Life’s truly a beach if you check out the cheapest places to live in the world on the beach. It’s still winter, sort of. Who knows it may jump up into Spring temps again by the end of the week, but for now, today, it is decidedly winter in the Northeast. I love the cold. I needed a scarf and a hat and gloves this morning–all things I will likely lose in transit over the workweek–and it was great.
The beach is the place to be, just ask David Hasselhoff. It’s a soothing place, a rejuvenating place, and the main setting for many a bikini clad broken springs. The more time I spend there, the more time I want to spend there. What can I say? I like feeling salty.
I have all of this time at the beach to think–and I start thinking: what if I lived at the beach? Everyone does it. Well, I should say everyone considers it. Except you, sand-haters, enjoy the mountains! So, where could you afford to live if you were going to actually take the plunge–straight into the sea. Or at least somewhere sea-adjacent.
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In looking for the cheapest places to live in the world on the beach, we first searched for the cheapest places to live in the world. There were so many sources available, but we chose to get our information from the Huffington Post, Telegraph, and Forbes. We know of these websites as credible sources of news and current events and are reputable enough for articles like this.
Now, because our article has to be about cheap places to live in on the beach, we narrowed down the list to cheap places with great beaches on it–beaches that are generally used for sunbathing, swimming or at least for long walks, you know the ones. Nevertheless, the ranking is all about the cost of living rates of each place. Cost of living rate for each country was sourced from Numbeo. The list has both countries and cities, for there are countries with beaches concentrated on just one city.
Since you are perhaps interested in moving internationally you might want to check out our other lists. Could any of these places also be included in the 17 Cheapest Places to Live in the World That Speak English? Let’s take a look at the cheapest places to live in the world on the beach to find out.
15. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cost of living index: 53.07
Rio de Janeiro has always been popular because of their Christ The Redeemer Statue, as well as their really great beaches. According to BBC, living in Rio de Janeiro is amazing not only because of its white sand beaches and friendly neighborhood but also because of the city’s booming economy. What’s even more interesting is how despite the rapid developments Brazil has, their cost of living index stay low.
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14. Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
Cost of living index: 52.09
This quaint beach town lining Caribbean’s coast is one of the most popular retirement places for American expats. One retiree from Florida described the place as so much like Key West 50 years ago. An article from the Huffington Post said people who live there by the beach could spend $1,500, and that means splurging for them–they eat out and go on shopping sprees often.
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13. Algarve, Portugal
Cost of living index: 49.19
According to Investopedia, Portugal has consistently made it to most lists of the best retirement countries in the world. This is mainly due to the low cost of living rates, great climate, and the potential for investments. The Algarve area in Portugal is popular for its vacation and retirement-ready sceneries, including their amazing beaches. With great restaurants around the area that do not break the bank plus really inexpensive homes you can buy, it sure is among the cheapest places to live in the world on the beach.
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12. Honduras
Cost of living index: 47.40
Most expats have made the move to Honduras, the next one in our list of cheapest places to live in the world on the beach, because of the great tropical climate, amazing beaches, and their very low cost of living rates. According to Expat Intelligence, the place also has cheap real estate prices, perfect when you want to settle in there for your retirement. It is also said to be a very easy country to move into, as the immigration process is not as complicated as when you want to go to other places.
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11. Guatemala
Cost of living index: 46.01
Huffington Post once compared living in Guatemala to living in Costa Rica. Living in Guatemala, of course, meant a more affordable cost of living rates, which would mean people can afford more luxuries and really enjoy retirement. Guatemala’s beaches are pristine and really breathtaking, as are most sceneries in the place is. Real estate is said to be really affordable on this side of the world as well.
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10. El Salvador
Cost of living index: 45.95
International Living describes this place on our list of cheapest places to live in the world on the beach as warm and friendly. While it is true the most tourists and expats skip El Salvador and go to the more popular Guatemala and Costa Rica, that could be your advantage. Their rather quiet tourism industry makes their beautiful beaches less crowded and almost all yours to enjoy. There are also lakes, cloud forest rails, and volcanoes to explore. Cost of living’s pretty neat, too.
