what's best for you specifically.
I’m a khmer refugee (Cambodian) I’d love to give Indonesia or Vietnam a try because of the diversity, except the religion and government part. Since my home is in Minnesota, I would choose Bolivia as my retirement.
It might exist to prevent a naval attack by Peru across Lake Titicaca at 12,000 ft. Or perhaps they need one when Chile willingly returns its northern areas to Bolivia. Which might happen when heck freezes over and the Devil is skating on it.
@seamusp5991 Bolivia had a port Valparaiso, but Chile took it from them, and the Bolivians hope one day they get it back, that's why they have a navy to remind all Bolivians that they had access to the see and to don't forget who took it from them.
@@johanvangelderen6715 Thank's for correcting me ! I think you are right, my memory played a trick on me. About 6 years ago I was in Hungary with my Bolivian friends and in the hotel the local TV we watched a documentary about the Bolivian Navy. They show the small navy unit , their flag , the reporter talked to the Bolivian truck drivers who transporting the merchandise to the port in Chile and they said they have to pay custom duty to the Chileans and is not fair , that money should stay in Bolivia , and they said they hope one day Bolivia My friends visited Chile a couple of times, and Caesar said , he hate Chile because they took land from Bolivia, and made the country a landlocked country, but his wife said, she liked it, was nice , and is a good place to visit, she had good memory's from Chile . Gabor Czirjak USA
My biggest concern would be healthcare. Moving to one of these countries, I'd be concerned about catching something deadly. What about the building codes and earthquakes? Sorry to be downer. Great video!
Thank you very much for doing this video. We plan on living outside the US and your video a while back inspired the idea. Very informative and appreciated
You might not have to shovel snow in Indonesia but you’ll have to get used to shoveling volcanic ash since Indonesia has more active volcanoes than anywhere else on earth
I lived in Portland during when Mount St Helen's erupted. Yes, we got some ash. Far less than other communities. Ant particular volcano may or may not erupt during a human lifetime. Yes, it can be bad if one does. Yet it probably won't. Indonesia involves a lot of territory. Chile and Argentina have similar risk. So do volcanos on the US west coast.
@@johanvangelderen6715 Indonesia also had a very large number of volcanoes and it’s rare for there not to be 2-3 of them erupting at any given time. Plus Indonesia is home to the two deadliest eruptions in human history (Krakatoa in 1883 and Tambora in 1815) as well as the only active super volcano (Lake Toba) that is larger than Yellowstone
The list is trying to consider other things too. From what I heard Georgetown can be pretty rough. I'm not American but if Maduro gets his way, large part of today's Guyana would become very unfriendly to Americans. To be honest, I hope things get better everywhere, I'm open to travel to Guyana, Venezuela, Myanmar, Kenya etc. Who knows where I will end up settling for good 🙂
@@alexd5637 Not sure why you would think that the US will allow Maduro to take over part of Guyana. I lived in Region 2 (Essequibo) and found the people friendly and welcoming. If Madero makes his move, then the Guyanese will like the Americans more...as they did in WWII.
@@stischer47 I was talking about the new potential gov, not the people. I don't know the geopolitics of the region, I'd guess the USA would make bigger efforts than in, let's say, Ukraine to achieve their goal, to keep the oil away from Maduro's grubby little mitts.
Stop bringing people's attention to Guyana. They will turn it into another Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Jamaica, or Capetown SA, where the countries own citizens can't afford to live in it or afford to buy anything. All the places mentioned have become full of unemployed and homeless natives that have been priced out by foreigners. It's so bad they can't even use their own beaches or land, truly sad.
@@alexd5637 ...before the american government think of how to handle it,I bet Brazil will keep Venezuela at bay!Brazil and Exxon are beneficiary of a lucrative contractfor the oil in that country.There is also a Defense Cooperation Agreement that binds the two states............Lula already told Maduro to stop this non-sense!
I’m an American living in the Netherlands for 20+ years. Best thing I ever did. I love living in one of the top five happiest nations in the world. 🇺🇸 🇳🇱
@@johanvangelderen6715 not true. I visited Ecuador for 90 days. Departed end of this January. Very affordable. Stay away from Manabi, Quayaquil, esmeralda provence. I stayed in Loja / provence.
We live in Xela, Guatemala, the 2nd largest city. As a retired couple without watching our budget at all, our monthly expenses run $1100-$1200/mo TOTAL. Cool mountain weather, friendly people, safe…we really like it here ! We have a nice 3/1.5 apartment with city and Mountain View !
@@AvioftheSand I'm really enjoying it, but it's a mixed bag. Beautiful, but dirty, and smokey. Cheaper living than the US, yes, but you get nickel & dimed everywhere. The people speak English, somewhat. Going home in a few days, but I'll be back.
As a Bangkok local, imo, Thailand is a great country to visit but not to live. If you consider only affordability, you could find so many cheap places to live in the states. Unless you’re into Thai food and culture, the vibes and ambiance of Southeast Asia of mainland traditions, I’d willingly encourage you to live here. Thai people tend not to be fond of being too friendly, especially when they talk with strangers since respect each other's boundaries, and don't try to force things unnecessarily. I can tell you, after all, Thais are nice and welcoming as passively introvert friendly.
Cheap places in the US are pits of despair. West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, etc. And it still costs more than Thailand! Sure, housing in Pine Bluff Arkansas or East Saint Louis Illinois might be somewhat close to Bangkok, but the standard of living is far lower in Pine Bluff and E. St. Louis. Far, far lower. Try living in small town Montana for cheap, for example - can't be done. Most places in the US have gotten extremely expensive since 2020. Missoula - a nothing little city - is approaching a cost of living that rivals Seattle. If an area in the US is cheap, there are reasons for it and none of them are good.
@@jamesballard6564 Cheap places in the US are nowhere near first-world. They are closer to third world countries than first. Large and medium cities in the most of the countries listed are real first world areas.
@@nobodyimportant7804 it doesn’t matter weather is cheap or expensive. it depends on each individual. I’m recently 26 years old. So I don’t know what retirees like old people are looking for a cheap place to live. Affordability might be a relative term for people in different ages. I’ve been in San Francisco CA, and currently live and work in Sydney Australia, both places are known as extremely expensive to live but I myself find these places affordable as long as I have a job and a financial plan. You can’t afford anything even in a cheap place if you don’t have a budget and still don’t work for savings. If you’re looking for a cheap place to retire which mean you don’t work anymore, I don’t deny that Thailand is cheaper than the US after all. But I’ve visited small towns in WI and PA and always think to myself like if I were born us citizen I could work hard to afford a house, retire and live off of social security benefits and dividends. I saw white retiree who was broke and lived in poverty in Thailand since he spent lot and made a poor decision. So any place could be good or bad for living, it depends on people
I lived in the Philippines for 4 years and just returned last May. I want to call bullshit on your amount of money it takes to live in the Philippines. There is no way a western person could live like a king for $1000. I always heard these estimates and couldn't figure out where they were living. There was a UA-camr that kept doing videos claimin you could live like a King for $850 and he was outed as Lying. My family of 3 was living a middle income lifestyle for about $2500. We were frugal. I came back because my mom was dying and my wife and her son are still there and they spend about $1500 a month and don't go out to eat or party or go to movies, they are students at a university. We lived in a town that was in the province, (read small town in the country). I would bet most of these figures are not accurate, but I know the Philippines is not. You could live like a common Filipino within that amount of money but you would have to live out in the sticks in a Nipa hut with no Aircon and only a small motorcycle.
