Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City named among top ten cheapest places for American expats to live abroad, according to the Business Insider’s an article published on November 5.
Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur and Thailand’s Bangkok ranked second and third on the list, respectively.
According to the article, about 77% of foreigners surveyed living in Ho Chi Minh City said that they felt satisfied with their standard of living and financial conditions. These rates in Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok are 73% and 63%, respectively.
Related: What does it cost to live in Vietnam as an expat?
Currently, the cost of living and housing in these three cities is only about US$500-600 per month. Meanwhile, in cities across the US, rents under US$1,000 per month have become almost unheard of — Apartment Guide data shows that the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the US is about $1,600 per month.
In addition to the three cities above, Business Insider also lists a number of other locations that are also affordable for expats living, including Taipei (Taiwan, China), Panama City (Panama), Mexico City (Mexico), Budapest (Hungary), Montreal (Canada), Doha (Qatar) and Bogota (Colombia).
The article wrote “Leaving the country to live abroad isn’t always easy, but it can make life significantly more affordable.”
Foreign professionals can choose to live in affordable cities to enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle and reduced financial stress, according to the state-run media NDO.