Introduction
Throughout the world, some countries are cheaper to live in than others. Indeed, some are much more expensive, while others are highly affordable. The cheapest countries to live in have the lowest cost of living. While the word “cheap” may carry the connotation of being low quality, it is more often the case that cheap items needed to live are actually of the same quality as their more expensive counterparts.
The cost of living is often incredibly cheap in places where there is a surplus of workers and thus a relatively local surplus of goods. There is often a stark difference between the cost of living in developed nations such as England or the United States, and in countries whose economies are still working very hard to take off, such as Sri Lanka, for instance.
If you use the average cost of living within the United States as a standard, then many countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have a very comparatively low cost of living, as well as many places in Central and South America. The cost of living in each of these regions varies dramatically, however, the cost of living is often higher in urban city centers and cheaper closer to the countryside.
To learn more about the cheapest countries to live in, scroll through the data in the charts.
# | Country | Cost of Living |
---|---|---|
1 | Pakistan | $294 |
2 | Sri Lanka | $316 |
3 | Nepal | $385 |
4 | Algeria | $391 |
5 | Afghanistan | $397 |
6 | Libya | $398 |
7 | India | $416 |
8 | Tunisia | $416 |
9 | Egypt | $418 |
10 | The Gambia | $425 |
11 | Turkey | $428 |
12 | Kyrgyzstan | $441 |
13 | Bangladesh | $448 |
14 | Ukraine | $458 |
15 | Kazakhstan | $475 |
16 | Tajikistan | $491 |
17 | Bhutan | $498 |
18 | Moldova | $501 |
19 | East Timor | $503 |
20 | Syria | $503 |
21 | Comoros | $504 |
22 | South Sudan | $505 |
23 | Burundi | $508 |
24 | Republic of Macedonia | $512 |
25 | Central African Republic | $515 |
26 | Haiti | $515 |
27 | Eritrea | $516 |
28 | Chad | $518 |
29 | Azerbaijan | $522 |
30 | Liberia | $522 |
31 | Papua New Guinea | $524 |
32 | Uzbekistan | $525 |
33 | Yemen | $535 |
34 | Mali | $536 |
35 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | $546 |
36 | Mongolia | $546 |
37 | Colombia | $548 |
38 | Djibouti | $548 |
39 | Republic of the Congo | $550 |
40 | Malawi | $553 |
41 | Paraguay | $555 |
42 | Cameroon | $560 |
43 | Indonesia | $564 |
44 | Malaysia | $574 |
45 | Uganda | $574 |
46 | Argentina | $576 |
47 | Belarus | $581 |
48 | Ghana | $581 |
49 | Morocco | $586 |
50 | Philippines | $587 |
51 | Lesotho | $589 |
52 | Albania | $592 |
53 | Togo | $594 |
54 | Gabon | $606 |
55 | Botswana | $607 |
56 | Kenya | $608 |
57 | Vietnam | $622 |
58 | Nauru | $624 |
59 | Nicaragua | $625 |
60 | Guinea-Bissau | $628 |
61 | Madagascar | $628 |
62 | Mauritius | $629 |
63 | Bulgaria | $639 |
64 | Benin | $645 |
65 | Romania | $650 |
66 | Montenegro | $655 |
67 | Sudan | $657 |
68 | Brazil | $661 |
69 | Rwanda | $664 |
70 | Serbia | $667 |
71 | Peru | $672 |
72 | Burkina Faso | $677 |
73 | Suriname | $679 |
74 | Iraq | $688 |
75 | Bolivia | $703 |
76 | Hungary | $712 |
77 | Mexico | $713 |
78 | Iran | $723 |
79 | Fiji | $725 |
80 | Eswatini | $728 |
81 | Ethiopia | $732 |
82 | Mauritania | $739 |
83 | Thailand | $742 |
84 | Tanzania | $743 |
85 | Sierra Leone | $748 |
86 | Ecuador | $750 |
87 | People's Republic of China | $758 |
88 | Venezuela | $762 |
89 | Honduras | $771 |
90 | Dominican Republic | $791 |