His costs were for a single person, not a family. From Mikey Bustos' Vlog channel, I get the impression that just about anything from the West is available there, but it costs a lot to import. If you stick to local foods and goods, it is cheap.
Doesn't sound quite right. Some people have a vastly different outlook on what constitutes a "middle income lifestyle". On 2500 you can live almost everywhere in Europe and that's a whole different ballgame compared to the Phillipines. So there's a discrepancy somewhere, but I'd say it's in your head more so than street level reality.
He is clearly stating “as a single person” and he’s not wrong. I live in Pangasinan and one could live very comfortably on a $1000 a month salary. The problem is westerners like to live their expensive western lifestyle and have certain expectations while living in the Philippines. Rather than adapting and living a very simple life, westerners will overspend to compensate in order to live a life they are used to. My wife and I have a two bedroom apartment for about $125 a month USD. The rest of our money goes to electricity, internet, food and cell phones which runs us another $175 a month. After that there isn’t much else to pay for except gas for my moped. So I don’t know what you are spending money on, but I think it’s safe to say you were doing it wrong. If you’re gonna live here, you need to learn how to live here.
You're absolutely spot on. Add on medical procedures or imports and it's not that cheap either. Many of these 1 bedroom condos are about 25 square meters and shoebox tight. However the quality of life is nice and the people. We built a home there 6 years ago.
Thailand is the country I would most like to live in with the exception of the hot and humid weather. I have many friends that have been there for extended periods of time ( 2 or more months ) and they have always raved about the place. They loved the people, food, atmosphere, and the beauty/landscape. Nepal seems like a cool place as well, but Thailand is ideal except the humidity/heat. Thanks again for another fantastic video, the best out there in this category, 2nd to NONE!!!
@@achiengdeji Yes, Chiang Mai is at 1K feet above sea level and further north of the equator than Bangkok. Pai is at 1,800 feet and cooler than Chiang Mai.
Criminal background check Health examination Proven income source such as work online, a pension, social security. Google: country (pick one ) expat resident visa requirements
Exactly I feel like no one ever covers this and it's literally the first thing to be considered if you can't live long term in these countries what's the point?
English as a spoken language in Thailand is fairly rare. Most just don't want to learn it. Especailly in the more rural areas, but those areas are extremely cheap to live. Found a nice little hotel in Ubon Ratchathani for $21 a night on a night-to-night basis. Oddly enough, you will see written English fairly often. Thai is an insanely complex language. So, be warned. Thailand has never been colonized by Europeans so they don't have the bad history and distrust as others in South and SE Asia. Great people! Found a hotel two summers ago on the beach in Da Nang Vietnam for $450 a month! It was as nice as the large hotels on beaches in Florida. A nice place to live with consistent cleaning services! :) Again, great people! One point of stress is the toilets, I always made sure "Western toilets" were available because my knees are trash and those squat toilets just stress me out. I don't care that they are healthier, health is overrated. Cambodia has the Riel as currency, but US currency is in heavy circulation and it is easy to use directly instead of dealing with cash exchanges - which can be problematic in any country. The exchange rate does not really fluctuate like other currencies, which makes it even easier.
Of the countries on this list I would probably choose Bulgaria or Bolivia. Of all the countries in the world, I would look into Chile, Uruguay, Czechia, Estonia, or Croatia. Good video. 🙂
Czechia and Estonia(their capitals at least) are around 1500 in rent, and in all fairness the weather in Tallinn during this time of is horrible. In Czechia you can say that there is a severe drug problem too, but is way better than in the states.
I’m certain it would be inexpensive to live in Afghanistan as an American. I dont know the average rent in Kabul but you won’t live past 3 months so it’s bound not to cost much.
I've been watching your videos for quite some time and they're great... but one thing that would be helpful would be if you'd leave the name of the place on screen for the whole section. I keep getting lost, lol
Some states have high real waste prices while other states can be cheaper.. But if you’re not planning to buy real estate then it should be a nonissue..
I'd want to know more before making any decision on any of these, e.g., are they welcoming of Americans, crime levels, level of available medical care, risk from any recurring natural disasters, difficulty of learning the language and how well you can get by an English until you can do that, etc. (Yes, I know you touched on some of these for some of them.)
I would move to Thailand and have considered it and may at some point in the future. There are a lot of really good UA-camrs I have watched that have moved from places in Europe and the US to Thailand. In Thailand beer is plentiful, lots of good food, lots of apartments/hotels/Air BnB. Outside of Bangkok where drunken tourists might get into trouble, Thailand has little crime. Also people there are generally not very religious, many follow Buddhist traditions like putting a little statue out on certain days but generally only the monks are very religious. Laws and rules seem normal and reasonable too.
Love the channel! And am of an age where I'm trying to figure out where to retire, but almost every place you list is hot hot hot. Could you please do an episode for those of us who love cozy snowy days and affordable ski areas? (Yes, I know that's basically an oxymoron...)
My friend moved from CT, USA to Peru. He has a remote-job and while it didn’t cover his living expenses here, it more than covers his expenses down there.
Honestly, I lived in S.E. Asia for 14 years and still have a house in the PI. All I can say is, this is one of your worse videos ever for accurate numbers on every level for living. Who ever did your research needs to really go back to school. Just the visa requirements for Thailand or the Philippines will break your budget in a heart beat. Malaysia also has long term visas that will allow you stay but will cost serious money, either in a bank account or property ownership. Cambodia, NOT IN A HEARTBEAT. Besides being dangerous, IT'S dangerous. Also the place is taken over by Chines casinos and drug gangs. Remember mates you're not far from the Golden triangle. Also remember you PAY MORE for everything because you are from another country. Also medical can be terrible overseas. About the only place for good medical is Thailand, then Malaysia. Now what about BRIBES and SCAMS? So, things happens at times and a local officials needs something? Not all countries are heavy into it but some are, so think a lot. Briggs, please Stop sending out really false information because people do believe you and watch you videos a lot too. 😊I have seen too many people land overseas and have zero idea what happened to there money? We do not need anymore lost people overseas, we need accurate detailed information. Peace.
