TOP 10 Cheapest Countries Ranked by Rent Prices: Which Has $200/Month Apartments?

TOP 10 Cheapest Countries Ranked by Rent Prices: Which Has $200/Month Apartments?

So, here’s a question that keeps popping up in my inbox, and honestly, it’s one I’ve been dying to tackle. Is it actually possible to find a decent apartment for $200 a month somewhere in this world? Not a closet, not a room in someone’s house where you share a bathroom with six strangers, an actual apartment with walls, a door that locks, and maybe even a little kitchen where you can make your morning coffee. And I’m not talking about some theoretical number that sounds nice on paper but disappears the second you actually try to book something. I’m talking about real places where real people are living right now. Paying rents that would make your American landlord weep. Over the past few months, I’ve been diving deep into the numbers. talking to expats, reading through dozens of cost of living reports from 2024 and 2025, cross-referencing data from Numeo, Expatistan, and actual people living in these places. And what I found honestly surprised me because yes, $200 apartments exist in multiple countries. Some of them are places you’ve probably never even considered, and some of them are going to completely change how you think about where life could take you next. Now, I want to be clear about something before we dive in. Every country on this list is safe for travelers and expats. I specifically left out any place where I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending to a friend. So you won’t find war zones, places with significant security concerns, or countries where the political situation makes daily life unpredictable. Every single destination here is somewhere people are happily building lives. Right now, we’re counting down from number 10 to number one, with number one being the absolute cheapest place where that magical $200 apartment dream becomes reality. Along the way, I’ll share not just the rent prices, but what else your money gets you, because cheap rent doesn’t mean much if everything else drains your wallet. Ready? Let’s start our countdown. Okay, so Georgia wasn’t supposed to be number 10. A couple years ago, this tiny country sandwiched between Europe and Asia would have easily cracked the top five on any cheap living list. Digital nomads were flooding in, raving about $500 apartments with stunning views of the Cauasus Mountains. The food was incredible, the wine was even better, and you could stay for an entire year without a visa. Then everything changed in 2022. When Russia invaded Ukraine, hundreds of thousands of Russians suddenly needed somewhere to go, and many of them chose to. Practically overnight, apartment prices in the capital shot up. Landlords who had been renting places for $300 suddenly realized they could charge 600, then 800. The market went absolutely wild. Now things have calmed down a bit. We’re seeing prices correct in early 2025 with rent dropping about 12% from the peak. But Georgia isn’t the screaming deal it once was. A decent one-bedroom apartment in central Tibelis now runs between $500 and $700 a month. You can find cheaper in the suburbs around 450. And if you’re willing to negotiate a longer lease, you might save another 15%. So why is Georgia still on this list at all? Because even at these higher prices, the value proposition remains incredible for what you get. Tibelis is genuinely beautiful. The old town looks like something out of a fairy tale with these winding cobblestone streets and ornate wooden balconies that hang over the river. The food scene rivals cities three times its size, and the people, once you break through that initial reserve, are some of the warmest hosts you’ll ever meet. Beyond rent, your money stretches remarkably far. A filling meal at a local restaurant costs $3 to $5. The famous Georgian dumplings called Kingali run about $40 to 80 each, and you’ll want at least five. A glass of fantastic local wine at a bar, $2. Internet is blazing fast at around $18 a month for fiber and mobile data plans with unlimited everything run about $12. The tax situation also deserves mention. Georgia has a flat 1% tax for freelancers who set up as individual entrepreneurs. Combined with the year-long visa-free stay for most Western passport holders, it’s become a serious base for people building locationindependent businesses. But let’s be honest about the challenges. The city has gotten more crowded. Prices for everything have crept up. And that famous Georgian hospitality can sometimes feel strained when landlords are raising rents on long-term tenants with barely any notice. If you’re coming here expecting the dirt cheap paradise everyone was raving about in 2019, you’ll be disappointed. For the $200 apartment dream specifically, Georgia doesn’t quite deliver anymore unless you’re willing to live far outside the city center or in a much smaller town. But for overall value, especially in that $500 to $800 monthly budget range, it remains one of the most interesting places in this part of the world. Number nine, Morocco. Morocco occupies this fascinating inbetween space. geographically African, culturally Arab, historically intertwined with Europe, and somehow entirely its own thing. It’s close enough to Spain that you can literally see it across the street of