91 | São Tomé and Príncipe | $795 |
92 | Cambodia | $796 |
93 | Somalia | $797 |
94 | Georgia | $812 |
95 | Poland | $814 |
96 | Namibia | $819 |
97 | Myanmar | $822 |
98 | Zimbabwe | $831 |
99 | Jordan | $835 |
100 | Guyana | $838 |
101 | Belize | $840 |
102 | Chile | $840 |
103 | Ivory Coast | $845 |
104 | South Africa | $852 |
105 | El Salvador | $853 |
106 | Lithuania | $859 |
107 | Latvia | $860 |
108 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | $863 |
109 | Russia | $868 |
110 | Equatorial Guinea | $871 |
111 | Jamaica | $875 |
112 | Armenia | $884 |
113 | Niger | $885 |
114 | Costa Rica | $893 |
115 | Laos | $894 |
116 | Croatia | $896 |
117 | Guatemala | $910 |
118 | Slovakia | $913 |
119 | Palestine | $916 |
120 | Greece | $919 |
121 | Guinea | $933 |
122 | Senegal | $969 |
123 | Portugal | $977 |
124 | Trinidad and Tobago | $977 |
125 | Taiwan | $981 |
126 | Dominica | $992 |
127 | Zambia | $1,000 |
128 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | $1,001 |
129 | Czech Republic | $1,007 |
130 | Nigeria | $1,008 |
131 | Grenada | $1,012 |
132 | San Marino | $1,018 |
133 | Estonia | $1,019 |
134 | Saudi Arabia | $1,020 |
135 | Panama | $1,040 |
136 | Mozambique | $1,042 |
137 | Saint Lucia | $1,042 |
138 | Slovenia | $1,059 |
139 | South Korea | $1,062 |
140 | Brunei | $1,066 |
141 | Cuba | $1,078 |
142 | Uruguay | $1,090 |
143 | Andorra | $1,104 |
144 | Oman | $1,126 |
145 | Angola | $1,129 |
146 | Spain | $1,141 |
147 | Turkmenistan | $1,159 |
148 | Palau | $1,162 |
149 | Bahrain | $1,171 |
150 | Japan | $1,171 |
151 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | $1,184 |
152 | Maldives | $1,188 |
153 | Cyprus | $1,213 |
154 | Italy | $1,221 |
155 | Lebanon | $1,254 |
156 | Barbados | $1,262 |
157 | Marshall Islands | $1,271 |
158 | Malta | $1,275 |
159 | Kuwait | $1,312 |
160 | Belgium | $1,324 |
161 | Germany | $1,325 |
162 | France | $1,363 |
163 | Seychelles | $1,387 |
164 | Sweden | $1,398 |
165 | Finland | $1,423 |
166 | Austria | $1,467 |
167 | Antigua and Barbuda | $1,546 |
168 | North Korea | $1,554 |
169 | Solomon Islands | $1,577 |
170 | United Arab Emirates | $1,660 |
171 | Denmark | $1,665 |
172 | New Zealand | $1,669 |
173 | Netherlands | $1,680 |
174 | Israel | $1,748 |
175 | United Kingdom | $1,804 |
176 | The Bahamas | $1,809 |
177 | Canada | $1,832 |
178 | Vanuatu | $1,886 |
179 | Qatar | $1,891 |
180 | Norway | $1,892 |
181 | Australia | $1,947 |
182 | Ireland | $1,974 |
183 | Luxembourg | $2,050 |
184 | Iceland | $2,054 |
185 | United States of America | $2,112 |
186 | Liechtenstein | $2,118 |
187 | Singapore | $2,420 |
188 | Switzerland | $2,507 |
189 | Cayman Islands | $2,888 |
190 | Monaco | $3,585 |
Cost of Living by Country
Afghanistan
$397
Ranked in the World
#5
Albania
$592
Ranked in the World
#52
Algeria
$391
Ranked in the World
#4
Andorra
$1,104
Ranked in the World
#143
Angola
$1,129
Ranked in the World
#145
Antigua and Barbuda
$1,546
Ranked in the World
#167
Argentina
$576
Ranked in the World
#46
Armenia
$884
Ranked in the World
#112
Australia
$1,947
Ranked in the World
#181
Austria
$1,467
Ranked in the World
#166
Azerbaijan
$522
Ranked in the World
#29
Bahrain
$1,171
Ranked in the World
#149
Bangladesh
$448
Ranked in the World
#13
Barbados
$1,262
Ranked in the World
#156
Belarus
$581
Ranked in the World
#47
Belgium
$1,324
Ranked in the World
#160
Belize
$840
Ranked in the World
#101
Benin
$645
Ranked in the World
#64