I would love it if you could do one of these kind of videos regarding the most handicap accessible countries in the world. The problem being an American confined to a power chair is that no other country has the ADA and most don’t give a flying puck about disabled people so it’s almost impossible to travel anywhere. Those that do have accessible places (like hotels or restaurants) don’t have infrastructure or transportation for disabled or wheelchairs (specifically power chairs). I wanted to go to South Africa years ago and the travel agent said I couldn’t take my power chair, I should just take a regular wheel chair and someone to go with me to push me everywhere and to be able to carry me up stairs. They also told me that I couldn’t go on any of the safaris cuz I had a service dog and he would attract the lions to the vehicles. I was like, “I think the big steaks that you throw to the lions do that more!” But it boiled down to their prejudice against service animals and their lack of compassion for people confined to a powerchair. I would love to travel but I’m unable to do that on my own in my powerchair and with my Service Dog outside the US.
That is a real issue, Europe is getting better but it is not cheap. When I was in Albania I went to a huge and very important Albanian festival on the top of a hill, It was spectacular and and nationalistic but there was not a wheelchair in sight and someone said that in the Balkans there is little attention to the subject.
@andrew - I'm sorry for that. In most of these "cheap" countries, they are developing countries and wheelchair/ disability access is not a priority. Most of SE Asia is not wheelchair friendly. Can't say for Latin America or East Europe. Some areas in West Europe are wheelchair friendly but they're not cheap.
as a person who is getting their passport in 2024 and expecting the worst in 2025, this video is a good segue into more research on what my action plan will be. I've always imagined myself going to Vietnam for some reason...gotta learn Vietnamese and maybe some French I guess, maybe??
Vietnam is awesome. My wife & I spent a month there. Since it's only been opened up for tourism for a shortish time, it still hasn't been totally swallowed up by touristy junk. It's well on it's way though. The war museum will make you see the world differently.
You won't recognize our country as the election comes closer. When they realize Trump will win, the media will turn the 20 million illegals against us.@@mikeyo1O1
Knowing Thailand the best, yes it is much cheaper than the US but 1k USD nowadays doesn't get you far. also some parts like Phuket or Samui are actually much more expensive than BKK.
Well the countires here arent very developed, but i liked the video, im from sweden and here its 1 400 dollars for a ond bed room apartment in some cities
I'm from US, moved to France and in my city here you can rent à studio for 400 euros à month. My point is many small towns in Europe have prices comparable to countries on this list but you have a more modern infrastructure, health-care etc. I've seen houses in the north of Sweden for less than 100k euros. My ancestors came from north Sweden so I am considering it as a retirement location 😊
@@alexdag7713 thank you (tack). I'm actually a few years from retirement, but sometimes I do some research on cities that interest me for my retirement. So in north Sweden the 2 towns are Sollefteå and Ornskjokdsvik.
@@geoffoakland Örnsköldsvik is Way bigger but nature there is better. Those 2 are good choises, There is towns near both called Timrå, Sundsvall and Härnösand. I live in the Southest part of Northern sweden My city is Gävle
@@alexdag7713 a Swedish blogger named Kalle Flodin has a video about Sollefteå and looks really nice, it was actually how I discovered it. Kalle Flodin has a good channel on YT, he lives in the forest in an old cabin, 30km from Sollefteå. I will look at the other towns that you suggested . Tack så mycket
I'm surprised at India. Yes, there are nice parts but there are some really horrible parts too. Living there you gotta be savvy about where you go and when. It would be like a foreigner moving to Michigan and not knowing they need to avoid Detroit.
San Fernando La Union Philippines: 2 bed 1 bath apartment safe and 3 minute bike ride to the beach for $175 US a month. Our House in Tarlac (inland) is a 3 bed 1 bath gated community for $225 a month. Living in Manila... you couldn't pay me to do that. Note: on my trips to India that lasted 30 days each I brought $1000 and came home with money every time.
As soon as I saw Guatemala on this list, I instantly heard (in my head) Agador Spartacus talking about his hot "Guatemalanes" Thumbs up if you know -- LOL! 🤣
Expenses in india varies a lot in the larger cities. U get to live for 150$ for rent in a 800-1000sqft apartment to 3-4k apartment. Of course not talking about luxury. Same applies for smaller cities where you get the most of the facilities.
The Philippines is the best of these because English is spoken by a large majority of the people, the country is predominantly Christian, and the culture is very much like America.
@@eyeLikeCarrotsYes, it is not spoken perfectly. Checking stats, about 58% speak it. Which mean there are more total English speakers there than in the UK. So English is much more common there than in any of the other countries mentioned. Plus being a Christian country does make them more culturally similar to America than non Christian countries.
I’m proud Bulgarian. Moved to NYC in 2014, never thought I would say that, but the live in Bulgaria is way better than the live in NYC. Love your videos Briggs
Thank you
The thing that messed with me is that Bulgarians move your head left to right for "yes" and up and down for "no". My friends from there confused me so much for a couple weeks when I first met them.
bulgarians are so unfriendly and strange people, at least when they're interacting with foreigners... really don't like the country at all!!!
Never would I trust any country other than America to protect all of us.
😂@@geminiecricket4798
My husband is from the Philippines and I have been fortunate enough to visit 3 times and it has changed dramatically over that 30 years, for the better. If it weren’t for my sons, I would live there in a heartbeat, but this Momma could never leave her “babies” who are actually adults. One thing not mentioned is that most people born in the Philippines also speak English.
This is why the Philippines would be #1 on my list.
They’re adults, time for you to live for yourself?
It's tempting at first but once you've spent a significant amount of time there, the novelty wears off, and then the reality starts setting in...
I would know. I tried that. Happens to most people. Ater a few months they're all ready to go home.
I live in Davao. The English spoken here is extremely poor and most are unable to use it.
Is still corrupt to the core, and scammers are natural born by the millions.
Fortunately, a strong mayor has made this city safe.
@@marions.120 Actually, I’m looking forward to grandchildren some day. They are still relatively young adults and are doing very well, but not ready for their own babies yet.
Currently living in Guatemala by Lake Atitlan. Here on disability and I truly live like a king on $1500 a month. The house I rent is $650 a month but it's a 3br 2.5 bath with an enclosed garage. This was a good list as I'm looking to move to one of the other ones higher up. The Philippines.
Reconsider on the Philippines. It's not as it seems. I'm here now.
How's your internet quality there?
Guatemala in the best I been there and I love it
If Guatemala is so great then why is everyone trying to leave and come to the u.s.
@@EastsideSILENCER777 No freebies like what American taxpayers give out via Congress.
I'm a US citizen living in the Philippines. I like it a lot here and it is a lot less expensive than my home state of Oregon. However, living comfortably on $500 to 600, not so sure about that. Surviving on that sure, but in hot climates most of us westerners are going to require a few luxories, like A/C. If you're on a low income and thinking of moving overseas, don't take these lowball numbers as the gospel. Best to first make an exploratory trip to where you might want to live. What you can survive on may not be how you want to live.
