Townleap

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.

Monthly budget
$2,000/mo
$500$8,000
Retiree health insurance

Adds a $220/mo benchmark for age 60–64. City pages with retiree data override the generic benchmark with local estimates.

58

cities within budget

out of 112 cities with cost data

Cheapest: $480/mo

Most expensive: $5,257/mo

How we estimate: Rent (1-bed city centre) + 20 meals out + 40 transport trips + 8 beers + internet. Plus 60–64 private health cover. Adjust for your actual habits.
🟢

Comfortable

Well within budget. You'll have money left over.

19 cities
#1🇮🇳
GoaIndia
$167/mo rentCoastal

$480

24% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$1,520 left

#2🇪🇬
CairoEgypt
$215/mo rent

$568

28% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$1,432 left

#3🇮🇳
BangaloreIndia
$324/mo rent

$651

33% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$1,349 left

#4🇻🇳
Da NangVietnam
$475/mo rentCoastalMountains

$776

39% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$1,224 left

#5🇹🇭
Chiang MaiThailandScore 71
$463/mo rentMountains

$803

40% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$1,197 left

#6🇬🇪
BatumiGeorgiaScore 71
$461/mo rentCoastalMountains

$902

45% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$1,098 left

#7🇲🇦
MarrakechMorocco
$495/mo rentMountains

$909

45% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$1,091 left

#8🇺🇿
TashkentUzbekistan
$609/mo rent

$986

49% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$1,014 left

#9🇨🇳
ShenzhenChina
$743/mo rentCoastal

$1,077

54% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$923 left

#10🇹🇭
BangkokThailand
$703/mo rent

$1,092

55% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$908 left

#11🇦🇲
YerevanArmeniaScore 70
$680/mo rentMountains

$1,097

55% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$903 left

#12🇲🇾
Kuala LumpurMalaysiaScore 76
$690/mo rentMountains

$1,105

55% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$895 left

#13🇧🇷
FlorianopolisBrazil
$627/mo rentCoastal

$1,108

55% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$892 left

#14🇧🇷
Rio de JaneiroBrazil
$661/mo rentCoastalMountains

$1,122

56% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$878 left

#15🇹🇼
TaipeiTaiwanScore 76
$735/mo rentMountains

$1,135

57% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$865 left

#16🇲🇽
MeridaMexico
$601/mo rent

$1,121

56% of budget

incl. $205/mo health

+$879 left

#17🇨🇴
MedellinColombia
$703/mo rentMountains

$1,148

57% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$852 left

#18🇹🇭
PhuketThailand
$708/mo rentCoastal

$1,148

57% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$852 left

#19🇬🇪
TbilisiGeorgia
$681/mo rentMountains

$1,183

59% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$817 left

🟡

Doable

Fits without much stress. A few luxuries possible.

19 cities
#1🇷🇴
BucharestRomaniaScore 79
$668/mo rent

$1,236

62% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$764 left

#2🇰🇿
AlmatyKazakhstan
$756/mo rentMountains

$1,248

62% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$752 left

#3🇨🇳
ShanghaiChinaScore 70
$907/mo rentCoastal

$1,253

63% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$747 left

#4🇲🇽
CancunMexico
$737/mo rentCoastal

$1,293

65% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$707 left

#5🇰🇷
SeoulSouth KoreaScore 81
$871/mo rentMountains

$1,356

68% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$644 left

#6🇲🇽
AjijicMexico
$879/mo rentMountains

$1,377

69% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$623 left

#7🇮🇩
BaliIndonesia
$1082/mo rentCoastal

$1,414

71% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$586 left

#8🇨🇳
BeijingChina
$1059/mo rent

$1,420

71% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$580 left

#9🇷🇺
Saint PetersburgRussia
$908/mo rentCoastal

$1,422

71% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$578 left

#10🇬🇷
AthensGreeceScore 74
$737/mo rentCoastal

$1,435

72% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$565 left

#11🇷🇸
BelgradeSerbia
$904/mo rent

$1,462

73% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$538 left

#12🇦🇷
Buenos AiresArgentina
$767/mo rent

$1,467

73% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$533 left

#13🇭🇺
BudapestHungaryScore 74
$918/mo rent

$1,508

75% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$492 left

#14🇵🇱
KrakowPolandScore 75
$976/mo rentMountains

$1,520

76% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$480 left

#15🇲🇽
TulumMexico
$1045/mo rentCoastal

$1,562

78% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$438 left

#16🇨🇷
San JoseCosta Rica
$998/mo rentMountains

$1,573

79% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$427 left

#17🇪🇪
TallinnEstoniaScore 76
$816/mo rentCoastal

$1,574

79% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$426 left

#18🇦🇹
GrazAustriaScore 77
$772/mo rentMountains

$1,577

79% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$423 left

#19🇿🇦
Cape TownSouth Africa
$1026/mo rentCoastalMountains

$1,599

80% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$401 left

🟠

Tight

Possible, but leaves little margin. Budget carefully.

20 cities
#1🇹🇷
IstanbulTurkey
$1070/mo rentCoastal

$1,603

80% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$397 left

#2🇪🇸
SevilleSpain
$980/mo rent

$1,606

80% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$394 left

#3🇲🇽
Playa del CarmenMexico
$1068/mo rentCoastal

$1,610

81% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$390 left

#4🇫🇷
MontpellierFrance
$930/mo rentCoastal

$1,664

83% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$336 left

#5🇫🇷
MarseilleFranceScore 76
$902/mo rentCoastal

$1,702

85% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$298 left

#6🇲🇽
Mexico CityMexico
$1173/mo rentMountains

$1,704

85% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$296 left

#7🇫🇷
LyonFranceScore 75
$972/mo rentMountains

$1,747

87% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$253 left

#8🇲🇽
San Miguel de AllendeMexico
$1106/mo rentMountains

$1,754

88% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$246 left

#9🇵🇹
FaroPortugalScore 74
$1077/mo rentCoastal

$1,783

89% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$217 left

#10🇭🇷
SplitCroatia
$1077/mo rentCoastalMountains

$1,784

89% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$216 left

#11🇵🇱
WarsawPolandScore 74
$1224/mo rent

$1,792

90% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$208 left

#12🇨🇿
PragueCzech RepublicScore 77
$1228/mo rent

$1,815

91% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$185 left

#13🇯🇵
TokyoJapan
$1359/mo rentCoastalMountains

$1,845

92% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$155 left

#14🇸🇪
GothenburgSwedenScore 78
$1080/mo rentCoastal

$1,855

93% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$145 left

#15🇸🇪
MalmoSwedenScore 73
$1092/mo rentCoastal

$1,886

94% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$114 left

#16🇫🇷
NiceFrance
$1142/mo rentCoastalMountains

$1,903

95% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$97 left

#17🇵🇹
PortoPortugalScore 82
$1297/mo rentCoastal

$1,923

96% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$77 left

#18🇵🇹
LagosPortugalScore 71
$1233/mo rentCoastal

$1,944

97% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$56 left

#19🇪🇸
TenerifeSpain
$1217/mo rentCoastalMountains

$1,947

97% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$53 left

#20🇲🇽
Puerto VallartaMexico
$1435/mo rentCoastalMountains

$1,999

100% of budget

incl. $220/mo health

+$1 left

Over budget

54 cities above $2,000/mo

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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.