City Budget Calculator — Which Cities Can You Afford?
Set your monthly budget. We'll show you which cities you can actually afford — no vibes, just math.
Just you. 1BR, solo meals, one transit pass.
cities within budget
out of 129 cities with cost data
Cheapest: $853/mo
Most expensive: $7,597/mo
Comfortable
Well within budget. You'll have money left over.
$853
43% of budget
+$1,147 left
$988
49% of budget
+$1,012 left
$1,023
51% of budget
+$977 left
$1,169
58% of budget
+$831 left
$1,183
59% of budget
+$817 left
Doable
Fits without much stress. A few luxuries possible.
$1,374
69% of budget
+$626 left
$1,387
69% of budget
+$613 left
$1,483
74% of budget
+$517 left
$1,484
74% of budget
+$516 left
$1,552
78% of budget
+$448 left
Tight
Possible, but leaves little margin. Budget carefully.
$1,659
83% of budget
+$341 left
$1,675
84% of budget
+$325 left
$1,748
87% of budget
+$252 left
$1,750
88% of budget
+$250 left
$1,814
91% of budget
+$186 left
$1,816
91% of budget
+$184 left
$1,859
93% of budget
+$141 left
$1,861
93% of budget
+$139 left
$1,884
94% of budget
+$116 left
$1,891
95% of budget
+$109 left
$1,943
97% of budget
+$57 left
$1,954
98% of budget
+$46 left
$1,987
99% of budget
+$13 left
$1,991
100% of budget
+$9 left
⬛Over budget
105 cities above $2,000/mo
Show ↓
Over budget
105 cities above $2,000/mo
$2,059
+$59 over
$2,159
+$159 over
$2,184
+$184 over
$2,193
+$193 over
$2,210
+$210 over
$2,229
+$229 over
$2,323
+$323 over
$2,386
+$386 over
$2,388
+$388 over
$2,402
+$402 over
…and 95 more cities
Want a more personalised match?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need to live in Europe?▼
In affordable cities like Bucharest (Romania) or Athens (Greece), $1,300–1,800/month covers a comfortable lifestyle. Mid-tier cities like Lisbon, Prague, or Budapest run $2,000–3,000/month. Western Europe (Berlin, Amsterdam, Vienna) typically requires $3,000–5,000/month.
What is the cheapest city in Europe to live in?▼
Bucharest (Romania, ~$620/mo), Athens (Greece, ~$740/mo), and Tallinn (Estonia, ~$815/mo) are among the cheapest European cities in our database. For global cheapest, Chiang Mai ($300/mo) and Bali ($350/mo) lead.
How much does it cost to live in Southeast Asia?▼
Chiang Mai and Bali are the most affordable — comfortable living for $1,000–1,500/month. Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur run $1,500–2,500/month. Singapore is an outlier at $4,000+/month.
What is a realistic budget to move abroad long-term?▼
For most European cities: budget $1,500–2,000/month (affordable Eastern Europe) to $3,500–5,000/month (Western Europe). South America and Southeast Asia: $1,000–2,000/month covers comfortable living. Add 10–15% buffer for setup costs — visa fees, deposits, furnishings.
Which cities are affordable AND have good quality of life?▼
The sweet spot: Budapest, Prague, Warsaw, Krakow, Belgrade, Tbilisi, and Medellín. All have rent under $800/month, decent safety, fast internet, and active expat communities. They appear near the top of our Livability Score rankings at an accessible price point.