[Beyond Borders]

A lot of us are working on a budget.

And I'm tired of having to wade through bullshit websites every time I'm researching a new place to consider checking out. All too often, online writers just list out prices for different items (and in the local currency) rather than just committing to a range within which you can expect to live comfortably. Then I have to go do the research, etc, when all I wanna know is - how much would it really cost to live there?

So I thought it would be helpful if those of us who've lived abroad put our heads together and dropped some quick no-bullshit estimates on locations abroad.

I'll go first with Thailand.

Minimum Needed to Live a Nice, Comfy Life (Budget still needed but have nice place, eat out ever meal, party from time-to-time, etc):
$1000 US

Very Comfortable Life:
$2000 US

Living Phat:
$3000+ US

Obviously it varies from city to city and, as always seems to be the case with money, there are no limits to luxurious things to spend it on if you want.

Let's not make this an argumentative thread about what a worthy lifestyle is like, etc. If you've got long-term boots-on-the-ground experience in a place and think it would help, share it with the rest of us.

[Baze_Backinthegame]

Nicaragua -

Lived there for a year and a half..

I lived in a Medium sized house in Leon for $70 per month, my internet was $50 per month, ( only that high because lived away from city center and had to have satellite ) lights and water were 15-20 per month. Food was around 150 per month, if you eat like the locals you can live dirt cheap, 20-40 per month for food , but if you are not used to the food prepare to get sick, parasites in the local food and westerns often cannot handle. Clubs and movies and other fun around 200 per month. So I lived nicely off of 500-600 per month.

[The Fantasist]

Location: Bishkek,Kyrgyzstan.

Time spent there: Two months.

Costs: $1000 a month for a comfortable lifestyle including rent, eating out and clubbing regularly.

Women: Mostly Kyrgyz and a few Russians. Kyrgyz women are on average 5s and 6s. Few 8's.

Ease of bang: Easy especially with conversational Russian.

Visa: Not needed for Western PP holders.

Newby Rating: Not recommended for people on first solo trip. Get FSU experience under belt in Ukraine and then hit it.

Overall rating: Easy bangs with feminine women but not very attractive on the whole. For the more adventurous bang searcher.

[patron]

Location: Santiago, Dominican Republic

Time spent there: Several Years

Costs: My last apartment was furnished with all bills included for $250 month. I would say apartments run between $200 and $500 month. This is for a long term lease. Another $100 per week for eating out and going out. Taxis in Santiago run between $3 to $5 in the city. Buses to other cities are between $5 and $10. Typical lunch is rice, beans, salad and a meat for $3.

Women: All Dominican women. Very hard to find any tourist unless you hit the beach towns

Ease of bang: Very Easy

Visa: Not needed. You are allowed to stay up to 15 days. After that you pay a small fine when you leave. I has here for over 2 years and I paid around $100 when I left

Newby Rating: Basic spanish required.

Overall rating: Good place for guys looking to up hook up with Dominican Girls. Average girls are 5-6 range.

[The Fantasist]

Location: Gomel,Belarus

Time spent there: One month

Costs: Very cheap due in large part to lack of spending options. Apartments can be had for $200 a month. Local wages are very low so food and entertainment options are cheap accordingly. A budget of $1000 will let you lead a comfortable lifestyle.

Women: Hot,hot,hot. Large student population who are intrigued by foreigners since there aren't any except poor students from poor countries. Poor levels of English unless you find students who are studying English at one of the universities.

Ease of bang: Not the easiest. A place to find an attractive GF and spend time with her as opposed to multiple bangs. Worth the effort though since the girls are very attractive and feminine. No fatties here.

Visa: Easy if you use an agency. One month visas simple and can extend up to 3 months once in the country.

Newby rating: Very safe country but need some Russian skills to make life easier as few speak it.

Overall Rating: Nice city,one of my favourite places in the world,stunning girls. If rolling solo though you might get bored as there are no other foreigners to hang out with. Hit Minsk first to find your feet and then hit Gomel.

