I am not sharing any country where I have not had my feet on the ground. I have lived in 73 countries over the last 17 years. I will share the top 10 with you today. May I humbly suggest that already having my feet on the ground in all of these countries play a pivotal role in picking the top 10?
Online research is helpful data and is appreciated. But when you consider the profound nuances such as safety and quality of life, also consider the thoughts of someone who has been on the ground in all of the places they are comparing.
Yet, I don’t know what is most important to you personally. So as I go along, I will share the pros and cons I felt while living in each place. The video I took in each country will help me paint a picture, so it will be easier to see yourself in each country or not.
After my top 10 cheap easy places overseas, I will share (1) How to find the cheapest health insurance in any country in the World, and (2) How Much Emergency Savings is Necessary Overseas.
Top 10 Cheap Easy Places to Retire Overseas 2025
These top 10 favorite countries are ranked in reverse order with number 10 first and my number 1 favorite last.
Ten. Peru: Peru is often referred to as the Egypt of South America. Most people only visit Machu Pichu in Peru but that is just skimming the surface. From the beaches of Mancora in the north to the gorgeous University town of Arequipa in the south, Peru is one of the most culturally rich and beautiful countries in the world with archeological ruins that would make Egypt red with envy. Even better, the Peruvian people are delightful, and Peruvian food is arguably the most delicious food in the Americas.
If you have a retirement pension or social security of about $1000 USD per month, there is a good chance you will be able to obtain a retirement visa in Peru.
My favorite city in Peru is a University town called Arequipa. But I also enjoy the quaint town of Cajamarca in the north and the beach town of Mancora in the north. But if you are also interested in the ancient ruins of the original people of Peru, make sure to watch the 54 YouTube videos we made traveling all over Peru.
A Google search today said the average salary for locals in Peru is about $500 to $800 USD per month. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local lifestyle might be able to live here for as little as $1000 per month. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in Peru will need more like $1500 to $2500 USD per month, but they should also have significant savings in case of emergencies.
Arequipa is a beautiful charming city with a high quality of food and life, but the English language penetration is not as high as more tourist parts of Peru, so you will need to pick up more Spanish here to feel integrated. Here are the 52 videos we made of Peru.
I will discuss healthcare costs and insurance at the end of this video, but Peru’s healthcare ranks pretty well internationally at 53rd in the world according to Best Healthcare Systems in the World in 2024.
Nine. Latvia: Riga is the capital of Latvia and is one of the most strikingly well-preserved and walkable UNESCO World Heritage Sites in all of Europe. The city has been meticulous in keeping the architecture in its original state and it feels like you are walking into an ancient but sophisticated city of the 16th Century.
Riga has spared no expense in keeping the parks in pristine condition with ancient and modern statues, green rolling hills, and a quiet creek running through where you can have picnics or rent paddle boats to see the beautiful city from the water.
Visa agents report that the Latvian government provides retirement residency for seniors in 5-year renewal periods. An applicant must show they have reached 65 years of age and are able to finance their own retirement expenses. One agency reports a minimum retirement pension of 1030 Euros per month, which is about $1108 USD per month at today’s exchange rate.
Riga is somewhat unique in this area of Europe for the business lunch specials you will find in the city center. We found ourselves eating larger filling lunch specials. And as a result, not being very hungry at dinner, allowed us to save money in our overall restaurant food costs because we could eat smaller dinners. All of that and more is in the full report for Riga.
To really understand how beautiful this city is, I suggest you watch the YouTube videos that both Qiang and I made with our feet on the ground in Riga. The locals made us feel very comfortable here, many speaking English to us without even asking first.
A Google search today said the minimum wage in Latvia is 700 Euros per month or $732 USD at today’s exchange rate. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local lifestyle might be able to live here for as little as $1300 USD per month. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in Riga will need more like $1600 to $2600 per month, but they should also have significant savings in case of emergencies. I will share how I determine my minimum emergency savings at the end of this video.