Gibralar. And for anyone looking to stretch their budget while experiencing something genuinely different, it delivers in ways that surprise most firsttime visitors. The rent situation varies dramatically by city, but the overall theme is affordability. In Marrakesh, the city most tourists know, a one-bedroom apartment in the new town runs between $300 and $500 monthly. The Medina, the oldwalled city, offers traditional riads and apartments for 200 to 400, though you’re trading modern conveniences for authentic atmosphere. Step away from the tourist centers entirely, and 150 to 250 becomes very achievable. But here’s what experienced Morocco expats will tell you. Marrakesh isn’t necessarily where you want to live long term. Rabbot, the actual capital, offers better infrastructure, less tourist hustle, and comparable prices. Essira, the coastal town beloved by wind surfers and artists, provides Atlantic breezes and a laid-back vibe with apartments starting around $200. Chef Chowin, the famous blue city in the Rift Mountains, runs even cheaper once you get past the day tripper crowds. Tangier has emerged as an interesting option for European expats specifically. A 45minute ferry ride from Spain increasingly cosmopolitan with rent running 250 to 450 for nice apartments. You can literally do your grocery shopping in Europe if you miss certain products. The city is gentrifying rapidly, so these prices won’t last forever, but right now it’s a sweet spot. Food costs make Morocco even more attractive. A tajine at a local restaurant runs $3 to $5. Street food like McMen flatbreads or Herrera soup costs under a dollar. The souks overflow with fresh produce, spices, and olives at prices that make Western supermarkets seem like robbery. A full weekly grocery shop for one person runs $ 20 to $30. Eating very well. The cafe culture deserves its own mention. Moroccan mint tea is practically a national institution. Served sweet and ceremonial for about 50. Coffee runs similarly cheap. You can spend entire afternoons in traditional cafes watching street life unfold for essentially nothing. Transportation stays reasonable throughout the country. Trains connect major cities reliably and cheaply with Marrakesh to Casablanca running about $10. Grand taxis handle intercity routes for a few dollars. Within cities, petit taxis rarely exceed $3 for any trip. The new high-speed train between Tangier and Casablanca has cut travel times dramatically. Healthcare is solid for routine needs. Private clinics in major cities provide good care at affordable prices with doctor visits running $15 to $30. French is widely spoken in medical settings which helps if your Arabic is limited. Serious issues might warrant travel to Europe, but everyday healthcare works fine domestically. The visa situation is straightforward for most Western passport holders. 90 days visa-free, extendable with some paperwork. For longer stays, many expats do border runs to Spain or simply exit and return. It’s not officially sanctioned for permanent residency, but widely tolerated. Now for the honest challenges. Morocco requires cultural adaptation that not everyone manages. The constant attention in tourist areas, the haggling that some find exhausting, the gender dynamics that can make solo female travelers uncomfortable. The medinas are magical but also labyrinthine and sometimes overwhelming. Summer heat in interior cities like Marrakesh reaches genuinely brutal levels. French or Arabic helps enormously for daily life. Ramadan changes everything for a month each year. Most restaurants close during daylight hours. The rhythm of daily life shifts completely. Some expats love experiencing it. Others plan vacations elsewhere during that period. For the $200 apartment target, Morocco delivers in smaller cities and local neighborhoods of larger ones. The tourist heavy areas push prices up, but step around the corner and suddenly North African affordability kicks in. Combined with incredible architecture, food that rivals anywhere on Earth, and a location that keeps Europe accessible, Morocco offers genuine value for anyone willing to embrace somewhere truly different. When people think cheap living in Latin America, their minds usually jump to Mexico or Colombia. Maybe Costa Rica if they’re feeling adventurous, Ecuador rarely makes the list, which is exactly why it should be at the top of yours if you’re seriously looking for value. Let me start with something that makes Ecuador unique among cheap countries. It uses the US dollar as its official currency, not pegged to the dollar. actually uses dollars, which means no exchange rate anxiety, no currency conversion fees, no watching your savings fluctuate based on what some central bank decides to do. Your money is worth exactly what it says on the tin. Now, the rent situation in Quanka, which has become the expat capital of Ecuador, a nice one-bedroom apartment runs between $350 and $500 a month. But here’s where it gets interesting. If you’re willing to look at places that cater more to locals than expats, you can find perfectly comfortable apartments for 250 to 300. And in smaller cities like Loa or Ambato, that drops even further. Quanka itself is something special. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. And you can see why the moment you arrive. Colonial architecture, flower markets that explode with color, rivers running through the city center. The weather sits at eternal spring, rarely getting above 75 or below 50°. Many expats call it the best climate on Earth. And honestly, they might be right. Food costs will make you question everything you thought you knew about grocery prices. Fresh produce from the local markets is almost embarrassingly cheap. We’re talking 20 cents for an avocado, a dollar for a huge bag of oranges, seasonal fruits you’ve never heard of for pennies. A filling lunch at a local commodore runs $2 to $3, including a drink. Nice restaurant dinners rarely exceed $15 per person. Healthcare is another major draw. Ecuador has invested heavily in its medical infrastructure, and many doctors trained in the US or Europe. A specialist visit might cost 20 to $30. Dental work runs a fraction of American prices. Medical tourism has become a genuine industry here with people flying in specifically for procedures. The visa situation is remarkably welcoming. You get 90 days automatically extendable to $180 with minimal hassle. And if you decide to stay longer, the pension auto visa requires proving just $1,400 monthly income, one of the lowest thresholds in the Americas. Property investment of around $50,000 also qualifies you for residency. What about the downsides? Ecuador does experience occasional political instability, though it rarely affects day-to-day life in expat heavy areas. Infrastructure outside major cities can be basic. Spanish is essentially required unless you plan to live entirely within expat bubbles. And while crime isn’t severe by regional standards, petty theft does happen, particularly in Guayakil and Keo. But for someone seeking a complete package of affordability, climate, natural beauty, and decent infrastructure, Ecuador punches way above its weight. The Galapagos are right there. The Amazon rainforest is a bus ride away. and you can build a genuinely comfortable life on a budget that would barely cover rent in most American cities. Number seven, Bulgaria. Here’s something that blows most people’s minds when I tell them Bulgaria is part of the European Union, has been since 2007, and as of 2024, it joined the Shenhen zone, which means EU citizens can now move there with essentially zero paperwork. Yet, despite all that European integration, it consistently ranks as the cheapest country to live in across the entire EU. The numbers tell the story. In Sophia, the capital, you’re looking at around $300 to $400 for a one-bedroom apartment in the city center. Step outside the center and that drops to 200 to 300. Head to smaller cities like Plovdiv or Varna and suddenly you’re in that magical $200 territory. especially if you commit to a longer lease. But here’s what makes Bulgaria particularly interesting compared to other cheap destinations. The infrastructure is European. The internet is worldclass, consistently ranking among the fastest in Europe. Healthcare meets EU standards, and a private doctor visit costs around $30 to $40. The roads are decent, public transport works, and you don’t have to worry about power outages or water quality issues that plague many other budget friendly countries. I spoke with several expats living in Bulgaria and they all mentioned the same thing, the groceries. Walking into a Bulgarian supermarket is a revelation if you’re used to Western prices. A full weekly shop for two people runs about $40 to $50. Eating out at local restaurants costs $5 to $10 for a full meal with drinks. And if you’re into wine, Bulgaria produces some surprisingly excellent bottles for $3 to $5. The country also offers genuine four-season variety. You’ve got Black Sea beaches in the summer, ski resorts in the winter, and gorgeous mountain hiking in between. Plavd, which was the European capital of culture a few years back, has this incredible old town with Roman ruins just casually sitting in the middle of the city. It’s the kind of place where history feels alive rather than preserved behind glass. Now for the reality check. Bulgaria isn’t the easiest place to integrate into. The language uses cerillic script and very few people outside of Sophia speak English comfortably. The bureaucracy can be frustrating in that particularly Eastern European way where nothing makes sense, but somehow everything works out eventually. And while the major cities are cosmopolitan, rural areas can feel quite isolated. Winter heating bills can also catch people offguard because so much of the housing stock is older. Utilities during cold months might add another $100 or more to your monthly expenses. Air conditioning in summer creates a similar spike. For EU citizens, Bulgaria represents perhaps the single best value proposition on the continent. For everyone else, visa situations have gotten more complicated since Shenhen accession, though tourist stays of 90 days are still straightforward. If you can make it work legally, this is one of those rare places where European quality of life meets developing world prices. Number six, Albania. If Bulgaria is the EU’s budget champion, Albania is what Bulgaria was 10 years ago, not yet in the European Union. not on most people’s radar and absolutely stunning for anyone willing to venture slightly off the beaten path. The numbers in Albania genuinely surprised me. In Toronto, the capital, a modern one-bedroom apartment in the city center, runs