[gadabout]

Nice one Vortuka. I really like the sound of Belarus. Girls as hot as Russia. Affordable, unlike Russia. Not overrun by tourists.
I have a few questions...
What would you say the percentage of English speakers is? If it' in the region of 40% I think this is acceptable.
Does is have gold digger mentality like Ukraine or is it more conservative like Russia?
Does an alternative/hipster culture exist? I ask because I usually find this is the best way to avoid tourist traps and meet educated women.
Believe it or not the hipster culture in Ukraine is quite prevalent and made my experience much more enjoyable than it otherwise might have been.

[bacon]

ive lived in a few countries and believe that food and weather play a big role in cost of living.

for example many parts of SEA or LA are very hot and require that you get aircon. depending on the country the energy costs this can add up. on the flip side some places like central mexico have very temperate/hawaii like weather so no aircon or heating required.

for food thats also important as if you can eat the local/street food you will save $. for example i thought the local food in costa rica tasted like shit and found myself eating at international more expensive restuarants in the 2 weeks i was there. meanwhile in mexico i hardly eat anything but local/street food as i find it delicious and low cost.

[The Fantasist]

(12-01-2012 10:44 AM)gadabout Wrote:  

What would you say the percentage of English speakers is? If it' in the region of 40% I think this is acceptable.
Does is have gold digger mentality like Ukraine or is it more conservative like Russia?
Does an alternative/hipster culture exist? I ask because I usually find this is the best way to avoid tourist traps and meet educated women.
Believe it or not the hipster culture in Ukraine is quite prevalent and made my experience much more enjoyable than it otherwise might have been.

When talking about Belarus we really need to separate Minsk from the rest of Belarus. Minsk has more English speakers but I would say it is less then 40% of women who speak it to any real standard. In the provinces the percentage is much lower still.

Gold digger mentality. On the whole I'd say no. The place is more conservative then Russia or Ukraine. For example there are not hundreds of dating agencies in BLR or strip clubs or escorts like in the other two. It's a seemingly less sexual-ised society. It's also in my experience not a sex-destination in any way like Kiev is. Yes there are sex tourists from Italy or Turkey but the numbers are much smaller and you don't meet outside of Minsk.

Hipster culture. Maybe a steadily growing group in Minsk but nothing outside. Polish Rumble was there more recently then myself and knows Minsk better then I do ( most of my time was spent in the provinces ) so he might be able to offer more insight.

I think you would like Minsk,it's more laid back then Moscow and Kiev and still has a more backwater feel to it. I lived in Moscow for two months and like it but I put Minsk ahead of it. Kiev I would never return to,the place is ruined in my opinion. I first went in 1993 and it was a great city with great people but now it's populated by whores,gold diggers and seedy foreigners who can't get laid at home. I think it's a vile place.

[gadabout]

Interesting. Thanks Vortuka. I have no Russian but this was really not a problem in Kiev or Moscow, so if Minsk is the same sort of deal then that won't put me off.
I know what you mean about Kiev. I had to work really hard to get beneath the surface.

(12-01-2012 11:18 AM)Vorkuta Wrote:  

(12-01-2012 10:44 AM)gadabout Wrote:  

What would you say the percentage of English speakers is? If it' in the region of 40% I think this is acceptable.
Does is have gold digger mentality like Ukraine or is it more conservative like Russia?
Does an alternative/hipster culture exist? I ask because I usually find this is the best way to avoid tourist traps and meet educated women.
Believe it or not the hipster culture in Ukraine is quite prevalent and made my experience much more enjoyable than it otherwise might have been.

When talking about Belarus we really need to separate Minsk from the rest of Belarus. Minsk has more English speakers but I would say it is less then 40% of women who speak it to any real standard. In the provinces the percentage is much lower still.

Gold digger mentality. On the whole I'd say no. The place is more conservative then Russia or Ukraine. For example there are not hundreds of dating agencies in BLR or strip clubs or escorts like in the other two. It's a seemingly less sexual-ised society. It's also in my experience not a sex-destination in any way like Kiev is. Yes there are sex tourists from Italy or Turkey but the numbers are much smaller and you don't meet outside of Minsk.

Hipster culture. Maybe a steadily growing group in Minsk but nothing outside. Polish Rumble was there more recently then myself and knows Minsk better then I do ( most of my time was spent in the provinces ) so he might be able to offer more insight.