I agree. As a US citizen, I am on an exploratory trip to Indonesia right now and although many things are inexpensive, there are other things that can make up the cost. My thinking right now is that if cost is your biggest concern, you can live in the US for just as cheaply overall if you move to the right place and live simple. There are pros and cons to each situation and you just have to know what you can and can't deal with. Definitely don't even think about moving to a foreign country without several visits and really understanding the differences.
I'm from the Portland Oregon area but living in the Philippines for the past 15 years. Wife now complaining that $4000 a month isn't enough.
That's y I questioned if these countries are more for retirees than working age people. Low cost of living= low wages, I'm guessing that's why many people immigrate from those countries.
@@jeffs9302I thought about that too: live in small town U.S. and if ur lucky enough to work remotely for a company in a higher wage state, you'd be set
@@jikook7457Unfortunately, large companies with remote workers have caught onto that. They will "adjust" your salary to match whatever they say is the cost of living for your address. Maybe keep an address in a high cost city?
I've been living in Vietnam for a couple of years in a mountain town of about 300k people. The prices are insanely cheap here. The air is clean, and the weather is nice most of the year.
I heard getting a long term visa can be tough. Any insight on this?
@domdrty While it's true, a retirement Visa is very difficult to get. But you can easily get what's called a business visa that lasts for 1 year. And that can be renewed every year for a low price. Marriage is another way.
Way cheaper then Cambodia actually.. Nice place I liked it. Love the food, Mie Xao, oh my..
I'm currently in DaNang I'd love to visit the mountains, any suggestions?
@@geoffbendel9467 It depends what you do for a living. If you're working online or something you pick wherever you want. If you're a teacher, You just have to get lucky and find a spot. There aren't many schools in the north mountains but there are a few.
Bulgaria is a real gem. It is the former Greek state of Thrace. They have a unique and original wine industry. They raise roses as an agricultural crop, which they harvest and distill in June, the locals wearing colorful costumes and singing while working. The world's best male choirs are Welsh, but the best female choirs are Bulgarian. They invented yogurt, the air there having a unique bacteria that makes it. Greek and Roman ruins are everywhere. The second largest city is Plovdiv, which was once called Phlipopolis after Alexander the Great's father. The oldest gold objects ever found are in a museum in Varna, near where they were found. Medical care is very good. There are 4 medical schools that teach in English because it is cheap for students (and it is up to EU standards since they are in the EU). Bulgarian is a Slavic language like Russian but it is unique in having grammar unusually close to English. It is the most interesting country that people don't visit, but that is changing. 🇧🇬
Great description! I want to go!
Thank you for information. I had never considered Bulgaria prior to this video but it's definitely on my list of where I may eventually want to retire.
Also, i hear the most beautiful people on earth live there supposedly, which is why sex trafficking is a bit of an issue, at least for women
Bulgaria is a former Greek state of Trace? What kind of drugs you smoking man? 😂
Some of those south American countries are not very safe. Should of included a safety factor too
Out of all those countries, I would choose Bulgaria.
I would choose Bulgaria also. But, being a Black American, I'd have to visit for quite some time before deciding.
@@JMoroccoMisterBoythey wouldn’t want you
Tks. for the guidance.@@Avi00124
@@JMoroccoMisterBoy Eastern European countries don't fancy black people. Look to America if you want to know why.
I agree.Near the coast maybe
A few thoughts...First, when moving to these destinations find out how common it is for the area residents to speak English if you cannot speak the local language. Second, find out about the availability, quality and cost of medical care. Third, regarding SE Asia countries, I would recommend that you spend a rainy season there BEFORE you move. The rainy season lasts for months and even during the part of the season where is will rain for a period then clear for a period then rain again, it can become very tiresome. I spent part of the rainy season in Indonesia and also in Thailand, it definitely takes some adjustment. Also, with the rainy season find out about the rice paddy burning season. That season too, with the smoke-filled skies, can last for an extended period.
Good pointers, although rainy season was a non issue for me, coming from a place with lots of precipitation year round. The haze is quite a hassle though. I'd say the climate generally is much more of an issue. The tropics just aren't for me I guess. It's really hot and humid all the time and you can barely be out during the day unless you want to get burned to a crisp. And you're sweaty all the damn time. You can't get me back to the tropics for more than one week, everrrrr.....
Most Americans are so arrogant about immigrants speaking English the moment their toe crosses the border. Funny how Americans moving to other countries don't think they should learn that country's language.
I know lots of american expats here in the Philippines that get purple in the face when the locals speak their own language. Call it yap yap or bamboo. They don't possess the mental capacity to learn another language.
My questions too! Healthcare and language barriers. Which one had beautiful beaches?
It's too bad that as Americans, we have to move to other countries in order to live comfortably.
Too bad Illegals get more money than regular Americans
Speak for yourself.
@@answerman9933 Did you miss your medication again.
A sad reality. Federal government overspending and over printing is killing the dollars value.
This is the funniest comment. People come to America to live comfortably 🤣, the tradeoff is that the government doesn't treat you like a person but an employee
Moved to Bishkek Kyrgyzstan. What a wonderful and inexpensive place. You can truly live like a king here for not much money. It has a great climate - dry and not too hot, unlike most of the sweltering others on this list. Good food, healthcare, and the people are friendly once you get to know them.
Tell me more im very interested
How many Kyrgyzstanians speak English?
How much does it cost?
And getting residence? You cant just walk in and stay forever.
@@vincenzaperriano876 Study the issue and then for a visit. This is hot air,
Philippines!!
If you are speaking mostly to Americans a rating of how well English is spoken would be important to rank.
Great video! Would you consider a Part 2 to this content and review countries like: Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Albania, Turkey, Slovenia,
Colombia is a death trap ….watch out
Yes I've been looking at Colombia and Argentina for price reasons.
The main thing that brings people to Nepal is mountaineering in the Himalayas.
Around 250 Days from my Civil Service Retirement... SE Asia is where I plan on traveling for about three years. I have some shirttail relatives in the Philippines & school friends working in Indonesia & Malaysia.
I always enjoy your videos. My wife and I lived in Thailand for seven months and did a Visa run for a few days in Siam Reap, Cambodia. Beautiful Countries, warm, friendly people. Food cheap and tastes great BUT we suffered a lot of food poisoning. You go to the market and none of the meat or fish is refrigerated or iced. Even the modern Western Tesco Lotus stores do not refrigerate their meat or fish. Thailand government is becoming less and less friendly to Expats. You cannot get a long term visa or retirement residency without depositing a large amount of cash in a Thai bank account. All that aside what inquiring minds want to know is cost of alcohol, tobacco, and entertainment. In some Countries vape is illegal.
I think in our lifetime we'll experience something new: migration OUT of the USA. And when that happens, I'm so incredibly interested to see how all these countries that will be on the receiving end of immigration for once handle it.
Many hate it because it drives up rents for locals who get paid way less.
@@rexx9496Yep, cost of living in those countries is very low by western standards, but locals get paid extremely low and find it expensive
Have to end wel😢.fare first.