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9. Zambia
Cost of living index: 44.73
In an article published by Telegraph, it describes Zambia’s lakes as the closest things the place has for a sea. Even so, these lakes appear to be pristine and sparkling, much to the delight of tourists and expats. Most expats living in Zambia are from Australia, and have fallen in love with the place because of the lower cost of living and quiet surroundings.
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8. South Africa
Cost of living index: 43.12
Cape Town would most likely be most people’s bet for living in South Africa because it is the center, but when you’re looking for amazing beach towns where you can live dirt cheap, Savisas, a travel blog, says this place has plenty of tiny towns at which you can look. For one, there’s Coffee Bay with breathtaking beaches untouched by industrial civilization where it is serene, quiet, and very affordable.
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7. Bali, Indonesia
Cost of living index: 41.11
According to Wage Freedom, living in Bali meant more than just being able to enjoy life’s simple luxuries like waking up by the beach and having those views as your everyday view. It is also being able to live in simpler terms, cheaper costs, all while not sacrificing the quality of life. If you’re looking for a cheap place to live in where you can still keep your business in where you live now, Bali has a really good internet connection–ideal for remote business management.
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6. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysian Borneo
Cost of living: 40.24
In an article published by the New York Times, Borneo, the number 6 in our list of cheapest places to live in the world on the beach was described as the world’s third largest island. It is divided into Indonesia, Malaysia, and the sultanate of Brunei. Living in Kota Kinabalu could be like Bali since both are Asian beach towns, where everything is generally cheaper than anything in America. The town has pristine and well-maintained white beaches, health care centers, cheap rentals, and great food. The rich culture you can learn when you live there is a great bonus, too!
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5. Vietnam
Cost of living: 40.11
According to International Living, Vietnam that ranks 5th in our list of cheapest places to live in the world on the beach is a really cheap country to live in. Even the more expensive areas like Ho Chi Minh City tend to have cheap rates on food, rent, and basically everything you would need. What’s even better is the cost of living rates even get lower when you get to the beach towns. One of its famous beach towns is Hoi An, where you’ll feel like you’re back to the old ages with its old-fashioned pagodas and temples. They say couples spend a rough $1,000 for a decent home, weekly housekeeping, and good food.
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4. Philippines
Cost of living: 34.71
The Philippines, the next one in our list of cheapest places to live in the world on the beach is an archipelago, which explains the country’s popularity for having among the best beaches in the world. The cost of living is very low, and locals are known to be friendly and warm to tourists and expats. What’s better is everyone speaks English. Choosing the best beach towns to live in can be challenging since almost every province has a beach of its own, Palawan can be one of your best bets. It is known for the Underground River, and amazing lagoons. There are so many beaches to explore on just one island, which explains the growing expat population in the country in general.
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3. Colombia
Cost of living: 34.45
These past few years, more and more expats discover how amazing it is to move and live in Colombia, the number 3 in our list of cheapest places to live in the world on the beach, according to an article by International Living. Colombia has amazing coasts courtesy of Caribbean waters’ white, sparkling beaches, and also boasts of upscale cities, mountain cities, and low cost of living rates. Because the country is developing, you probably wouldn’t have to adjust so much if you’re from a large city and want to live in a beach town.
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2. Mexico
Cost of living: 29.81
Huffington Post dubbed Mexico as an ideal place for Americans whether it be for retirement, a getaway, or simply to move elsewhere for a change. There is no shortage in Mexico as far as beach towns are concerned. They have Cancun, most popular for Spring Breaks. But if your priority is the cost of living, look no further than Puerto Vallarta. It is also a popular beach town, but with low cost of living and many expats, you’ll feel like home and even better.
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1. India
Cost of living: 25.08
India is still the undisputable cheapest country in the world to live in. They have a very cheap cost of living rates in housing rent, food, utilities, and basic services. That doesn’t make the place less beautiful, as India’s rich culture and booming businesses make it a great place to move to. They don’t lose on the beach game, too. They have Goa, its most famous beach state, and Radhanagar Beach, India’s best beach town according to Trip Advisor.
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Living by the beach in America would most probably equate to Hawaii, Florida, and Georgia. Unfortunately, such charmed life would mean expensive real estate and even more expensive food prices. If you’re a lover of the sun, sea, and sand and see it as your home, choose one from the cheapest places to live in the world on the beach.