between $250 and $400 monthly. Step outside the Baloku district, the trendy area that’s become expat central, and prices drop to 175 to 300. In coastal cities like Saranda or Vlora, or the UNESCO town of Barat, $200 apartments aren’t exceptional. They’re pretty standard. Albania sits on the Adriatic and Ionian coasts with beaches that rival anything in Greece or Croatia at a fraction of the price. The Albanian Riviera has become something of an open secret among European travelers, but it hasn’t yet translated into yearround expat infrastructure that drives prices up. You can literally live by the Mediterranean for what some people spend on parking. Tana itself has transformed remarkably over the past decade. Communist era buildings painted in wild colors now house excellent cafes and restaurants. The food scene draws from Italian, Greek, and Turkish influences while maintaining something distinctly Albanian. A proper sit-down meal at a nice restaurant costs $8 to 12. Coffee culture is serious with espresso running under a dollar at most cafes. The practical expenses maintain Albania’s budget friendly reputation. Utilities rarely exceed $50 monthly. Internet is fast and cheap. Public transit costs essentially nothing. A taxi across Toronto runs $3 to5. Domestic buses connect major cities for $2 to6 regardless of distance. Healthcare is the area where Albania shows its developing country status most clearly. Major hospitals in Toronto provide adequate care for routine issues and private clinics offer better service at still affordable rates. But serious medical situations typically mean travel to Greece or Italy. Many expats maintain international insurance specifically for this reason. The visa situation works beautifully for most Western passport holders. You get a fullear visa-free renewable by simply exiting and re-entering. No paperwork, no hassle, no gray areas. For Americans and Europeans who want to test long-term living somewhere before committing, Albania offers an unusually long trial period. English works surprisingly well, particularly among younger Albanians who grew up watching American movies and British TV. Italian is also widely spoken due to geographic and historical connections. Learning Albanian isn’t essential for daily life in Tana, though it opens doors in smaller towns and earns you genuine appreciation from locals. What catches people offguard is how European Albania feels despite not being in the EU. The currency is the le, but euros are accepted almost everywhere. Credit cards work at most businesses. Amazon delivers. Western brands stock supermarket shelves. The infrastructure isn’t German perfect, but it’s leagues ahead of what most people expect from a country they’ve never really considered. The challenges include roads that can be adventurous outside major cities, a business culture that runs on relationships rather than procedures, and summer tourist crowds that triple prices in coastal areas during July and August. Power outages occasionally happen. Not everything works perfectly all the time. For the $200 apartment dream, Albania delivers more consistently than almost anywhere in Europe. Even in the capital, even in decent neighborhoods, that price point is achievable with minimal compromise. Combined with Mediterranean weather, European proximity, and a fascinating culture that few outsiders have explored, Albania might be the single bestkept secret on this entire list. The fifth country on my list is Thailand. There’s a reason Thailand and specifically Chiang Mai became the birthplace of the modern digital nomad movement. A decade ago, it offered something that seemed almost impossible. First world infrastructure, incredible food, reliable internet, and prices so low you could live well on freelance income that wouldn’t cover rent back home. The legend of the thousand Chiang Mai lifestyle spread across every travel blog on the internet. So, where does Thailand stand in 2025? The honest answer is complicated. Yes, prices have risen. The days of finding amazing apartments for $150 are mostly gone in popular areas. But Thailand still delivers remarkable value, especially if you know where to look and how to live. In Chiang Mai, the epicenter of expat Thailand, rent for a modern one-bedroom condo with a pool and gym runs between 300 and $450 monthly. Basic studios in older buildings go for around $200. And if you’re willing to live slightly outside the trendy Niman area, perhaps in places like the old city or Sansai, you can still find livable apartments for $150 to $250. Bangkok obviously costs more. Central areas like Sukumvit and Silam run 500 to a,000 for a decent condo. But move to outer areas like Onnut or Fraanong and suddenly 350 to 450 gets you a perfectly comfortable place with access to the BTS Sky Train. Here’s what makes Thailand special beyond the numbers. The food. Thai street food might be the greatest culinary bargain on planet Earth. A plate of pad thai from a street vendor costs $1.50 to $2 and it’s genuinely delicious. Caosai, that creamy northern curry runs about the same. You can eat like royalty for $5 a meal. And I mean actual royalty because the flavors are that good. Transportation costs almost nothing. The Bangkok Metro and Sky Train are modern, clean, and cheap. Grab rides within most cities run $3 to $6. In Chiang Mai, most expats rent