@@rexx9496 You mean, the way the coastals have gentrified most of the rest of the US? Yeah, it sucks. I really hope they get bored and either move back to their crappy cities or leave the country. Maybe this list will help motivate them.
They will be fine.
Just bring dollars
The only thing with Vietnam is if you're not native you get the "foreigner" tax. You get charged double if not triple. It may have changed since i was there in the 90's.
It hasnt. My friend is Vietnamese but came to the US very young. They overcharged her too because she speaks Vietnamese with an accent
The long nose tax👃
In some places they call it the skin tax. It is very common. For example I loved Turkey before the takeover and went there four times for long trips, and people are very nice. But an American guy who had a Turkish gf said they went separately to the same resto and he was charged 2 or 3 times more. This is happens in many places so just dont be naive.
I haven't even watched it yet and there's condos and such in Thailand and the Philippines with balconies fully furnished modern with swimming pools under $300
Be sure to check temps and humidity. I like Guatemala because the highlands have an eternal spring climate. And check out internet quality. I've been in countries where the internet quality was terrible. And others where it was quite good. Sometimes both in the same country. If you stay long term you'll come to love having English language access. Makes a huge difference.
Yeap. At least the language is less of an issue in south America. It's fairly easy to learn and you can use it (almost) everywhere. You should try Thai or Vietnamese sometime... That's a whole different ballgame.
Spanish is very easy to learn .
Very good point. How common is spoken English?
You have to be careful moving to one of those countries, there's a lot of things to consider clean water, medical and cleanliness would be at the top of my list.
As a gay American, even though it is getting worse for us here, in some of these countries I could be imprisoned just for existing!
I know! Those are some of the most polluted areas in the world!
Just move to Cancun😅
@@pxn748getting worse?? 😂
Intelligent comment. One of the few.
The Philippines would be high on my list.
Lived in Thailand for a yr, will be moving back. But also would live it Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, and the Philippines. Have visited all but VN. Also lived in Japan for 2 yrs. Also been to South Korea and China. All awesome places but my heart is for Thailand.
Ladyboy and drugs every where I hate Thailand
What would be the best place in Thailand near to beach side to live comfortable for a month?
How did you gt residence? Investment?
Yes, you can live in any of these countries cheaply, but do you want to? Aside from Bulgaria, I'm not sure I do! Sofia is beautiful and affordable. No one talks about Tbilisi Georgia, but it is gorgeous and also not expensive.
But I hear English is rare.
What a racist!
Why do you think that the only two habitable places are Europe and North America?
@@jamesballard6564 English is one of the three widely spoken languages in Tbilisi. The young generation primarily speaks Georgian and English, and the older generations speak Russian in addition to the native language.
@royjaber571 what gave you this impression? I'm not denying that you can live anywhere on the planet. You literally can do whatever you want, but you might prefer a certain lifestyle over another or a certain type of food or culture. Life is full of possibilities, and we all have a choice to do what's best for you specifically.
I can definitely see myself moving to Thailand whenever my mom passes (hopefully long, long time from now)
I’m a khmer refugee (Cambodian) I’d love to give Indonesia or Vietnam a try because of the diversity, except the religion and government part. Since my home is in Minnesota, I would choose Bolivia as my retirement.
Glad you made it out!
What about Cambodia?
Bolivia is not very safe.
Although it’s landlocked, Bolivia has a navy. :)
So does Paraguay and I saw one of their patrol boats when I visited Iguassu!
It might exist to prevent a naval attack by Peru across Lake Titicaca at 12,000 ft.
Or perhaps they need one when Chile willingly returns its northern areas to Bolivia. Which might happen when heck freezes over and the Devil is skating on it.
@seamusp5991 Bolivia had a port Valparaiso, but Chile took it from them, and the Bolivians hope one day they get it back, that's why they have a navy to remind all Bolivians that they had access to the see and to don't forget who took it from them.
@@gaborczirjak4172
As I recall, the port was in Arica.
Just south of Peru. Close to Bolivia.
@@johanvangelderen6715 Thank's for correcting me ! I think you are right, my memory played a trick on me. About 6 years ago I was in Hungary with my Bolivian friends and in the hotel the local TV we watched a documentary about the Bolivian Navy. They show the small navy unit , their flag , the reporter talked to the Bolivian truck drivers who transporting the merchandise to the port in Chile and they said they have to pay custom duty to the Chileans and is not fair , that money should stay in Bolivia , and they said they hope one day Bolivia My friends visited Chile a couple of times, and Caesar said , he hate Chile because they took land from Bolivia, and made the country a landlocked country, but his wife said, she liked it, was nice , and is a good place to visit, she had good memory's from Chile . Gabor Czirjak USA
My biggest concern would be healthcare. Moving to one of these countries, I'd be concerned about catching something deadly. What about the building codes and earthquakes? Sorry to be downer. Great video!
You are just being real.
Very helpful info, Briggs! Thank you.
Thank you very much for doing this video. We plan on living outside the US and your video a while back inspired the idea. Very informative and appreciated
You might not have to shovel snow in Indonesia but you’ll have to get used to shoveling volcanic ash since Indonesia has more active volcanoes than anywhere else on earth
I lived in Portland during when
Mount St Helen's erupted.
Yes, we got some ash. Far less than other communities.
Ant particular volcano may or may not erupt during a human lifetime.
Yes, it can be bad if one does.
Yet it probably won't.
Indonesia involves a lot of territory.
Chile and Argentina have similar risk.
So do volcanos on the US west coast.
@@johanvangelderen6715 Indonesia also had a very large number of volcanoes and it’s rare for there not to be 2-3 of them erupting at any given time. Plus Indonesia is home to the two deadliest eruptions in human history (Krakatoa in 1883 and Tambora in 1815) as well as the only active super volcano (Lake Toba) that is larger than Yellowstone
Really interesting list. Some of the entries have never been mentioned on similar lists. Great video.
Bulgaria is definitely the one I would consider from this list! 😎
Yea it's awesome but the language is mind boggling and not many there speak English
@Steph-ty6lg Probably about same, Italy barely speak English, only university students and teachers hahah I am Bulgarian who studied in Italy.
Bulgaria would be my choice. I don’t like heat and humidity! Great video Briggs!
I'd like to see one of your productions that FEATURES Bulgaria. My ignorance is showing!
Goat it!? From the World's Goat! Briggs! I love it and all the videos on other country options. More and more, please!
Stop Stupid Joke
??
Amazing options! Any insights on visa requirements and local cultures? Thanks for shedding light on affordable living possibilities!
I am originally from Guyana. It is also cheap place to live.
The list is trying to consider other things too. From what I heard Georgetown can be pretty rough. I'm not American but if Maduro gets his way, large part of today's Guyana would become very unfriendly to Americans. To be honest, I hope things get better everywhere, I'm open to travel to Guyana, Venezuela, Myanmar, Kenya etc. Who knows where I will end up settling for good 🙂
@@alexd5637 Not sure why you would think that the US will allow Maduro to take over part of Guyana. I lived in Region 2 (Essequibo) and found the people friendly and welcoming. If Madero makes his move, then the Guyanese will like the Americans more...as they did in WWII.
