Affordable Living Guides

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🌍 Ultimate Budget Nomad Cost of Living (2025)

Live Comfortably Under $1,000/Month

Bali (Canggu/Ubud)

🏡 Housing:

• Guesthouse/private room: $250–$400/month

• Basic villa/studio: $400–$600

• Pool villa/luxury coliving: $800+
  💡 Tip: Rent via WhatsApp/local agent for best prices; Airbnb is higher.

🍜 Food:

• Local (warung) meal: $1.50–$3

• Western café meal: $5–$8

• Coffee/smoothie: $2–$4

• Weekly groceries (Bintang/market): $20–$40

🛵 Transport:

• Scooter rental: $50–$70/month

• Fuel: $5–$10/month

• Gojek ride: $1–$3 per trip

📶 WiFi:

• Coworking: 50–100 Mbps

• Villas: 20–60 Mbps (ask host!)

• SIM: $5–$10/month (Telkomsel 25–30GB)

🏢 Coworking:

• Outpost/Dojo: $150–$200/month

• Day pass: $10–$15

• Free WiFi cafes: Crate Café, Motion, Seniman

📄 Visa:

• Visa on Arrival (VOA): $35 (30 days) + $35 extension

• Visa run: Fly to KL or Singapore (~$100 return)

💵 Total Monthly Cost:

$800–$1,200 depending on housing + coworking choices

Bangkok

🏡 Housing:

• Studio condo (On Nut, Ari): $300–$500/month

• Sukhumvit/Airbnb: $500–$800

• Serviced apartment: $800–$1,200
  💡 Tip: Use Agoda for discounts on 30-day stays.

🍜 Food:

• Street food: $1–$2/meal (pad thai, khao man gai)

• Restaurant: $4–$8

• Coffee: $2–$3

• Groceries: $30–$50/week (Big C, Tesco)

🚇 Transport:

• BTS/MRT ride: $0.75–$1.50

• Monthly pass: $30–$40

• Grab bike: $2–$4 per ride

📶 WiFi:

• 100–300 Mbps in condos

• SIM: $6–$10/month for 30GB (AIS, TrueMove)

🏢 Coworking:

• UnionSPACE/The Work Loft: $100–$150/month

• Day pass: $8–$12

• Free WiFi cafes: Casa Lapin, Too Fast to Sleep

📄 Visa:

• Visa-free (30 days) + $60 extension

• Visa run to Laos (Vientiane) ~$120 total trip

💵 Total Monthly Cost:

$850–$1,200

Kuala Lumpur (KL)

🏡 Housing:

• Condo (Bukit Bintang, Bangsar): $300–$500

• High-rise w/ gym/pool: $500–$700

• Airbnb long stay: $400–$600
  💡 Tip: Search on Booking for coliving/discounts.

🍜 Food:

• Hawker food: $1.50–$3 (nasi lemak, roti canai)

• Restaurant: $4–$7

• Coffee: $2–$3

• Groceries: $25–$40/week (Jaya Grocer, Tesco)

🚆 Transport:

• MRT/Monorail: $0.50–$1/ride

• Grab car: $2–$5

• MyRapid pass: $25/month unlimited rides

📶 WiFi:

• Condo: 100–300 Mbps

• SIM: $5–$8/month (Digi, Maxis)

🏢 Coworking:

• WORQ: $60–$100/month

• Common Ground: $120/month

• Cafes: VCR, Feeka, Antipodean

📄 Visa:

• 90-day visa-free for most countries

• Easy visa run to Langkawi or Singapore

💵 Total Monthly Cost:

$800–$1,100

Chiang Mai

🏡 Housing:

• Studio/guesthouse: $200–$400

• Condo near Nimman: $300–$500
  💡 Tip: Monthly rates on Facebook groups often cheaper than Airbnb.

🍜 Food:

• Local meals: $1–$2

• Western café: $4–$6

• Coffee: $1.50–$3

• Groceries: $20–$40/week

🛵 Transport:

• Scooter: $50/month

• Red truck (songthaew): $1/ride

• Grab: $1.50–$3

📶 WiFi:

• Apartment: 100+ Mbps

• SIM: $5–$8 (AIS, TrueMove)

• Coworking speeds: 200 Mbps

🏢 Coworking:

• Punspace/CAMP: $50–$100/month

• Day pass: $5–$8

• Cafes: Ristr8to, Graph, My Secret Café

📄 Visa:

• 60-day tourist + 30-day extension (~$60)

• Visa run to Laos or Penang possible

💵 Total Monthly Cost:

$700–$1,000

Penang (George Town)

🏡 Housing:

• Room/flatshare: $250–$400/month

• Apartment: $400–$600
  💡 Tip: Local agents offer best long-term rates.

🍜 Food:

• Hawker meals: $1.50–$3 (char kway teow)

• Restaurant: $4–$7

• Coffee: $1.50–$3

• Groceries: $25–$40/week

🚌 Transport:

• Bus: $0.50

• Grab: $2–$4

• Scooter rental: $60/month

📶 WiFi:

• 100+ Mbps in most areas

• SIM: $5–$8 (Maxis, Celcom)

🏢 Coworking:

• Scoopoint/MSOGO: $60–$100/month

• Cafes: Black Kettle, China House

📄 Visa:

• 90-day free visa for most

• Cheap flights to Langkawi/KL for visa runs

💵 Total Monthly Cost:

$800–$1,000

Langkawi (Quiet Island Living)

• Rent: $250–$400

• Food: $2–$4/meal

• Scooter: $50/month

• WiFi: 20–50 Mbps
  💵 Total: $750–$1,000

Hua Hin / Chiang Rai

• Rent: $200–$400

• Food: $1–$3

• Scooter: $50/month

• Coworking: Limited (cafés mainly)
  💵 Total: $700–$900

Da Nang, Vietnam

• Rent: $250–$450

• Food: $2–$4

• WiFi: 50–150 Mbps

• Coworking: $50–$80
  💵 Total: $800–$1,000

🧰 Nomad Resources

• Accommodation: Agoda, Hostelworld

• Transport: 12Go

• Insurance: SafetyWing

• Money: Wise, Revolut

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