scooters for $60 to $80 a month, and that covers virtually all their transport needs. Fuel is cheap, parking is never an issue. And then there’s the visa situation, which just got dramatically better. Thailand introduced a destination Thailand visa in July 2024. That’s basically a gamecher. For about $300, you get 5 years of access, able to stay up to 180 days at a stretch. The requirements are reasonable for most digital nomads, and it finally solves the annoying visa run situation that plagued long-term visitors for years. Healthcare deserves its own mention. Thai hospitals, particularly private ones in Bangkok, rank among the best in Asia. Medical tourism is a billiondoll industry here for good reason. A comprehensive health checkup costs $40 to $60. A private doctor visit runs 20 to 30, and procedures that would bankrupt you in America cost a fraction here while often providing better care. The challenges are real, though. Thai bureaucracy remains maddeningly inconsistent. The culture, while welcoming on the surface, can be difficult to truly penetrate. Learning the language helps enormously, but Thai is notoriously difficult for Western ears. And the famous burning season in the north, roughly February through April, creates air quality that rivals the world’s most polluted cities. For the $200 apartment specifically, Thailand delivers if you’re flexible on location and expectations. You won’t get a pool and gym at that price, but you’ll get a clean air conditioned space in a safe neighborhood. Combined with $1 meals and essentially free transportation, Thailand remains one of the best places on Earth to stretch a modest budget into a great life. Number four, Cambodia. If Thailand was the digital nomad destination of the 20110s, Cambodia is quietly positioning itself for the 20120s. And there’s one thing about Cambodia that makes budget planning almost suspiciously easy. The entire economy runs on US dollars. Walk into any restaurant, any landlord’s office, any grocery store, and you’re paying in American greenbacks. The local realel exists for small change, but dollars dominate everything. Now, let’s talk rent because this is where Cambodia starts to get really interesting. In phenom pen, the capital, a basic but comfortable one-bedroom apartment runs between $150 and $300. Westernstyle condos with elevators, air conditioning, and maybe a pool bump that to 350 to 600. Service apartments with cleaning and utilities included start around 500 and go up from there. But here’s the thing about Cambodian housing that differs from most countries. Because it’s a dollarized economy that’s actively trying to attract foreign investment and residents, you can find genuinely nice places at budget prices. We’re not talking about roughing it in a concrete box. At $300 monthly, you might get a modern building with a rooftop pool, gym access, and maybe even cleaning service included. The food scene reflects Cambodia’s unique position at the crossroads of Southeast Asia. Street food runs $1.50 to $3 for filling meals. Local Camair restaurants serve massive portions for $3 to $5, and the French colonial influence means excellent bakeries and surprisingly good Western food at prices that won’t wreck your budget. A nice dinner with wine might hit $20, which feels expensive until you remember what that would cost anywhere else. Phenom Pen has matured remarkably over the past decade. The Riverside area buzzes with restaurants and bars. Co-working spaces have sprouted throughout the BKK1 district, which has essentially become Expat Central. International schools serve the growing community of foreign families. It’s not quite Bangkok levels of development, but it’s no longer the wild frontier it once was. Seamreap, the gateway to Ankor Watt, offers an even cheaper alternative. Monthly budgets of $600 to $800 cover everything comfortably. Rent runs 30% less than the capital, and you’re living next to one of humanity’s most spectacular archaeological sites, which never really gets old. Transportation stays remarkably cheap. Grab and passap have eliminated the haggling that once defined getting around. A tuktuk ride across town runs $2 to $4. Motorbike rentals cost $60 to $80 monthly. Most expats find that $50 a month covers all their transport needs. The visa situation deserves serious attention because it’s genuinely straightforward. Cambodia offers a business visa that lets you stay indefinitely with annual renewals and the process is remarkably unbureaucratic compared to its neighbors. Many long-term expats simply maintain business visas year after year without issue. What about the challenges? Cambodia is still a developing country with developing country issues. Infrastructure outside major cities ranges from basic to non-existent. Health care quality varies wildly and serious medical issues usually mean evacuation to Bangkok. The heat is intense and relentless. And while improving, internet can still be inconsistent outside of the main expat areas. The $200 apartment exists in Cambodia, particularly in local neighborhoods away from the touristy centers. At that price, you’re looking at a basic Camar style place, probably without air conditioning in common areas, maybe with a fan and cold water shower. Bump to 250 or 300 and suddenly you’re in modern territory with all the conveniences. For the adventurous budget