16 Destinations Where You Can Live Like Royalty Without Spending a Fortune

Imagine enjoying a luxurious lifestyle without spending too much. There are amazing places around the world where luxury is surprisingly affordable. You could be surrounded by beautiful buildings, experience great services, and enjoy vibrant cultures—all without breaking the bank. Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

Raleigh, North Carolina

This North Carolina gem is surprisingly affordable; the cost of living in Raleigh is 4% lower than the national average. Dubbed the Smithsonian of the South, Raleigh gets its low cost of living from a great median base salary, low energy bills, and median rent for great housing costing about $1300. With utilities, you could live comfortably on under $2000 per month, as long as you’ve got a hold on a great job.

Minneapolis-St. Paul

If you’re earning less than $70,000, Minneapolis-St. Paul is a great place to live. Here, the average rent is close to $1300, while utilities and other amenities tally up to an additional $500. The rent naturally increases as you move downtown, but getting by is relatively easy, especially if you relocate work, too, since the median base salary is about $65000.

Houston, Texas

In Houston, you can live like royalty without spending a huge amount. With a cost of living ratio of 38%, you get that perfect blend of luxury and affordability that’s rare these days. Whether indulging in top-tier dining, hitting up high-end shops, or planning to purchase that big house in less, you’re getting the good life without breaking the bank. The median home value in Houston is surprisingly $172,100.

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo is a place where you can enjoy life without spending a fortune. The low cost of living allows you to live a good life without stressing about money. The average rent in Buffalo is about $1372 which is cheaper compared to neighboring cities. And also, with Niagara Falls nearby, there’s always something unique to see. The friendly community and lively downtown make Buffalo a cozy and exciting place to call home.

Alicante, Spain

Alicante is a beautiful part of Spain known for its relaxed vibe and sunny climate. Having about 15% of the expat population, Alicante provides a decent lifestyle with accommodation and a nice view that costs about $700 a month. Other expenses, such as groceries and entertainment, are also pretty reasonable.

Arenal, Costa Rica

Arenal is one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica, which is why it’s so surprising to learn how affordable it is for expats. Rent is as low as $400 for comfortable housing, while utilities and bills total around $500-600. Even if you were to eat out, you’d get by monthly with as much as $1500 in your pocket.

Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel’s bright blue waves and laid-back atmosphere make it a prime choice for expats, who happily spend about $450-700 on rent monthly. Coupled with utilities costing as little as $70-80 on average, you get a good living condition, with $1500-1600 being the usual expenditure. And since you’d only be across the border, you could relocate workplaces or go remote.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Chiang Mai is the perfect place for people who have always wanted to escape into the mountains but have yet to find a promising destination. With rent as low as $300 but breathtaking mountain views, it is an ideal destination. Housing gets more expensive with the number of people, but most expat couples can get by with $1000. The average monthly expenditure comes out to just a smidge over $1500.

Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville is consistently ranked as one of the cheapest areas in the United States. The housing in Jacksonville is surprisingly affordable, with median home value just close to $166,000. The rent is also cheaper than 5% of the state average. With affordable housing under your plate, a stable job, and cheap utilities, you’ll get by with less than 2000 bucks.

Kuching, Malaysia

Kuching’s gorgeous landscape makes every price worth it, but it is an incredible destination. A moderately sized house a small distance from the town center costs about $700, but you’ll find much cheaper houses the closer you move to the outskirts. Meals, utilities, and bills are surprisingly low, costing about $500-800 per month, so you can get by on just $1500 monthly.

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Although Phnom Penh is one of the few touristy areas in Cambodia, you’ll be surprised to learn how cheap it is. Living in the capital is incredibly comfortable, with couples’ monthly accommodation costing about $300. Add that to the even cheaper utilities; you’ll be able to survive on just $1000 per month. Of course, you could add to that number if you want to feel like royalty.

Bergerac, France

Who knew living in one of the most popular countries in Europe could be so easy? Bergerac is a dream destination for countless tourists, but little do they know that living in the city costs about $1500 monthly. The cost of housing/rent, utilities, bills, and other amenities varies from area to area, but if you’ve got $1500 to spare, it’s the perfect place to move.

Granada, Spain

Similarly, Granada is also one of the few cheaper cities in Europe. Living here is slightly more expensive than other destinations on the list, but you’ll be able to live comfortably with $2000-2500 monthly. This includes housing (which usually costs about $1000 for couples), utilities like gas, water and electricity, and even WiFi.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is an ancient trading town and a World Heritage Site, so it’s incredibly rich compared to other cities in Vietnam. Despite this, expats can easily survive with $1500 in their pockets. Rent usually costs around $300, but it can spike to $500 if you’re looking for a couple’s housing. The rest accumulates and amounts to $1500.

Armenia, Colombia

Armenia is a beautiful city with a laid-back vibe and a great coffee culture. Known as the “eternal spring” city for its warm weather, it’s perfect for enjoying the outdoors year-round. You can live comfortably here for $1,500 a month or less, with rent for a one-bedroom apartment ranging from $400 to $550. And if you stay outside the city center, it’s even cheaper!

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Yet another stunning Mexican destination, Isla Mujeres, is just a short ferry ride from Cancun, so you’ll practically live there. At Isla Mujeres, expats and residents usually pay around $600-700 monthly, which is a little costly but leaves enough space for people to live comfortably on a small budget.

This article was inspired by CNBC and Forbes and first appeared on Rbitaliablog.