Southeast Asia remains the world's top region for affordable expat living. Tropical weather, incredible food, fast internet, and a thriving nomad community — all at a fraction of Western prices. Here's every SE Asian city in our database, ranked by monthly budget.

Cities

$400–$700 (Rp 6.3M–Rp 11M)

Cheapest

$1,400–$2,400 (฿49,000–฿84,000)

Most expensive

Countries

🇮🇩

Yogyakarta

Indonesia

Artists, academics, budget expats, culture seekers

$400–$700 (Rp 6.3M–Rp 11M) 100 Mbps English: Moderate — better near universities and tourism areas

🇰🇭

Kampot

Cambodia

Retirees, slow-life seekers, writers, budget expats

$400–$700 30 Mbps English: Moderate

🇰🇭

Siem Reap

Cambodia

Retirees, digital nomads, budget expats, culture lovers

$500–$800 50 Mbps English: Good (tourist areas)

🇱🇦

Luang Prabang

Laos

Writers, artists, retirees, slow travelers

$500–$900 30 Mbps English: Basic in tourist areas

🇻🇳

Da Nang

Vietnam

Families, digital nomads, retirees, beach lovers

$600–$1,000 (15M–25M VND) 100 Mbps English: Good in My Khê and An Thượng expat strip

🇵🇭

Dumaguete

Philippines

Retirees, digital nomads, budget expats, divers

$600–$1,000 25 Mbps English: Very good

🇱🇦

Vientiane

Laos

Budget expats, NGO workers, slow-living seekers

$600–$1,000 40 Mbps English: Limited — basic in expat areas

🇲🇲

Mandalay

Myanmar

Teachers, culture lovers, budget expats

$600–$1,000 20 Mbps English: Very limited

🇻🇳

Hanoi

Vietnam

Culture-lovers, families, diplomats, teachers, retirees

$700–$1,200 (17.5M–30M VND) 120 Mbps English: Good in Tây Hồ and Old Quarter; improving citywide

🇹🇭

Chiang Mai

Thailand

Digital nomads, creatives, retirees, budget-conscious expats

$800–$1,400 (฿28,000–฿49,000) 300 Mbps English: Excellent in Nimman and Old City areas

🇻🇳

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Professionals, entrepreneurs, digital nomads, foodies

$800–$1,400 (20M–35M VND) 150 Mbps English: Good in District 1, 2, Thảo Điền expat areas

🇮🇩

Bali

Indonesia

Digital nomads, creatives, wellness seekers, surfers

$800–$1,500 (Rp 12.6M–Rp 23.7M) 150 Mbps English: Excellent in expat areas

🇵🇭

Cebu City

Philippines

Digital nomads, divers, value-seekers

$800–$1,400 200 Mbps English: Very good

🇰🇭

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

Professionals, entrepreneurs, digital nomads, retirees

$800–$1,400 80 Mbps English: Very good in expat areas; basic elsewhere

🇲🇲

Yangon

Myanmar

Teachers, NGO workers, entrepreneurs

$800–$1,200 25 Mbps English: Basic — better in expat areas

🇧🇳

Seria

Brunei

Oil & gas engineers, petroleum professionals, Shell/Total expats

$800–$2,000 (BND 1,080–2,700) 40 Mbps English: Good — universal in oil/gas companies

🇧🇳

Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei

Government, education, banking, and administrative professionals

$1,000–$2,500 (BND 1,350–3,375) 50 Mbps English: Very good — used in business, government, and education

🇹🇭

Bangkok

Thailand

Professionals, entrepreneurs, retirees, foodies

$1,200–$2,000 (฿42,000–฿70,000) 220 Mbps English: Good in expat areas and business

🇮🇩

Jakarta

Indonesia

Corporate expats, entrepreneurs, diplomats, NGO workers

$1,200–$2,500 (Rp 19M–Rp 39.5M) 200 Mbps English: Good in business and expat neighborhoods

🇹🇭

Phuket

Thailand

Retirees, beach lovers, remote workers, dive instructors

$1,400–$2,400 (฿49,000–฿84,000) 200 Mbps English: Excellent in tourist and expat areas

Showing top 20 of 26 cities

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