@@stischer47 I was talking about the new potential gov, not the people. I don't know the geopolitics of the region, I'd guess the USA would make bigger efforts than in, let's say, Ukraine to achieve their goal, to keep the oil away from Maduro's grubby little mitts.
Stop bringing people's attention to Guyana. They will turn it into another Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Jamaica, or Capetown SA, where the countries own citizens can't afford to live in it or afford to buy anything. All the places mentioned have become full of unemployed and homeless natives that have been priced out by foreigners. It's so bad they can't even use their own beaches or land, truly sad.
@@alexd5637 ...before the american government think of how to handle it,I bet Brazil will keep Venezuela at bay!Brazil and Exxon are beneficiary of a lucrative contractfor the oil in that country.There is also a Defense Cooperation Agreement that binds the two states............Lula already told Maduro to stop this non-sense!
I’m an American living in the Netherlands for 20+ years. Best thing I ever did. I love living in one of the top five happiest nations in the world. 🇺🇸 🇳🇱
I was expecting Peru and Ecuador to appear on this list. Good list though.
They might appear in the 1500 dollar bracket
@@johanvangelderen6715 not true. I visited Ecuador for 90 days. Departed end of this January. Very affordable. Stay away from Manabi, Quayaquil, esmeralda provence. I stayed in Loja / provence.
My good friend is moving to Vilcamaba on may 1st.
@@johanvangelderen6715 Yes, Ecuador was very popular with Americans for a while but now they are having a serious drug cartel proble,. READ THE NEWS!
Great video for those looking to retire cheap & comfortable…
Cambodia 🇰🇭 Vietnam 🇻🇳 and Bulgaria 🇧🇬 ❤️ ❤❤❤❤❤❤
We live in Xela, Guatemala, the 2nd largest city. As a retired couple without watching our budget at all, our monthly expenses run $1100-$1200/mo TOTAL.
Cool mountain weather, friendly people, safe…we really like it here ! We have a nice 3/1.5 apartment with city and Mountain View !
Currently in the Philippines, checking it out.
Let us know how you like it.
@@AvioftheSand I'm really enjoying it, but it's a mixed bag. Beautiful, but dirty, and smokey. Cheaper living than the US, yes, but you get nickel & dimed everywhere. The people speak English, somewhat. Going home in a few days, but I'll be back.
All of these cheap countries nickel and dime you. @@edsteward7717
Good one Briggs. Still looking forward to "where you can surf" (selfishly).
I spent two weeks in India in 2007 I would not advise any woman to move there.
Agreed
Indonesia is 87% Muslim. I wouldn't advise any woman to live there!!
That is my thought, as safe are women in any of these places.
Please explain
Love these type of videos Briggs!! Great work!!!!
Thank you for the video!
I would never go to a place that would put me in jail for 2 years for eating pork rinds.
No alcohol also.
Malaysia same thing. Its a very strict Muslim country.
@@bayareatanderstotal nonsense. Malaysia is not a muslim state. Get your facts right.
THIS VIDEO LOOKS GOOD!!
As a Bangkok local, imo, Thailand is a great country to visit but not to live. If you consider only affordability, you could find so many cheap places to live in the states.
Unless you’re into Thai food and culture, the vibes and ambiance of Southeast Asia of mainland traditions, I’d willingly encourage you to live here.
Thai people tend not to be fond of being too friendly, especially when they talk with strangers since respect each other's boundaries, and don't try to force things unnecessarily. I can tell you, after all, Thais are nice and welcoming as passively introvert friendly.
You make a good point. There are places in the US that are relatively affordable. Also have access to first world amenities.
Cheap places in the US are pits of despair. West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, etc. And it still costs more than Thailand! Sure, housing in Pine Bluff Arkansas or East Saint Louis Illinois might be somewhat close to Bangkok, but the standard of living is far lower in Pine Bluff and E. St. Louis. Far, far lower.
Try living in small town Montana for cheap, for example - can't be done. Most places in the US have gotten extremely expensive since 2020. Missoula - a nothing little city - is approaching a cost of living that rivals Seattle.
If an area in the US is cheap, there are reasons for it and none of them are good.
@@jamesballard6564 Cheap places in the US are nowhere near first-world. They are closer to third world countries than first.
Large and medium cities in the most of the countries listed are real first world areas.
@@nobodyimportant7804 it doesn’t matter weather is cheap or expensive. it depends on each individual.
I’m recently 26 years old. So I don’t know what retirees like old people are looking for a cheap place to live. Affordability might be a relative term for people in different ages.
I’ve been in San Francisco CA, and currently live and work in Sydney Australia, both places are known as extremely expensive to live but I myself find these places affordable as long as I have a job and a financial plan. You can’t afford anything even in a cheap place if you don’t have a budget and still don’t work for savings.
If you’re looking for a cheap place to retire which mean you don’t work anymore, I don’t deny that Thailand is cheaper than the US after all. But I’ve visited small towns in WI and PA and always think to myself like if I were born us citizen I could work hard to afford a house, retire and live off of social security benefits and dividends.
I saw white retiree who was broke and lived in poverty in Thailand since he spent lot and made a poor decision. So any place could be good or bad for living, it depends on people
Awesome info!
TGIF Briggs.
Hope you have a good weekend Denzel.
Everyone's weekend just got better hangout with you on the Tube, except for them haters
Informative! Thanks!
I lived in the Philippines for 4 years and just returned last May. I want to call bullshit on your amount of money it takes to live in the Philippines. There is no way a western person could live like a king for $1000. I always heard these estimates and couldn't figure out where they were living. There was a UA-camr that kept doing videos claimin you could live like a King for $850 and he was outed as Lying. My family of 3 was living a middle income lifestyle for about $2500. We were frugal. I came back because my mom was dying and my wife and her son are still there and they spend about $1500 a month and don't go out to eat or party or go to movies, they are students at a university. We lived in a town that was in the province, (read small town in the country). I would bet most of these figures are not accurate, but I know the Philippines is not. You could live like a common Filipino within that amount of money but you would have to live out in the sticks in a Nipa hut with no Aircon and only a small motorcycle.
His costs were for a single person, not a family. From Mikey Bustos' Vlog channel, I get the impression that just about anything from the West is available there, but it costs a lot to import. If you stick to local foods and goods, it is cheap.
Doesn't sound quite right. Some people have a vastly different outlook on what constitutes a "middle income lifestyle". On 2500 you can live almost everywhere in Europe and that's a whole different ballgame compared to the Phillipines. So there's a discrepancy somewhere, but I'd say it's in your head more so than street level reality.
