10 Cities Where Rent Doesn’t Break the Bank, but Life Is Amazing

The great affair is to move, but sometimes, figuring out where to move is tricky. With hundreds of thousands of cities worldwide, it can be challenging to pinpoint ones worth living in. Fortunately, people converged in a recent online discussion to find answers. Savvy travelers have spoken: They’ve revealed intriguing cities that give residents amazing lives without rent breaking the bank!

1. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

The capital city of Argentina offers unprecedented value for anyone looking to live there for an extended period. Buenos Aires successfully combines modern cosmopolitan living with old-world values and culture into a unique experience. While it’s admittedly not on the top of many travelers’ must-move-to lists, it’s almost too affordable not to be considered! The city was designed from the ground up to be exceedingly walkable, which is the hallmark of any fantastic place to live!

2. Bonifacio Global City, Philippines

View from Grand Hyatt Manila overlooking Bonifacio Global City and Makati skylines at sunset
Image Credit: CC BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.

Numbers don’t lie: Bonifacio Global City is a small, self-contained city in the Philippines that won’t break the bank if you decide to live there for a bit! One person puts it all into perspective: “We stayed there for a few months, and our rent in a high-rise, one-bedroom apartment in Bonifacio Global City was only $600!” reveals one frequent traveler. “$2,000 will get you a gorgeous two-bedroom condo in a nice area outside Manila.” Most of us owe it to ourselves at those prices to start pricing out round-trip flights, don’t you think?

3. Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Grand Palace at dusk
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

For decades, Thailand has enjoyed a reputation that attracts millions of travelers and adventurers looking to spend a few weeks exploring arguably the most naturally wondrous place on Earth. However, many of these travelers stay for months at a time because it’s so inexpensive! If white sand beaches, cheap drinks, and an astonishingly friendly culture sound right up your alley, you can do much worse than living in Bangkok for a few months.

4. Palermo, Italy

Gulf of Mondello seen from Monte Pellegrino
Image Credit: Andrea Calcagno – CC BY-SA 2.0/Wiki Commons.

While many towns in southern Italy boast cheap monthly rental rates and a high quality of life, few cities can beat Palermo as the ultimate Italian destination to live for a few months! Whether you want the excitement of living in Palermo proper or decide to stay a few miles outside of the city limits, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic, inexpensive food, an ideal climate, and rent that is exceedingly affordable. I lived there for a month in 2022 and would return in a heartbeat!

5. Bilbao, Spain

he San Mamés stadium, home venue of Athletic Bilbao
Image Credit: Mikel Arrazola – CC BY 3.0/Wiki Commons.

While other Spanish cities like Barcelona, Valencia, and Madrid rightfully garner most people’s attention with their unbeatable culture and bustling nightlife, many men and women confess that Bilbao is the hidden gem of Spain! Although it’s an industrial port city, there are plenty of green spaces, and according to many, it’s affordable rent-wise, and the cost of living is almost too good to be true!

6. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

The bright lights of Bukit Bintang.
Image Credit: Will Simmonds – CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

When it comes to living a fantastic life for less than you could imagine, sometimes you have to take the advice of a stranger. “Trust me, you can live like a king in Kuala Lumpur for a few thousand dollars a month,” explains one man. Who are we to discredit this guy? After all, as one of the fastest-growing cities in Asia, Kuala Lumpur has combined modern architecture with an impressive urban infrastructure system to create something unique.

7. Prague, Czech Republic

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

As one of the premiere tourist destinations in the world, it shouldn’t be surprising to anyone to discover Prague checks all the boxes one needs to live a fantastic life. From affordable rent to excellent urban infrastructure, solid healthcare, and no glaring safety problems to speak of, setting up camp in Prague is a no-brainer! I’ve heard wonderful things about the countless “beer spas” scattered across the city, which only adds to the city’s whimsical reputation.

8. Medellín, Colombia

El Poblado, Southern District, Medellín, Colombia
Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0/Wiki Commons.

This city in Colombia has made significant progress recently in reversing its reputation for being a traffic hub for some of the world’s most addicting substances. In 2023, Medellín is a gem of a small city. As one of the most tourist-friendly places in Central America, Medellín has revitalized its downtown areas and surrounding neighborhoods to ensure that living there is accessible and affordable to anyone, whether you’re a visitor or resident!

9. Devon, United Kingdom

Combe Martin Devon, United Kingdom
Image Credit: CC BY 2.0/Wiki Commons.

Maybe it’s because London and other major cities are so costly to live in, but most people don’t consider anywhere in the United Kingdom as an option to live affordably in 2023. However, one man believes there’s a diamond in the rough: “Devon is a good blend of countryside and small towns,” explains one resident. “If you avoid the tourist areas, it’s pretty cheap compared to other parts of England and has a nice standard of living with low crime.”

10. Split, Croatia

Split, Croatia View from Marjan Hill
Image Credit: Tatyana Peshkova, Own Work – C BY-SA 4.0/Wiki Commons.

After spending a month in Split in 2022, living the digital nomad life, I recently pulled the trigger and rented another Airbnb apartment for spring 2024. I’d be stupid not to; Croatia is exceedingly cheap, as my six-week stay will only cost me $2,000. The Airbnb is in a significant part of the neighborhood in the historic city, close to great restaurants and bars. In addition, Croatia’s comfort factor can’t be overlooked; it reminded me of my favorite cities in the United States, and that carries a lot of weight!

Source: Reddit.

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