Latvia’s healthcare ranks pretty well internationally at 59th in the world. By the way, everything I share with you in this video is in writing so there is no need to take notes. I will give you a link to the text at the end.
Eight. Cambodia: New satellite software that is able to see terrain below jungle foliage has convinced many archaeologists that Angkor Wat was the largest most populated city in the world when it was abandoned in 1431 AD.
One theory is that the sophisticated irrigation system that was feeding the population of Angkor began to malfunction and none of the engineers who were still alive knew how to repair the system so the kingdom could no longer feed its citizens.
Today, the Angkor temple complex remains the largest temple complex in the world. in the world both in the number, size, and intricacy of the temples.
Cambodia allows foreigners to retire here once they are 55 years of age and have sufficient funds to take care of themselves such as a pension, social security or other form of income. Last I heard, there is still no set amount of money you must show for income or deposits. The retirement visa can be renewed yearly for about $300 USD.
It is hard to understand what is so charming about Cambodia. It reminds me of what I first thought when I first lived in a desert terrain. I thought it would be boring, but deserts have some of the most beautiful skies and sunsets I have ever known in my life.
Cambodia has a charm you will have to experience yourself to see if it feels right for you. My favorite cities in Cambodia are Siem Reap and Kampot.
A Google search today, says the minimum wage in Cambodia varies by industry but is around $500 USD per month. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local life-style, might be able to live here for as little as $800 USD per month. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in Cambodia will need more like $1400 to $2200 per month, but they should also have significant savings in case of emergencies.
Cambodia’s healthcare ranks pretty low internationally at 92nd in the world. So many people head over to Thailand or Malaysia for more complex healthcare procedures. We have 32 YouTube videos of our favorite places in Cambodia.
Seven. Panama: Because of the economy and income of the Panama Canal, the country of Panama has remained one of the most protected and essential components of world trade. That has also made Panama’s banking system one of the most reliable in the world.
Until the day I first toured around Panama, and saw it with my own eyes, I did not realize how environmentally diverse and beautiful the country was.
From the highlands rainforests of Boquete Panama to the Caribbean Islands of Bocas Del Toro and San Blas to the highrises of Panama City Panama, Panama is really three different countries of unique and significant beauty.
Citizens of many countries are given a 90-day visa-free tourist stamp upon arrival in Panama. Citizens of the USA and Canada are still getting 180 days. If you fall in love with Panama and decide to retire here, you can apply for a retirement visa if you can demonstrate an income or pension of only $1,000.00 USD per month and $250.00 USD for each dependent.
According to Google, the minimum wage in Panama varies from about $400 to $900 USD per month depending upon the industry. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local lifestyle might be able to live here for as little as $1200 USD per month. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in Panama will need more like $1500 to $2500 per month, but they should also have significant savings in case of emergencies.
Panama’s healthcare ranks 57th in the world which is pretty good compared to the USA which ranks 69th. We have been happy with the medical care we have received in Panama and the pricing was way cheaper than the USA.
If you are curious about how beautiful Panama really is, I suggest you watch the 18 videos we made in Panama showing you the most beautiful places.
Six. Ecuador: We were worried about how hot Ecuador would be since it is on the equator. So we were surprised to experience the most perfect weather in the world while we were there.
You see, although Ecuador is on the equator, most of the cities are a mile high or more in the sky so the temperatures remain cool year-round. Plus, they use the US dollar for currency which means the economy is more stable than other S. American Countries.
We took the bus south from the Colombian border and the greenery and cool breezes blew our minds. Everywhere we went in Ecuador was gorgeous. We spent time in Otavalo, then Quito, the capital, before heading south to Cuenca Ecuador. Finally, we spent a month in the Galapagos Islands before heading south into Peru.
Our favorite place in Ecuador was Cuenca. Cuenca has one of the most well-preserved colonial-era city centers in all of South America. We had dropped Ecuador from our discussions recently because there was an uprising there. But we are hearing recently that things are getting back to normal. So we are talking about Ecuador again.