He is clearly stating “as a single person” and he’s not wrong. I live in Pangasinan and one could live very comfortably on a $1000 a month salary. The problem is westerners like to live their expensive western lifestyle and have certain expectations while living in the Philippines. Rather than adapting and living a very simple life, westerners will overspend to compensate in order to live a life they are used to. My wife and I have a two bedroom apartment for about $125 a month USD. The rest of our money goes to electricity, internet, food and cell phones which runs us another $175 a month. After that there isn’t much else to pay for except gas for my moped. So I don’t know what you are spending money on, but I think it’s safe to say you were doing it wrong. If you’re gonna live here, you need to learn how to live here.
You're absolutely spot on. Add on medical procedures or imports and it's not that cheap either. Many of these 1 bedroom condos are about 25 square meters and shoebox tight. However the quality of life is nice and the people. We built a home there 6 years ago.
I am Cuban American, born in Cuba. I have been thinking, about immigrating back to the mother country - Spain.
Guatemala, followed by Bolivia. Vietnam 3rd.
Thailand is the country I would most like to live in with the exception of the hot and humid weather. I have many friends that have been there for extended periods of time ( 2 or more months ) and they have always raved about the place. They loved the people, food, atmosphere, and the beauty/landscape. Nepal seems like a cool place as well, but Thailand is ideal except the humidity/heat. Thanks again for another fantastic video, the best out there in this category, 2nd to NONE!!!
Northern Thailand is cooler. Gotta get up into the mountains, but you’d be living a countryside lifestyle
@@ChrisSlack That sounds wonderful actually. I here it is beautiful there, and the food is excellent. I hope to make it there one day TBH.
@@ChrisSlack… Do you mean Chiang Mai? What about the burning season😢
@@achiengdeji Yes, Chiang Mai is at 1K feet above sea level and further north of the equator than Bangkok. Pai is at 1,800 feet and cooler than Chiang Mai.
this clip was about as usefully as snow shoes whilst snorkelling
how about a video on how to get permission to live in these countries
Criminal background check
Health examination
Proven income source such as work online, a pension, social security.
Google: country (pick one ) expat resident visa requirements
Exactly I feel like no one ever covers this and it's literally the first thing to be considered if you can't live long term in these countries what's the point?
English as a spoken language in Thailand is fairly rare. Most just don't want to learn it. Especailly in the more rural areas, but those areas are extremely cheap to live. Found a nice little hotel in Ubon Ratchathani for $21 a night on a night-to-night basis.
Oddly enough, you will see written English fairly often.
Thai is an insanely complex language. So, be warned.
Thailand has never been colonized by Europeans so they don't have the bad history and distrust as others in South and SE Asia.
Great people!
Found a hotel two summers ago on the beach in Da Nang Vietnam for $450 a month! It was as nice as the large hotels on beaches in Florida. A nice place to live with consistent cleaning services! :)
Again, great people!
One point of stress is the toilets, I always made sure "Western toilets" were available because my knees are trash and those squat toilets just stress me out. I don't care that they are healthier, health is overrated.
Cambodia has the Riel as currency, but US currency is in heavy circulation and it is easy to use directly instead of dealing with cash exchanges - which can be problematic in any country. The exchange rate does not really fluctuate like other currencies, which makes it even easier.
Of the countries on this list I would probably choose Bulgaria or Bolivia. Of all the countries in the world, I would look into Chile, Uruguay, Czechia, Estonia, or Croatia. Good video. 🙂
Czechia and Estonia(their capitals at least) are around 1500 in rent, and in all fairness the weather in Tallinn during this time of is horrible. In Czechia you can say that there is a severe drug problem too, but is way better than in the states.
We chose Croatia...and couldn't be more pleased with our choice. No longer as inexpensive as it used to be but the quality of life is incredible.
NO BEACHFRONT PROPERTY IN bolivia 😊
@@johnm.4947 - Unless the beach is on Titicaca.
I'd be interested in Thailand, Philippines, or Cambodia
I’m certain it would be inexpensive to live in Afghanistan as an American. I dont know the average rent in Kabul but you won’t live past 3 months so it’s bound not to cost much.
Look at different areas on craigs list
You can rent a furnished apt, condo or house
From 500 to 1200 a month
I've been watching your videos for quite some time and they're great... but one thing that would be helpful would be if you'd leave the name of the place on screen for the whole section. I keep getting lost, lol
I really liked this one!
In Tear 1 cities real estate is not as cheap in India as one thinks, rest is okay.
BTW a lot of Russians live in Goa.
Some states have high real waste prices while other states can be cheaper.. But if you’re not planning to buy real estate then it should be a nonissue..
I'd want to know more before making any decision on any of these, e.g., are they welcoming of Americans, crime levels, level of available medical care, risk from any recurring natural disasters, difficulty of learning the language and how well you can get by an English until you can do that, etc. (Yes, I know you touched on some of these for some of them.)
I am liking these international videos. When do we get the dangerous roads video you mentioned?
I would move to Thailand and have considered it and may at some point in the future. There are a lot of really good UA-camrs I have watched that have moved from places in Europe and the US to Thailand. In Thailand beer is plentiful, lots of good food, lots of apartments/hotels/Air BnB.
Outside of Bangkok where drunken tourists might get into trouble, Thailand has little crime. Also people there are generally not very religious, many follow Buddhist traditions like putting a little statue out on certain days but generally only the monks are very religious. Laws and rules seem normal and reasonable too.
Love the channel! And am of an age where I'm trying to figure out where to retire, but almost every place you list is hot hot hot. Could you please do an episode for those of us who love cozy snowy days and affordable ski areas? (Yes, I know that's basically an oxymoron...)
Southern Argentina.
Most of Bolivia. It's at high altitude.
Chile.
Nepal
Bulgaria has 4 seasons. You got sky resorts and beach cities
There are ski resorts in Bulgaria.
Yes, southern Argentina (Patagonia) is a beautiful option, though it’s a different world down there. Worth checking out, if you speak Spanish.
My friend moved from CT, USA to Peru. He has a remote-job and while it didn’t cover his living expenses here, it more than covers his expenses down there.
Yup. I know a few people that have lived in Peru with a remote job. 2 of them moved to Panama after a couple years.
@@WorldAccordingToBriggsI have a work friend that retired to Panama. What list does Panama go on? 😂
Honestly, I lived in S.E. Asia for 14 years and still have a house in the PI. All I can say is, this is one of your worse videos ever for accurate numbers on every level for living. Who ever did your research needs to really go back to school. Just the visa requirements for Thailand or the Philippines will break your budget in a heart beat. Malaysia also has long term visas that will allow you stay but will cost serious money, either in a bank account or property ownership. Cambodia, NOT IN A HEARTBEAT. Besides being dangerous, IT'S dangerous. Also the place is taken over by Chines casinos and drug gangs. Remember mates you're not far from the Golden triangle. Also remember you PAY MORE for everything because you are from another country. Also medical can be terrible overseas. About the only place for good medical is Thailand, then Malaysia. Now what about BRIBES and SCAMS? So, things happens at times and a local officials needs something? Not all countries are heavy into it but some are, so think a lot. Briggs, please Stop sending out really false information because people do believe you and watch you videos a lot too. 😊I have seen too many people land overseas and have zero idea what happened to there money? We do not need anymore lost people overseas, we need accurate detailed information. Peace.
