Cost of living
Southeast Asia cost of living calculator
Wondering if you can afford that move? Pick a city, your lifestyle and the size of place you want for an honest monthly estimate — with the rent line based on real, current listings, not a number someone made up.
Estimate for one person, in USD. Lifestyle sets your overall standard across every line; Eating and Getting around fine-tune the two most variable costs. Rent shows the live median of current listings where we have enough of them, otherwise a typical asking price; other lines are curated estimates. Tap ✎ to change any line to your own number (e.g. set a cost to $0 if it doesn't apply). Your spending will vary.
See live rentals in Phnom Penh →Cost of living FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Southeast Asia per month?
For one person, a comfortable budget in the cheaper cities (Kampot, Siem Reap, Chiang Mai) runs roughly $900–$1,400/month including rent, while bigger cities like Kuala Lumpur or Phnom Penh run roughly $1,200–$2,000. Use the calculator to estimate a specific city, lifestyle and home size.
Where does the rent figure come from?
Rent uses the live median of current listings for that city and home size when there are enough of them; otherwise it falls back to a typical asking price. Other costs (food, transport, utilities, etc.) are curated estimates.
Which is the cheapest city to live in?
Among the cities here, riverside Kampot and Siem Reap (Cambodia) are typically the cheapest, followed by Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Da Nang (Vietnam).
Full city guides
For neighbourhoods, deposits, visas and how to find a place, read the complete guide for each city: