Updated April 25, 2025: If you are dreaming of white powdery beaches, artsy cafés, and delicious street food, but you are on a budget and you struggle to decide on where to go, here are our six selected destinations with a cost of living of less than €1,200 a month.
🌱 Travel health insurance for Asia
📎 How do we calculate the monthly cost of living
Say hi to Anna, our fictive nomad who wants to travel to Asia on a monthly budget of €1,200.
Anna stays in a 1-bedroom place close to the tourist or nomad spots in town. She did not book her place through Airbnb, but she searched Facebook groups for better deals. Her place has a small kitchenette, which allows Anna to prepare basic meals, such as breakfast or a quick dinner. She plans to eat out every other day for dinner, so that includes groceries for 14 evenings, plus water and some breakfast items. Anna spends her lunch at a local restaurant or café, and she gets at least one Flat White every day, too.
To get around, Anna rents a scooter, and she has a gym membership to attend local yoga classes. Some activities, such as hiking and visiting sites, are also factored into the calculation.
🇹🇭 Chiang Mai in Thailand
A nomads' favorite in the northern mountains of Thailand. Chiang Mai is a wonderful place to spend a month, especially from October to January, just before the start of the burning season. You can find 1-bedroom apartments for around €500 a month, and the price may decrease during the low season.
In Chiang Mai, you can rent a bicycle for €50 or a scooter for €70 per month. Another alternative is using the public Songthaew, the iconic red pickup trucks that bring you close to the desired destination. To sum it up, it should be possible to live for under €1,000 a month in Chiang Mai, including gym membership and restaurant visits.
If you have the money for a coworking space, check out Punspace, which offers three locations, a friendly international and local community, and events such as communal lunches and workshops. The monthly membership is €70.
Sarah
🇰🇭 Phnom Penh in Cambodia
Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is an underestimated city in Southeast Asia. With a budget of around €1,000 a month, you can live in the "Paris of the East" still comfortably.
Unlike the French capital, the cost of living is much lower. A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs less than €500 a month. When your budget allows, try The Factory, a fun coworking space that features trampolines, gyms, a school, craft workshops, a creative space, and a café, all on-site. A hot desk is available for €70 a month.
Sarah
🇻🇳 Hoi An in Vietnam
The small beach town of Hoi An lies beautifully between rice fields and just 5 km off the coast. Although popular areas like An Bang Beach might be a bit more expensive, it should be possible to rent an apartment in one of the tiny villages between Hoi An and the beach for €600 a month. For this price, you might also get a 2-bedroom place. Many apartments have been newly built since 2019.
Hoi An is perfect for scooter rides, but cycling is fun too. The town offers Muay Thai, kickboxing, yoga, and a Pilates studio, a friendly expat community, welcoming locals, and a variety of events, from festivals to flea markets, street festivities, and social gatherings. The small town has two international schools and offers a high standard of living.
When in Hoi An, make sure to visit the Hub Hoi An coworking space.
Sarah
🇮🇩 Bali in Indonesia
At one point, a nomad finds himself back in Bali or Bali for the first time. The Island of the Gods is not just wonderful, but it has attracted a growing nomad community since 2016. Hot nomad areas are Canggu, Uluwatu area, and Seminyak.
Combined with low expenses for transportation, food, and activities, it should be possible to live in Bali for under €1,200 a month. If you still have some cash left, check out Dojo Bali coworking space, which sums up the total monthly expenses to €1,346 (as of December 2022, Dojo has closed its doors permanently).
Sarah
🇲🇾 Penang in Malaysia
Historical Georgetown has grown into a larger digital nomad community during the last few years. The good news, though, is that you can afford to live here for less than €1,190 a month. Due to the island’s small size, transportation is easy with local buses, scooters, or bicycle rentals. The dry season in Penang typically lasts from November to February. During the wet season, from May to October, the island counts fewer tourists.
If you want to combine your stay with working at a coworking space, check out common ground. The hot desk is available for €112 a month.
Sarah
🇹🇭 Koh Lanta in Thailand
In our opinion, the most expensive but still budget-friendly place is Koh Lanta, an island located near Phuket and Krabi. The monthly rent should be around €600.
Combined with a scooter rental, groceries, healthcare, and sports, an island is still a budget-friendly place and you find many nomads on "Lanta". An additional membership at Koh Hub costs an extra €180 per month.
🎀 Summary
All of the selected destinations have a growing or existing nomad community, coworking spaces, and decent accommodation options.
That's it for now. Which one is your favorite destination in Southeast Asia? Tell us in our community here.
Are you searching for a service that calculates your cost of living? Check out nomadlio.
Sarah
Sarah
Sarah Kuhlemann