I think you would like Minsk,it's more laid back then Moscow and Kiev and still has a more backwater feel to it. I lived in Moscow for two months and like it but I put Minsk ahead of it. Kiev I would never return to,the place is ruined in my opinion. I first went in 1993 and it was a great city with great people but now it's populated by whores,gold diggers and seedy foreigners who can't get laid at home. I think it's a vile place.

[bacon]

in mexico i pay 200 for rent for 1 bedroom apartment near city center
40 for cable internet

visa they give you 180 days so just cross the border for a day or two and get another 180 tourist visa

food tasty and cheap if i ate out every meal in local restuarants/taco stands might cost me 10 a day. much cheaper if you eat at home, basically fruits and vegetables are 1/5th to 1/10 the cost of us.

girls are relatively easy(not as easy as SEA but far far easier than us) especially if you avoid tourist cities like acapulco or cancun

language: spanish is required but many mexicans have lived at some point in the us so you can find friends that speak english

[bacon]

this guy has about 100 videos about cost of living in thailand/south east asia. he does interviews with expats living there its worth looking at the videos for rookies who are serious about relocating there.

[Technics]

Beyond Borders,

Fantastic thread idea. Can't believe we didn't have this earlier. Also maybe we should add in the rough month and year that we were in these cities for these estimates?

Also, Bacon...

(12-01-2012 11:34 AM)bacon Wrote:  

in mexico i pay 200 for rent for 1 bedroom apartment near city center
40 for cable internet

Which city in Mexico?

[DirectDanger]

To all the guys who have never lived in other countries...

When all these guys are listing things like $1,000 a month to live in thailand or what ever the country you must understand your standard of living is going to be like a local, way below euro/american standards. If you want to live a lifestyle similar to yours at home, yes it will still be cheaper than home but nothing as cheap as you might hope.

Don't expect a nice furnished 1 bedroom apartment in a cool part of the city to be $200 a month. Thats not how it works. It is $200 a month because it is a bit out of the way, in an older building where locals live ,and is probably a 3.5 meter by 5 meter box with tile floors.

I really don't have a any problem adjusting to this kind of living if needed I just don't want guys to have unrealistic ideas in their heads.

As for Thailand I would say yes you can live off of $1,000 a month in Chiang Mai, but you would be struggling in BKK. I would put the minimum price at $1,500 a month and you will still be watching your cost.

Through my travel I have noticed people like to exaggerate how cheap a place can be or they just don't track their actual cost very well.

[intense]

Cordoba, Argentina Feb/Mar 2012 - 2 months

I stayed in Nuevo Cordoba which is the nicest part of the city for living, shops, restaurants, and nightlife. I lived in a shared student type apartment and paid approx. $350 per month. My total expenses were less than $800 per month. I mostly cooked my own food. This includes everything from going out, drinking, gym membership, and occasionally eating out. I rarely needed public transportation since everything is walkable. I found this was a place to live that was easy to keep costs low.

The girls in the Barrio Nuevo Cordoba are really incredible to look at. Sitting in a cafe for hours people watching does not get boring. It is more of a younger crowd/population. The mall is also amazing for people watching.

Summary: $800/month

[WestIndianArchie]

good find.

[Cincinnatus]

Great thread. Another place to point out to those posting "Where should I go? threads.

[Beyond Borders]

(12-02-2012 02:14 PM)DirectDanger Wrote:  

To all the guys who have never lived in other countries...

When all these guys are listing things like $1,000 a month to live in thailand or what ever the country you must understand your standard of living is going to be like a local, way below euro/american standards. If you want to live a lifestyle similar to yours at home, yes it will still be cheaper than home but nothing as cheap as you might hope.

Don't expect a nice furnished 1 bedroom apartment in a cool part of the city to be $200 a month. Thats not how it works. It is $200 a month because it is a bit out of the way, in an older building where locals live ,and is probably a 3.5 meter by 5 meter box with tile floors.

I'm sorry, Man, but this is simply misinformed and misleading, especially in Thailand. The only part you got right is that it won't be in the coolest part of town (though it can sometimes be found right there on the fringes). And note that the "minimum for a nice, comfy life" in the states doesn't put you in the coolest part of town back in America either...