Citizens of many countries are given a 90-day visa-free tourist stamp upon arrival in Ecuador. If you decide to retire here, you can apply for a retirement visa if you can demonstrate an income or pension of about $1,500.00 USD per month and $250.00 USD for each dependent.
In my Google search, the minimum wage in Ecuador is about $500 USD per month depending upon the industry. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local lifestyle might be able to live here for as little as $1200 USD per month. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in Ecuador will need more like $1500 to $2500 per month, but they should also have significant savings in case of emergencies.
Ecuador’s healthcare ranks 82nd in the world which could be better but not that much worse than the USA which ranks 69th. Or, you could seek treatment in nearby Colombia which ranks 36th in the world. I did go to the dentist in Cuenca when I was there and she did a good job.
Our YouTube Playlist for the Country of Ecuador has 21 videos showing you our favorite places there. The biggest con in all of S. America including Ecuador, is that the flights to neighboring countries cost 3 times as much money as you would expect given the flight distance. I think the airlines may have the politicians in their back pockets.
Five. Guatemala: Guatemala is not one you will see on everyone’s list. But when you start meeting the expats that live in Antigua Guatemala, it may surprise you. They are often people who have traveled all over the world and know quality and value when they see it.
We would live in Antigua Guatemala and spend a few weeks per year up at Lake Atitlan Guatemala. Antigua was the capital for all of Central America during the colonial-era period. With the Spanish colonial government in Antiqua, some of the most beautiful buildings and cultural traditions, both colonial and original people, remain strong there.
Daily life and important events gravitate around the central park in the middle of town which is also where the original cathedral was built. The restaurants, music, and traditions include the past and future.
One of our favorite times to be in Antigua is during the Easter Festival when locals decorate the streets surrounding the central park with intricate carpets of colored sawdust with scenes of religious and cultural symbolism.
Citizens of many countries are given a 90-day visa-free tourist stamp upon arrival in Guatemala and some countries can extend for 90 days. If you decide to to retire here, you can apply for a retirement visa if you can demonstrate an income or pension of about $1,250.00 USD per month.
A Google search today said the minimum wage in Guatemala is about $500 USD per month depending upon the industry. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local lifestyle might be able to live here for as little as $1000 USD per month. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in Guatemala will need more like $1500 to $2500 per month, but they should also have significant savings in case of emergencies.
Guatemala’s healthcare ranks 104th in the world which could prove very difficult, especially in emergencies or when you need specialized care. You may need to seek treatment in nearby Costa Rica which ranks 30th in the world.
Our YouTube Playlist for Guatemala has 10 videos showing you our favorite places in Guatemala. The first link in the first comment below this video is my webpage which has all the resources I discuss in this video.
Four. Albania: We were touring Eastern Europe when we arrived by bus in Tirana Albania. Upon arrival, we were immediately impressed by the bus station. The bus station was located on the bottom floor of one of the most beautiful shopping malls we had seen anywhere in Eastern Europe.
We went to the top floor of the mall where there was a food court with dishes from all over the world. Maybe because we were not expecting anything when we arrived, but Tirana continued to impress us during our entire stay there.
Tirana Albania had beautiful walking streets, restaurants, malls, parks, nightlife, and both modern and ancient buildings. The people were friendly to us and many people spoke English. We also loved Saranda Albania but Tirana felt more like home.
What surprised us most was all the great Italian restaurants they have in Tirana. Some had gourmet pasta starting at around $ to $6 USD.
Citizens of 84 countries can visit Albania as tourists without obtaining a visa and some countries can extend for 90 in any 180-day period. But US citizens get a 1-year visa for free upon entry into Albania. If you decide to retire in Albania, you can apply for a pensioner visa with proof of pension from your home country of 120,000 LEK ($1343 USD) per month. There is also a Real Estate purchase residency available with residences starting for around $60,000 USD depending on size, quality, and location.