Bhutan
$498
Ranked in the World
#17
Bolivia
$703
Ranked in the World
#75
Bosnia and Herzegovina
$546
Ranked in the World
#35
Botswana
$607
Ranked in the World
#55
Brazil
$661
Ranked in the World
#68
Brunei
$1,066
Ranked in the World
#140
Bulgaria
$639
Ranked in the World
#63
Burkina Faso
$677
Ranked in the World
#72
Burundi
$508
Ranked in the World
#23
Cambodia
$796
Ranked in the World
#92
Cameroon
$560
Ranked in the World
#42
Canada
$1,832
Ranked in the World
#177
Cayman Islands
$2,888
Ranked in the World
#189
Central African Republic
$515
Ranked in the World
#25
Chad
$518
Ranked in the World
#28
Chile
$840
Ranked in the World
#102
Colombia
$548
Ranked in the World
#37
Comoros
$504
Ranked in the World
#21
Costa Rica
$893
Ranked in the World
#114
Croatia
$896
Ranked in the World
#116
Cuba
$1,078
Ranked in the World
#141
Cyprus
$1,213
Ranked in the World
#153
Czech Republic
$1,007
Ranked in the World
#129
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$1,001
Ranked in the World
#128
Denmark
$1,665
Ranked in the World
#171
Djibouti
$548
Ranked in the World
#38
Dominica
$992
Ranked in the World
#126
Dominican Republic
$791
Ranked in the World
#90
East Timor
$503
Ranked in the World
#19
Ecuador
$750
Ranked in the World
#86
Egypt
$418
Ranked in the World
#9
El Salvador
$853
Ranked in the World
#105
Equatorial Guinea
$871
Ranked in the World
#110
Eritrea
$516
Ranked in the World
#27
Estonia
$1,019
Ranked in the World
#133
Eswatini
$728
Ranked in the World
#80
Ethiopia
$732
Ranked in the World
#81
Fiji
$725
Ranked in the World
#79
Finland
$1,423
Ranked in the World
#165
France
$1,363
Ranked in the World
#162
Gabon
$606
Ranked in the World
#54
Georgia
$812
Ranked in the World
#94
Germany
$1,325
Ranked in the World
#161
Ghana
$581
Ranked in the World
#48
Greece
$919
Ranked in the World
#120
Grenada
$1,012
Ranked in the World
#131
Guatemala
$910
Ranked in the World
#117
Guinea
$933
Ranked in the World
#121
Guinea-Bissau
$628
Ranked in the World
#60
Guyana
$838
Ranked in the World
#100
Haiti
$515
Ranked in the World
#26
Honduras
$771
Ranked in the World
#89
Hungary
$712
Ranked in the World
#76
Iceland
$2,054
Ranked in the World
#184
India
$416
Ranked in the World
#7
Indonesia
$564
Ranked in the World
#43
Iran
$723
Ranked in the World
#78
Iraq
$688
Ranked in the World
#74
Ireland
$1,974
Ranked in the World
#182
Israel
$1,748
Ranked in the World
#174
Italy
$1,221
Ranked in the World
#154
Ivory Coast
$845
Ranked in the World
#103
Jamaica
$875
Ranked in the World
#111
Japan
$1,171
Ranked in the World
#150
Jordan
$835
Ranked in the World
#99
Kazakhstan
$475
Ranked in the World
#15
Kenya
$608
Ranked in the World
#56
Kuwait
$1,312
Ranked in the World
#159
Kyrgyzstan
$441
Ranked in the World
#12
Laos
$894
Ranked in the World
#115
Latvia
$860
Ranked in the World
#107
Lebanon
$1,254
Ranked in the World
#155
Lesotho
$589
Ranked in the World
#51
Liberia
$522
Ranked in the World
#30
Libya
$398
Ranked in the World
#6
Liechtenstein
$2,118
Ranked in the World
#186
Lithuania
$859
Ranked in the World
#106
Luxembourg
$2,050
Ranked in the World
#183
Madagascar
$628
Ranked in the World
#61
Malawi
$553
Ranked in the World
#40
Malaysia
$574
Ranked in the World
#44
Maldives
$1,188
Ranked in the World
#152
Mali
$536
Ranked in the World
#34
Malta
$1,275
Ranked in the World
#158
Marshall Islands
$1,271
Ranked in the World
#157
Mauritania
$739
Ranked in the World
#82
Mauritius
$629
Ranked in the World
#62
Mexico
$713
Ranked in the World