You may or may not be living in a building with locals. The idea that living with locals means living in squalor is a myth, by the way - if you've got nice digs in Chiang Mai at a good price, for instance, you'll likely be in a building with somewhat wealthy Thai university students.

And I'm talking very, very nice and comfortable digs.

In the capital of Laos and nearly ever city I've been to in Thailand I've found very modern and trendy, brand new apartments full-furnished with air-con, cable, and internet, Western-toilets, maid service, and on-site pools (on the higher end) for $200 - $300 per month. Often less if you look further. Hell, in Samui, where everyone claims prices are through the roof, I rented such a place for 4500 baht ($146).


I had another place in chiang Mai for $150 per month that had two beds, though I'll admit they were in just one room and it resembled a hotel more than an apartment. My buddy rents a 2-bedroom house for the same price (though he probably has the tile floors you mentioned).

I can't speak for the other guys and places in this thread, but I highly suspect that no matter where you go it's all about your knack for learning the lay of a new land as well as the time and effort you're willing to put into finding the good places to rent rather than just taking what comes along easiest.

Of course an international capital city like BKK can be a bit more expensive, but if you get out of the main areas it can also be just as cheap. Living on a budget in a place like this is not as fun as being there on a holiday with money burning a hole in your pocket. Very true. You may even want to cut your rent back to $150 per month, make a sacrifice or two on your standards, and make room for the rest of your budget. But it's still far more ideal than being stuck back in America barely making it and barely having fun.

As for really softening your standards, I lived in a place for years at $60 per month. That right there would be in what I'd describe as an older building far form the coolest spot of town and living at a somewhat lower-class local standard - though it was a large studio flat about 3 times the size of what you stated. I still had air-con and TV and a farang toilet. There was a bar, restaurant, and internet cafe in the lobby and the other residents were all university kids.

And I had an amazing experience even if I lived like the locals. So that might be an option for the more adventurous.

$1000 per month was what I stated as the minimum budget for a nice, comfy life where you still had to watch your money. And it's very possible - many retirees do just that.

[RASER]

You wont find Australia on this list, the joint is out of control, starting with the prices of property.

I think u can still find cheapish prices/places in USA, mainly inland, less well known states, away from the East/West coasts for instance.

Detroit has very cheap housing, not sure what the place is like to live at?

The good thing its that USA is a 1st world country, so if you want to buy something unique you can, get sick no issue [other than the cost] and most speak some sort of English, also no shock to your system and your family is close for XMAS & Thanksgiving etc

For mine, USA may well be down, but has now pulled ahead of Australia, our Labour Government has NFI and ruined the joint, it happens when you put a woman in charge

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

[Beyond Borders]

(12-02-2012 06:40 PM)RASER Wrote:  

You wont find Australia on this list, the joint is out of control, starting with the prices of property.

That said, what's a reasonable monthly budget for someone who did want to live Australia for a while?

[Cincinnatus]

(12-02-2012 06:40 PM)RASER Wrote:  

I think u can still find cheapish prices/places in USA, mainly inland, less well known states, away from the East/West coasts for instance.

Detroit has very cheap housing, not sure what the place is like to live at?

I live in Cincinnati, Ohio and the cost of living here is ridiculously reasonable compared to either coast.

Decent to nice one bedroom apartment - roughly $400/$500 per month (I live in a $350 studio, married friends live in a $425 one bedroom, my girlfriend's parents live in a super nice 2 bedroom for $700 monthly)

Utilities and Electricity - depending, cheap as $50 monthly or up to $150. The furnace in my basement is probably 30-50 years old which is why my utility bill averages $120-$180 in the wintertime, most people would not have this problem.

Groceries - $150-$250 is plenty if you shop sensibly. Peep this thread.

Miscellaneous - I budget $100 monthly. Covers my laundry, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc.

So for basic apartment, utilities, food, and some misc. items, $700-$1,000.00 monthly. Entertainment budget can be as big or small as you like. Living in Clifton (the college neighborhood) is very doable on such a budget (similar to my own) and there are almost 20,000 bitches aged 18-25 walking around this one neighborhood.

[RASER]

(12-02-2012 06:41 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  

(12-02-2012 06:40 PM)RASER Wrote:  

You wont find Australia on this list, the joint is out of control, starting with the prices of property.

