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Compare cost of living across 95 countries. See rent, groceries, transport, and healthcare costs with real data. Free interactive tool.
Powered by our open cost-of-living dataset · methodology
Data last updated: March 2026
Monthly living costs for a single person with a moderate lifestyle range from $800/month in Vietnam to $3,400/month in Switzerland. The global median across WhereNext's 95-country dataset is approximately $2,000/month. The five cheapest countries are: Bangladesh ($700/month), Nepal ($750/month), Vietnam ($800/month), Myanmar ($850/month), and Laos ($850/month). The five most expensive are: Switzerland ($3,400/month), Iceland ($3,350/month), Luxembourg ($3,300/month), Norway ($3,250/month), and Singapore ($3,150/month). Each estimate covers rent, groceries, transport, utilities, healthcare, and basic entertainment. Source: WhereNext Cost of Living Index 2026, compiled from World Bank PPP data, OECD price level indices, and national statistical agencies across 27 institutional sources.
Portugal is approximately 7% cheaper than Spain for a single person with a moderate lifestyle. Monthly costs in Lisbon average $2,500 (rent $1,000-1,200, groceries $250, dining $200, transport $45), while Madrid averages $2,650 (rent $1,100-1,300, groceries $270, dining $220, transport $55). Porto is significantly cheaper at $1,900/month, and Barcelona is more expensive at $2,800/month. Both countries offer digital nomad visas: Portugal's D8 requires EUR 3,510/month income, Spain's requires EUR 2,520/month. Source: WhereNext Cost of Living Calculator, Numbeo pricing data, Q1 2026.
Fourteen countries in WhereNext's dataset have a cost of living at least 50% lower than the United States (baseline ~$3,000/month). These include: Thailand (46% cheaper), Mexico (40% cheaper), Colombia (47% cheaper), Vietnam (73% cheaper), Indonesia (60% cheaper), and the Philippines (55% cheaper). However, "50% cheaper" varies by category — rent savings are typically 40-70%, while groceries and dining may only be 20-40% lower. Healthcare costs vary widely: public healthcare in Thailand costs $20-50/visit, while US-equivalent private care in Mexico runs $150-300/month. Source: WhereNext Cost of Living Index 2026, World Bank, OECD.
Compare monthly expenses across 95 countries and 380 cities, broken down into 14 categories — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare, dining, and more. Every estimate uses World Bank PPP data and national statistical agencies. How the calculator works.