seeker, Cambodia delivers genuine value. The third country on my list is Vietnam. Vietnam has this energy that’s hard to describe until you experience it. Motorbikes flood the streets in what looks like chaos, but somehow flows perfectly. Street vendors set up shop on every corner. Construction cranes dot the skyline. The whole country feels like it’s accelerating towards something, and the price of admission to watch it happen remains remarkably affordable. The rent landscape varies dramatically by city and neighborhood. In Hanoi’s trendy Taho district, expat focused one-bedrooms run $400 to $600. But here’s a secret that regular expat guides won’t tell you. In local neighborhoods, apartments rent for dramatically less. We’re talking $200 to 350 for modern aironditioned places that just happen to have fewer westerners around. Ho Chi Min City follows a similar pattern, but with even more options. The fancy District 1 and Thaudian areas command premium prices, easily 500 plus for a nice one-bedroom. But District 7, Binthon, or Govap, offer modern apartments starting at 250. And the city just opened its first metro line in late 2024, which is slowly changing which neighborhoods count as convenient. Da Nang has emerged as the Goldilocks option for many expats. Not as chaotic as Saigon, not as traditional as Hanoi with beaches that rival anywhere in Southeast Asia. One-bedroom apartments near the beach run 300 to 500. Move inland slightly and 250 becomes very achievable. The city is actively courting digital nomads with improving infrastructure and a genuinely pleasant vibe. Now, let me tell you about Vietnamese food because it deserves its own moment. Street food here isn’t just cheap. It’s transformatively delicious. A steaming bowl of fo costs $1 to $2 and changes your understanding of what soup can be. Boni sandwiches run 50 cents to a dollar and put any western sandwich to shame. Coffee culture is serious with ca pisua da available on every corner for about a dollar. The practical numbers work out beautifully. Internet runs about $10 monthly for fiber that’s faster than most western connections. A prepaid phone plan with data costs $4. Grab rides around the city rarely exceed $3. A motorbike rental for the month runs 50 to 70. You can genuinely live well on $1,000 a month and comfortably on $1,500. Vietnam’s cost of living sits roughly 60% below the United States and United Kingdom. But here’s the crucial part. That discount doesn’t come with a proportional drop in quality of life. The food is better. The weather is warm. The people are entrepreneurial and increasingly globally connected. You’re not roughing it. You’re just spending less for equally good or better experiences. The visa situation has improved, but remains Vietnam’s biggest friction point. Tourist visas max out at 90 days, after which you need to leave and return. Business visas offer longer stays but require proper sponsorship. The country has talked about digital nomad visas for years without implementing them. For long-term stays, many expats end up doing visa runs to nearby countries every few months. Other challenges include the famous traffic chaos, which genuinely takes adjustment. Air quality in major cities isn’t great. The language barrier remains significant outside of tourist areas. And while violent crime is rare, petty theft targeting foreigners does happen, particularly phone snatching from motorbikes. For that $200 apartment target, Vietnam delivers in suburban areas and smaller cities. In major city centers, 250 to 350 is more realistic for a modern, comfortable space. Either way, the overall value proposition makes Vietnam one of the smartest choices for budgetconscious expats who want quality of life, not just low prices. Egypt doesn’t usually show up on digital nomad lists. It’s not in Southeast Asia. It doesn’t have the established expat infrastructure of Mexico or Portugal. And when people think of Cairo, they think pyramids and tour buses, not laptop lifestyle and co-working spaces, which is exactly why it deserves serious consideration from anyone serious about stretching their money as far as possible. Let me hit you with some numbers that might make you do a double take. A one-bedroom apartment in Cairo city center runs between $2 and $350 monthly. Outside the center that drops to 120 to 250. In coastal cities like Heratada on the Red Sea, rents fall another 20 to 30% below that. We’re talking about actual apartments in a major capital city home to over 20 million people with functioning infrastructure and modern amenities for less than what some people pay for their monthly streaming subscriptions back home. The Egyptian pound has been through some rough times. And while that’s challenging for locals, it’s created extraordinary value for anyone earning in dollars or euros. Cairo is vast and varied with neighborhoods ranging from chaotic traditional markets to gated expat compounds that could be anywhere in the world. Zamalech Island sits in the middle of the Nile, treelined and relatively calm, popular with diplomats and foreigners. Mi offers a suburban feel with good restaurants and an established expat community. New Cairo and Shake Zed provide modern development with wide streets and westernstyle amenities. Food costs are genuinely shocking to firsttime visitors. A meal at a local restaurant runs $2 to4. Street food