That said, what's a reasonable monthly budget for someone who did want to live Australia for a while?

Depends

The backpackers do it on the cheap, and even get work here, in a legal way i may add.

But the whole idea of moving somewhere is to be better off than where you where, so if you gota work to live thats a fail.

I would say to rent anything decent on a share basis, your looking at $200 a week, and same amount for all the nonsense and expenses, then you got eat and go out etc

I would say your going to need $2500/month, less if you want to slum it a bit

Its a good place to live [if your well off], but a prick of a joint to operate a business

Come have a look, all are welcome, if your from USA your exchange rate has done you no favours

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

[RASER]

(12-02-2012 06:50 PM)MSW2007 Wrote:  

(12-02-2012 06:40 PM)RASER Wrote:  

I think u can still find cheapish prices/places in USA, mainly inland, less well known states, away from the East/West coasts for instance.

Detroit has very cheap housing, not sure what the place is like to live at?

I live in Cincinnati, Ohio and the cost of living here is ridiculously reasonable compared to either coast.

Decent to nice one bedroom apartment - roughly $400/$500 per month (I live in a $350 studio, married friends live in a $425 one bedroom, my girlfriend's parents live in a super nice 2 bedroom for $700 monthly)

Utilities and Electricity - depending, cheap as $50 monthly or up to $150. The furnace in my basement is probably 30-50 years old which is why my utility bill averages $120-$180 in the wintertime, most people would not have this problem.

Groceries - $150-$250 is plenty if you shop sensibly.

Miscellaneous - I budget $100 monthly. Covers my laundry, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc.

So for basic apartment, utilities, food, and some misc. items, $700-$1,000.00 monthly. Entertainment budget can be as big or small as you like. Living in Clifton (the college neighborhood) is very doable on such a budget (similar to my own) and there are almost 20,000 bitches aged 18-25 walking around this one neighborhood.

I stayed in Bowling Green and Toledo for a while, BG have a nice UNI full of nice Brazil girls...lol

Anyway based on your good report, its 1/2 in USA of what it cost here in AUS, not only are your properties cheap in USA your labour hour rate is half what it is here, nobody [adults] really wants to work for less than $20/hr, and i dont blame them, its simply not enough coin to get ahead and live.

The glory days are over in AUS, we have pissed it all away, if your business savy you need to move to China, thats the new king of the world these days

"Lifes about, shooting your load"

[lavidaloca]

Havana

Student Budget $1000
Apartment (shared): 450
Eat in almost every meal: 225 (5 dollars a day for 1 person 10 for 2. I'll say 7.50 average.)
Nightclubs Low end: 100 (1 dollar entrance shitty clubs with uglier women and 2 beers a night)
Taxis / Random Expenditures: 275

My Budget: 3-4000 a month
Apartment: 750
Taxis: 300
Havana University Fees: 300
Food (eat out every meal steaks a couple times daily): 600 (this can substantially increase depending on what restaurants I go and if I'm frequently accompanied.)
Nightlife/Beach Trips: 1000 (5-20 dollar cover a night going out every night + bottle service a few times a week)
Random Expenditures: Couple hundred
Internet: 180 (1 hour a day at 6 dollars an hour.)

[DirectDanger]

@Beyond Borders

Hey Brother I just think we live different lifestyles and have different expectations. I didn't want people thinking it would be a breeze to live so cheap.

If you are able to pull it off that cheap and enjoy it then well done sir.

[WanderingSoul]

(12-02-2012 07:46 PM)DirectDanger Wrote:  

@Beyond Borders

Hey Brother I just think we live different lifestyles and have different expectations. I didn't want people thinking it would be a breeze to live so cheap.

If you are able to pull it off that cheap and enjoy it then well done sir.

You guys are both right, IMO. The biggest expense difference is probably rent. You can get a decent place on OnNut for $200-$300 per month. It will be a studio, but a decent one.

The same place off of Asoke or Thonglor will be way more expensive.

I live in BKK on about $1,500 per month, and don't have to budget too much. You could do BKK for $1,000 a month, but it would be a bit tight for me to pull off. $2,000 I think is a good number for BKK, and that would be living very comfortably.