I would love it if you could do one of these kind of videos regarding the most handicap accessible countries in the world. The problem being an American confined to a power chair is that no other country has the ADA and most don’t give a flying puck about disabled people so it’s almost impossible to travel anywhere. Those that do have accessible places (like hotels or restaurants) don’t have infrastructure or transportation for disabled or wheelchairs (specifically power chairs). I wanted to go to South Africa years ago and the travel agent said I couldn’t take my power chair, I should just take a regular wheel chair and someone to go with me to push me everywhere and to be able to carry me up stairs. They also told me that I couldn’t go on any of the safaris cuz I had a service dog and he would attract the lions to the vehicles. I was like, “I think the big steaks that you throw to the lions do that more!” But it boiled down to their prejudice against service animals and their lack of compassion for people confined to a powerchair. I would love to travel but I’m unable to do that on my own in my powerchair and with my Service Dog outside the US.
That is a real issue, Europe is getting better but it is not cheap. When I was in Albania I went to a huge and very important Albanian festival on the top of a hill, It was spectacular and and nationalistic but there was not a wheelchair in sight and someone said that in the Balkans there is little attention to the subject.
@andrew - I'm sorry for that. In most of these "cheap" countries, they are developing countries and wheelchair/ disability access is not a priority. Most of SE Asia is not wheelchair friendly. Can't say for Latin America or East Europe. Some areas in West Europe are wheelchair friendly but they're not cheap.
as a person who is getting their passport in 2024 and expecting the worst in 2025, this video is a good segue into more research on what my action plan will be. I've always imagined myself going to Vietnam for some reason...gotta learn Vietnamese and maybe some French I guess, maybe??
2024 is going to be the bad year. 2025 will see things get better.
Vietnam is awesome. My wife & I spent a month there. Since it's only been opened up for tourism for a shortish time, it still hasn't been totally swallowed up by touristy junk. It's well on it's way though. The war museum will make you see the world differently.
I would also choose Vietnam. The people are awesome. The food is great.
You won't recognize our country as the election comes closer. When they realize Trump will win, the media will turn the 20 million illegals against us.@@mikeyo1O1
You will have to do a border run once a month... forever!
I couldn’t stand the weather in these places . Find love in a cold climate.
Very interesting!! If I was more adventurous and younger I would consider moving 😊
What's keeping from moving as an older person?
Very interesting. I love these international videos.
I did not have problems communicating with Romanians young people in English.
Knowing Thailand the best, yes it is much cheaper than the US but 1k USD nowadays doesn't get you far. also some parts like Phuket or Samui are actually much more expensive than BKK.
columbia for the win
edit: Colombia*
Colombia. No “u” in the spelling.
You don't have to travel outside of the country to go to Columbia
Quality information❤❤❤
Philippines #1 😀🌴🌴
This vid is very interesting !!
Well the countires here arent very developed, but i liked the video, im from sweden and here its 1 400 dollars for a ond bed room apartment in some cities
I'm from US, moved to France and in my city here you can rent à studio for 400 euros à month. My point is many small towns in Europe have prices comparable to countries on this list but you have a more modern infrastructure, health-care etc. I've seen houses in the north of Sweden for less than 100k euros. My ancestors came from north Sweden so I am considering it as a retirement location 😊
@@geoffoakland Youre welcome. Can i give you any example for what city, give me some factors and i look for the best place for you
@@alexdag7713 thank you (tack). I'm actually a few years from retirement, but sometimes I do some research on cities that interest me for my retirement. So in north Sweden the 2 towns are Sollefteå and Ornskjokdsvik.
@@geoffoakland Örnsköldsvik is Way bigger but nature there is better. Those 2 are good choises, There is towns near both called Timrå, Sundsvall and Härnösand. I live in the Southest part of Northern sweden My city is Gävle
@@alexdag7713 a Swedish blogger named Kalle Flodin has a video about Sollefteå and looks really nice, it was actually how I discovered it. Kalle Flodin has a good channel on YT, he lives in the forest in an old cabin, 30km from Sollefteå.
I will look at the other towns that you suggested . Tack så mycket
I would love to go to the Philippines, Thailand, or Cambodia
I'm surprised at India. Yes, there are nice parts but there are some really horrible parts too. Living there you gotta be savvy about where you go and when. It would be like a foreigner moving to Michigan and not knowing they need to avoid Detroit.
🤣
I’m planning on retiring to the Philippines next year,I originally was retiring to Guatemala buts it’s gotten too dangerous.
Bolivia sounds good to me
High crime, theft rampant.
San Fernando La Union Philippines: 2 bed 1 bath apartment safe and 3 minute bike ride to the beach for $175 US a month. Our House in Tarlac (inland) is a 3 bed 1 bath gated community for $225 a month. Living in Manila... you couldn't pay me to do that. Note: on my trips to India that lasted 30 days each I brought $1000 and came home with money every time.
As soon as I saw Guatemala on this list, I instantly heard (in my head) Agador Spartacus talking about his hot "Guatemalanes"
Thumbs up if you know -- LOL! 🤣
Very good content thank u I would go to Nepal
People are moving out of Guatemala due to the cartels and crime, so moving there is probably a little crazy.
Interesting. Heard the same about Ecuador.
Expenses in india varies a lot in the larger cities. U get to live for 150$ for rent in a 800-1000sqft apartment to 3-4k apartment. Of course not talking about luxury.
Same applies for smaller cities where you get the most of the facilities.
That about health care in India?
Also, no long term Visa for India to my knowledge.
Phillipines in the provinces is great.
I really appreciate your work Briggs! I'm in the US and moving to one of these as a base in Southeast Asia. To hop around several.
The Philippines is the best of these because English is spoken by a large majority of the people, the country is predominantly Christian, and the culture is very much like America.
Its more accurate to say "Some amount of English is spoken by a lot of people"
@@eyeLikeCarrotsYes, it is not spoken perfectly. Checking stats, about 58% speak it. Which mean there are more total English speakers there than in the UK. So English is much more common there than in any of the other countries mentioned. Plus being a Christian country does make them more culturally similar to America than non Christian countries.
The Philippines is predominately Roman Catholic --not Christian.
@@timcarr6401 Catholic is the Original Christianity..
@@kingknights5107 Ah, no.
I don't think I would relocate to any of them for various reasons. Where would YOU go? Just curious :-) THANKS!
Hey Briggs - true fan of you and your channels. This is an incredible topic. One minor suggestion, your title - 'live like a king' - minor.
Good job. Wonder how hard it is to stay for say a month or three? Visas?