Tropical Paradise for $500 Per Month

Are you tired of noisy cities, crowded streets, high rents for housing or regular payments on loans for the mortgage? There are many beautiful exotic places in the world where you can go for very little money. Why not make your dreams come true, pack your things and move to one of the paradises of the planet, maybe not for life, but at least a year or two?
Of course, everything is relative, and what is cheap for some may seem prohibitively expensive for others, but you’ll surely be interested in places where one can live only for a few dollars a day, and even with the rent and the bad habits you can hardly spend more than 500 dollars in a month there. But hurry! The world is changing rapidly, and soon these countries may become less available.

Thailand
Have you ever been to Thailand? Remember that a glass of beer costs a dollar or even less there? And how you felt when you bought the same drink after returning home? So why not to move to the Land of Smiles for a couple of years? After all, life is short, and nobody can force you to hold it in a stuffy office at the computer. Think of the soft sandy beaches, bright sun, fresh fruit – all this can be less than 500 dollars a month! Of course, you cannot settle on the sand by the sea, but in the North it is not difficult to find a place where the monthly rent for a small apartment is about $30. If you want to live near the blue sea, then you have to lay out about $90 for a room in an apartment. Fruits, vegetables and meat at local markets are mere penny. If you do not want to stand at the stove, you can buy ready-made chicken and rice for $1. And so, you’re going to spend about 200 dollars. The same number can be left for tours, restaurants, parties and various purchases.

Cambodia
When this country was associated exclusively with the bloody regime of Pol Pot and poverty; no one would dare to call it a paradise. But times have changed. Now with safety and cost of living, it may well compete with Thailand. In Cambodia, there are fewer beaches, but one can live in the capital, Phnom Penh at $500 without any problems. It is true, there are increasing numbers of foreigners, but because housing prices have shot up top it is hard to find something cheaper than $200 a month. But for the remaining three hundred one can comfortably exist. Food prices in this country are even a bit lower than that of neighbors: a dinner at a restaurant will cost $2, a simple but tasty dish with a tray ready on the street – half the price. Movement on a local taxi, tuk-tukah will cost a few dollars a day. By the way, the cost of living in nearby Vietnam and Laos is similar, so that when you become tired, you can go to the neighbors.

Philippines
Do not dwell in the capital: the bottom bracket housing prices in Manila is $360. It is better to settle in Cebu, one of the most economically developed provinces of the Philippines, where there are sandy beaches and golf courses, and great shops, and you will pay only $ 150 rent for housing per month. If you pull in a little deeper into the country the rent will fall to $40 per month. About $200 will be required on food, even if you do not give up bad habits: a large glass of beer and a pack of cigarettes in these regions are 55 and 80 cents, respectively. By the way, old people can go to this country on a special “pensioner visa”. And, it is given from already … 35 years. But such young people will have to pay 50 thousand dollars for deposit in the bank. If you are over 50 years, you will need 10 thousand dollars and proof that your monthly pension is not less than 800 dollars. A similar program for retirees “My second home” exists in Malaysia.

Costa Rica
Quite a bit of money will be needed to exist quietly in Costa Rica. Primeval nature, 12 climate zones, and friendly people – all this is available for $500 a month! San Jose stands out among most cities in the world with low cost of goods and services. And the farther from the capital, the lower the cost of housing: 75 km from the city a decent house can be rented for only $250 a month. Bunch of bananas for local markets and street stalls is less than a half dollar, prices in supermarkets are higher by about 30%. Along with living in this paradise Spanish can be improved – lessons will cost much cheaper than at home, or to master surfing. Before going to the American coast, read a book by Erin Van Rheenen “Living Abroad in Costa Rica” – the author himself spent many years in this country and is ready to tell many interesting and necessary details that will help decide on the move.

Belize
This country is considered one of the most beautiful in Central America. Huge beaches, subtropical climate, exotic flora and fauna and the state language is English – all this makes the local coastline very attractive for divers, lovers of snorkeling and various downshifters. In the area of the barrier reef there is one of the best preserved marine ecosystems. Cost of living in these areas is similar to the Costa Rican: to live in a big house in an hour’s drive from Belize City you can for $300 a month, so if you invite a couple of friends under the roof, accommodation will cost just 100 dollars. Local products are cheap; the imported are about 50% more expensive. So those who want to save money, better buy food at village markets or from street vendors. If you are over 45 years, you should register in the program for pensioners that will allow not paying local tax and saving a few dollars. However, before you pack your bags, learn about the local climate. Dry and wet seasons in this country are alternating, and so the weather is not always fun. From May to October rains and hurricanes frequently occur, so if you do not want to spend in the country the rest of your life, but only a few months, come here from November to April.