According to Google, the average wage in Albania is about $600 USD per month which is up about 13% from a year ago. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local lifestyle might be able to live here for as little as $1000 USD per month. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in Albania will need more like $1400 to $2400 per month, but they should also have significant savings in case of emergencies.
Albania’s healthcare ranks 66th in the world which is not bad considering the USA is ranked 69th.
Our YouTube Playlist for Albania has 4 videos showing you our favorite places in Albania. The first link in the first comment below this video is my webpage which has links to all the resources I discuss in this video.
Three. Philippines: I first came to the Philippines in 2009. Once you get the Philippines in your head, you will have a tough time finding anything more beautiful whether the underwater world of a snorkelers heaven, the remote white-sand beach islands, the waterfalls, the smiles on the faces of many of the kindest people in the world.
The Philippines have something to offer everyone, whether a surfing paradise like Siargao, a white sand beach playground for the rich and famous like Boracay, the cool mountain highlands with rolling farmlands of Baguio, expat meccas such as Dumaguete or Cebu, first-class cities like BGC or Metro Manila, or the provinces where foreigners brag about living costs starting around $500 per month USD.
Citizens of many countries are given a 30-day visa-free tourist stamp upon arrival in the Philippines. But many people report receiving multiple consecutive 30-day visa extensions, some for as many as 36 consecutive months of extensions.
But eventually, whether in a few months or 36 months, you will need to do a visa run to another country in order to restart up to 36 months extensions process. But there is no guarantee how long that will last so some people decide to get a retirement visa.
You can also apply for a retirement visa if you (1) are age 50+ and can make a $10k USD deposit and show $800 USD a month social security or pension, (2) are age 35+ and can make a $20k USD deposit.
In a Google search, the average salary in the Philippines is about $800 USD per month which varies greatly depending on industry, age, and experience. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local lifestyle, might be able to live here for as little as $1200 USD per month in medium-sized cities and as little as $800 per month in the provinces. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in the Philippines will need more like $1500 to $2500 per month, but they should also have significant savings in case of emergencies.
The Philippines’ healthcare ranks 96th in the world which could cause you some troubles in emergency situations or when you need specialized care. In some cases, you may need to seek treatment in nearby Thailand or Malaysia, which ranks 31st and 42nd in the world, respectively.
Our YouTube Playlist for the Philippines has 143 videos showing you our favorite 21 places to retire in the Philippines.
Two. Vietnam: Vietnam is the new kid in town for me. I have only been exploring Vietnam for about 8 years. The thing that I love so much about it is the feeling of authenticity.
When I go to the Philippines, Thailand, or Mexico, it feels like they have adapted their behavior to please me. But tourism is relatively new in Vietnam so it feels more like I am getting to see the Vietnamese culture in its natural state. They are just living their normal lives, so I am witnessing a more authentic cultural experience.
Every city in Vietnam is fascinatingly different. Hue has ancient burial grounds of former leaders. Hanoi has amazing nightlife and beautiful temples in the central lake. Da Nang is a great beach town with an expat mecca neighborhood with Western foods. Hoi An has one of the most beautiful UNESCO heritage sites with Ancient Chinese temples. Ho Chi Minh has the crazy sexualized nightlife and big malls you see in other parts of SE Asia.
Citizens of many countries apply online for a 90-day tourist visa for about $35 USD. If you decide to retire here, most people just do visa runs by leaving the country every 90 days and applying for a new 90-day visa.
Some people who have never been to Vietnam say that it is not worth doing visa runs every 90 days. But the thousands of expats you will meet all around Vietnam will happily explain to you why life in Vietnam is worth doing visa runs.
I am a slow traveler and I rarely spend more than 90 days in one place anyway. So it is no sweat off my brow. In fact, it would give me an excuse to visit new cities all over SE Asia every 90 days during my visa runs. Other people find workarounds with visa agents so they don’t have to do visa runs anymore. But I would rather fly to a new city in SE Asia every 90 days.