like kushari, the national dish of rice, lentils, pasta, and fried onions costs under a dollar for a heaping portion. Groceries run 40 to 60% less than Europe or America. Even importing habits from home don’t break the bank. Since Egypt has well stocked supermarkets with international goods, transportation maintains the theme of absurd affordability. Cairo’s metro system, though crowded, costs essentially nothing. Uber and Kareem operate throughout the city with rides rarely exceeding a few dollars. Cross city taxi trips that would bankrupt you in New York run to$4. Domestic flights to beach towns and historical sites cost $30 to $60. And then there’s the obvious elephant in the room, or I guess I should say the pyramid. You could literally live with a view of the pyramids for what you’d pay for a parking spot in Manhattan. The historical and cultural access is unmatched anywhere on Earth. Luxor’s temples are a cheap flight away. The Red Sea offers worldclass diving. The desert stretches endlessly in every direction with experiences you simply cannot have anywhere else. Health care deserves attention. Private medical care in Egypt is affordable and increasingly high quality, particularly in Cairo’s major hospitals. A doctor’s visit runs $10 to $20. Dental work costs a fraction of Western prices. Many expats maintain private health insurance for around $50 monthly that covers most needs. Now, let’s talk honestly about the challenges because Egypt isn’t right for everyone. The chaos of Cairo can be overwhelming. Traffic is legendary for all the wrong reasons. Air quality in the capital isn’t great. The bureaucracy can be Kofka-esque. And as a woman traveling alone, street harassment remains a genuine issue that requires awareness and adaptation. Summer heat reaches extreme levels, regularly exceeding 40°. Arabic is the primary language and while English works in tourist areas, daily life requires at least some basic phrases and the political situation while stable for now carries uncertainties that neighboring countries don’t. For the pure budget calculation though, Egypt is hard to beat. A comfortable expat life in Cairo runs $800 to $1,200 monthly. In smaller cities, you could genuinely live on 500. The $200 apartment isn’t just possible here. It’s almost the default outside of premium neighborhoods. If you can handle the cultural adjustment, Egypt offers perhaps the most dramatic value gap between cost and experience of anywhere on this list. And here we are at number one. The country that delivers the mythical $200 apartment not as an exception, but as something close to the norm. Nepal, the land of Everest, the birthplace of Buddha. and quietly one of the cheapest places on planet earth to actually live. Let me start with the rent figures that I honestly had to verify multiple times because they seemed too low. In Catmandeue, the capital, a one-bedroom apartment in the city center runs between $200 and $400 monthly. Move slightly outside central Tamil or Derber square and that drops to 150 to 300. In neighborhoods that locals live in, $100 to $200 gets you a perfectly reasonable place with basic amenities. Outside of Catmandeue, prices drop even further. The lakeside town of Pocara, gateway to Annaperna, and arguably one of the most beautiful settings in Asia, offers apartments starting at $100 monthly. not rooms, apartments with kitchens and private bathrooms and maybe even a view of the mountains that tourists pay thousands to trek toward. Daily expenses follow the same pattern of almost unrealistic affordability. A full meal at a local restaurant costs $1 to $3. Street food runs even less. Dbat, the traditional Nepali meal of lentils, rice, and accompaniment, fills you up for about a dollar, and you can usually get unlimited refills. Groceries for a week run $10 to $20 if you shop at local markets. Transportation barely registers as an expense. Local buses cost essentially nothing. Taxis within Catmandeue rarely exceed $3. Domestic flights to Pocara or Lucla run $30 to $150 depending on the season. You can genuinely get around the country without transport ever becoming a meaningful budget item. What makes Nepal special beyond the pure numbers? The setting. Waking up to see the Himalayas from your window isn’t a metaphor. It’s a daily reality that costs less than a storage unit back home. The eight highest peaks in the world are either in Nepal or on its borders. Worldclass trekking starts at the edge of the city. Adventure travel that costs thousands elsewhere runs a fraction of that price here. The culture provides constant richness. Hindu and Buddhist traditions interweave throughout daily life. Temples and stupas dot every neighborhood. Festivals seem to happen constantly, filling streets with color and celebration. For anyone interested in spirituality, meditation, yoga, or just understanding a radically different way of viewing the world, Nepal offers endless depth. The expat community, while smaller than Southeast Asian hotspots, is welcoming and genuine. You’ll find long-term travelers who came for a trek and never left. aid workers and NGO staff, meditation retreat participants who discovered something worth staying for. It’s not the digital nomad scene of Chiang Mai, but that’s partly the appeal. People here chose it deliberately. Now for the reality check, because Nepal’s affordability comes with genuine trade-offs. Infrastructure is basic. Load shedding, scheduled power cuts has improved, but still happens. Internet speeds won’t satisfy heavy video uploaders. Roads outside the main cities range from challenging to genuinely dangerous. The earthquake risk is real and buildings don’t always reflect best practices. Health care is the most significant concern. While basic care is affordable, facilities are limited. Serious medical issues usually require evacuation to Thailand or India. Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation isn’t optional here. It’s essential. The standards that Westerners expect simply don’t exist outside of a few private hospitals in Catmandeue. The visa situation requires attention. Nepal offers a variety of visas, but none specifically designed for long-term remote workers. Most people cycle through tourist visas with extensions, which is tolerated but not officially sanctioned. If you’re planning an extended stay, understanding the bureaucratic landscape becomes important. And then there’s the simple fact that Nepal is a developing country with developing country realities. Pollution in Catmandeue gets severe, particularly in winter. Monsoon season brings flooding and landslides. The pace of getting anything done official can test even patient souls. It’s not a place that works for everyone, but for the right person, Nepal offers something genuinely magical. A life surrounded by the world’s most dramatic landscapes. A culture that moves at its own rhythm. Adventures that would cost a fortune elsewhere available for pocket change. And yes, genuine apartments for $200 a month in a city of over a million people. Nepal proves that the cheapest answer is sometimes also the most spectacular one. So there you have it. 10 countries ranked by rent. From Georgia’s postboom prices down to Nepal’s almost unbelievable affordability. The $200 apartment isn’t a myth. It exists in multiple places around the world right now. Ready for anyone willing to make the jump. Quick recap of where we landed. Georgia at number 10. Still valuable but no longer dirt cheap. Morocco at 9, where Africa meets Europe at bargain prices. Ecuador at 8, dollar economy with spring weather forever. Bulgaria at 7, the EU’s budget champion. Albania at six, Europe’s last affordable secret. Thailand at 5, the original nomad paradise still delivering. Cambodia at four, Southeast Asia’s frontier of affordability. Vietnam at three, dynamic and delicious. Egypt at two, ancient history at modern bargain prices, and Nepal at number one, where the world’s highest mountains meet the lowest rents. The right choice depends entirely on what you’re optimizing for. Want European infrastructure and easy integration? Bulgaria or Albania? Craving incredible food and established nomad community? Thailand or Vietnam? Looking for adventure and spiritual depth? Nepal has no equal. need that dollar economy stability, Ecuador or Cambodia. Each country offers its own version of value, and the best one is simply the one that matches what you’re actually looking for. Drop a comment letting me know which country surprised you most. Or if you’ve lived in any of these places, I’d love to hear how your experience matched up with what we covered. Thanks for watching and I’ll see you in the next

Is finding a clean, dedicated apartment for just $200 per month a myth? Absolutely not!

In this definitive, data-driven video, we rank the 10 CHEAPEST Countries on Earth based on their average rental prices, proving where extreme budget living is truly possible. We go beyond the expensive expat bubbles to expose the specific cities and neighborhoods where your monthly rent is less than a typical utility bill in the West.

We’ll reveal the surprising destinations in Southeast Asia, the Balkans, and South Asia where a $200 rent is a realistic, long-term option, freeing up the rest of your budget for food, travel, and lifestyle upgrades.

💰 The $200 Rent Reality Check:
The Price Floor: We show the specific countries that consistently report apartment rents for $200 USD or less for a single-bedroom unit, including India, Nepal, and specific cities in Cambodia and Thailand (Source: Confirmed reports of $150-$215 apartments in Siem Reap, Plovdiv, and Mendoza).

The Ranking Criteria: The ranking is based on verifiable, long-term rental prices for non-luxury, functional apartments. We show you the necessary trade-offs (e.g., location, amenities) that come with ultra-budget living.

Rent Hack Secrets: We reveal the crucial difference between Airbnb prices and local market prices. The key is using local websites and Facebook groups, not tourist platforms.

The 10 Revealed: The list includes countries you expect (like Vietnam and Bulgaria) and surprising cheap locations in South America and Eastern Europe.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The essential local phrases you need to negotiate prices down to the $200 threshold.

The exact cost of utilities (often shockingly low!) that you must factor into your total monthly housing budget.

Why choosing a non-capital city (like Plovdiv, Bulgaria, or a rural area in Colombia) is the only way to meet this extreme budget goal.

Stop paying exorbitant rent. Start living better for less.

Subscribe and hit the notification bell to unlock the secrets to ultra-budget living abroad!