#77
Moldova
$501
Ranked in the World
#18
Monaco
$3,585
Ranked in the World
#190
Mongolia
$546
Ranked in the World
#36
Montenegro
$655
Ranked in the World
#66
Morocco
$586
Ranked in the World
#49
Mozambique
$1,042
Ranked in the World
#136
Myanmar
$822
Ranked in the World
#97
Namibia
$819
Ranked in the World
#96
Nauru
$624
Ranked in the World
#58
Nepal
$385
Ranked in the World
#3
Netherlands
$1,680
Ranked in the World
#173
New Zealand
$1,669
Ranked in the World
#172
Nicaragua
$625
Ranked in the World
#59
Niger
$885
Ranked in the World
#113
Nigeria
$1,008
Ranked in the World
#130
North Korea
$1,554
Ranked in the World
#168
Norway
$1,892
Ranked in the World
#180
Oman
$1,126
Ranked in the World
#144
Pakistan
$294
Ranked in the World
#1
Palau
$1,162
Ranked in the World
#148
Palestine
$916
Ranked in the World
#119
Panama
$1,040
Ranked in the World
#135
Papua New Guinea
$524
Ranked in the World
#31
Paraguay
$555
Ranked in the World
#41
People's Republic of China
$758
Ranked in the World
#87
Peru
$672
Ranked in the World
#71
Philippines
$587
Ranked in the World
#50
Poland
$814
Ranked in the World
#95
Portugal
$977
Ranked in the World
#123
Qatar
$1,891
Ranked in the World
#179
Republic of Macedonia
$512
Ranked in the World
#24
Republic of the Congo
$550
Ranked in the World
#39
Romania
$650
Ranked in the World
#65
Russia
$868
Ranked in the World
#109
Rwanda
$664
Ranked in the World
#69
Saint Kitts and Nevis
$1,184
Ranked in the World
#151
Saint Lucia
$1,042
Ranked in the World
#137
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
$863
Ranked in the World
#108
San Marino
$1,018
Ranked in the World
#132
São Tomé and Príncipe
$795
Ranked in the World
#91
Saudi Arabia
$1,020
Ranked in the World
#134
Senegal
$969
Ranked in the World
#122
Serbia
$667
Ranked in the World
#70
Seychelles
$1,387
Ranked in the World
#163
Sierra Leone
$748
Ranked in the World
#85
Singapore
$2,420
Ranked in the World
#187
Slovakia
$913
Ranked in the World
#118
Slovenia
$1,059
Ranked in the World
#138
Solomon Islands
$1,577
Ranked in the World
#169
Somalia
$797
Ranked in the World
#93
South Africa
$852
Ranked in the World
#104
South Korea
$1,062
Ranked in the World
#139
South Sudan
$505
Ranked in the World
#22
Spain
$1,141
Ranked in the World
#146
Sri Lanka
$316
Ranked in the World
#2
Sudan
$657
Ranked in the World
#67
Suriname
$679
Ranked in the World
#73
Sweden
$1,398
Ranked in the World
#164
Switzerland
$2,507
Ranked in the World
#188
Syria
$503
Ranked in the World
#20
Taiwan
$981
Ranked in the World
#125
Tajikistan
$491
Ranked in the World
#16
Tanzania
$743
Ranked in the World
#84
Thailand
$742
Ranked in the World
#83
The Bahamas
$1,809
Ranked in the World
#176
The Gambia
$425
Ranked in the World
#10
Togo
$594
Ranked in the World
#53
Trinidad and Tobago
$977
Ranked in the World
#124
Tunisia
$416
Ranked in the World
#8
Turkey
$428
Ranked in the World
#11
Turkmenistan
$1,159
Ranked in the World
#147
Uganda
$574
Ranked in the World
#45
Ukraine
$458
Ranked in the World
#14
United Arab Emirates
$1,660
Ranked in the World
#170
United Kingdom
$1,804
Ranked in the World
#175
United States of America
$2,112
Ranked in the World
#185
Uruguay
$1,090
Ranked in the World
#142
Uzbekistan
$525
Ranked in the World
#32
Vanuatu
$1,886
Ranked in the World
#178
Venezuela
$762
Ranked in the World
#88
Vietnam
$622
Ranked in the World
#57
Yemen
$535
Ranked in the World
#33
Zambia
$1,000
Ranked in the World
#127
Zimbabwe
$831
Ranked in the World
#98