Google says that the minimum wage in Vietnam is right around $200 USD per month, and the average salary is $700 USD per month. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local lifestyle might be able to live here for as little as $1000 USD per month. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in Vietnam will need more like $1300 to $2300 per month. They should also have significant savings in case of emergencies.
Vietnam’s healthcare ranks 44th in the world which is amazing given what it costs. I have had checkups done in Vietnam and I was very impressed with everything. I interviewed one guy who had stage 3 cancer treatment in Da Nang for about 80 to 90% cheaper than it would have cost in the USA.
Our YouTube Playlist for Vietnam has 89 videos showing you our favorite places in Vietnam. The first link in the first comment below this video is my webpage which has all the resources I discuss in this video.
Okay, now it is time to share my number one Cheap Easy Country. After that, I will share two important things: (1) How to find the cheapest health insurance in any country in the world, and (2) How Much Emergency Savings is Necessary Overseas
One. Thailand: I have been going to Thailand for 19 years. I fell in love with it immediately. I have been in love with Thai food for 42 years, from the first day I tasted it. In my humble opinion, there is no place in the world like Thailand.
I first fell in love with Phuket and Bangkok. Now my favorite is Koh Samui. But I also love Chang Mai, Jomptien, Koh Phangan, and Krabi. I have 13 eBooks of all my favorite places in Thailand, and I have 72 YouTube videos showing you all of my favorite places in Thailand.
There is a Thailand for expats who want to live like they did in their home country, with the cars, the houses, and the foods from their home country. Then there is Thailand for people like me, who like to live more locally, eat more locally, and use local transportation.
Google reports that the average salary in Thailand is about $500 USD per month. For that reason, an experienced bargain-hunting single expat who is willing to live a local lifestyle might be able to live here for as little as $1200 USD per month. But that will not be achievable for most people. More typical middle-range expats in Thailand will need more like $1600 to $2600 per month. They should also have significant savings in case of emergencies.
Citizens of many countries are now given a 60-day visa-free tourist stamp upon arrival in Thailand. If you decide to retire here, if you are age 50+ you can apply for a retirement visa in one of two ways demonstrate an income or pension of about $2000.00 USD per month, or put about $26,000 USD in a Thai Bank. Here is a Thai Visa Facebook group that can help answer your questions.
Thailand’s healthcare ranks 31st in the world which is excellent.
Our YouTube Playlist for Thailand has 72 videos showing you our favorite places all over Thailand.
Cheapest Health Insurance in Any Country
The cheapest healthcare insurance in almost any country in the world is the local health insurance. And there are multiple insurance providers in every country. So you need to get local quotes from multiple local companies.
The easiest way to do that is to find a Facebook group where all the expats communicate in your target overseas country. To find that Facebook group, use search terms on Facebook such as, “Expats in Thailand,” or whatever country you are interested in.
Then join the multiple Facebook groups for that country and leave this message: “Can one or two of you please share your health insurance agent’s contact information? I need to get healthcare insurance estimates.”
If you will be slow traveling for a few years before picking your final destination, consider getting international converge. Here is a video I did with an agent who wrote an ebook on International Health Insurance. Here is his eBook and contact information. These are not affiliate links, I will not get paid if you buy. I bought his insurance for myself.
How Much Emergency Savings Is Necessary
Do not retire overseas without having emergency savings. In my How to Retire Overseas Course, I share everything I have learned living overseas for 17 years. As I share in my courses and reports, most problems you will encounter living overseas can be handled with much less money than you would need in your home country. But it is better to avoid all the mistakes ex-pats make in the first place, so you get to keep your emergency savings.
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Deciding your personal minimum emergency savings can be challenging if you have never lived overseas before. So I go over how I set my minimum emergency savings in detail in another video. Watch that video now!
Thanks for checking out our ideas about the Top 10 Cheap Easy Places to Retire Overseas 2025.