Cheapest Places To Live
Posted on by Forest in Cheapest Places To Live, General, Saving Money & Finances
Finding the cheapest places to live has been a big topic in some past post on this blog. In the coming weeks I am going to delve into it further and look at some of the details but for now we’ll take a broad look over the situation. It’s not entirely possible to find the exact cheapest place to live as much of the info is relative and can change daily!
Cheapest Places To Live
Working out what you need for your lifestyle is the first step in determining where you can live. This includes the type of work you do and if you need a house, condo, apartment. Do you have pets? Do you need to drive and if so how far do you need to drive? Also if you job is portable (online) this really helps you find a dirt cheap place to live. I work online and have lived in Cairo, Egypt, Canada before that and have been to the UK and am now briefly in USA. Early next year I head off to New Zealand.
First let’s look at the Cheapest Places in America.
It’s generally agreed that the cheapest places in the USA to live are in the Mid West. You may get low wages compared to the rest of the country but taxes are low and housing is comparatively very affordable. Even things like beer and food can be found significantly cheaper. However you may have to take into account crime and poverty, building quality and other aspects before making your final decision.
According to research conducted by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, the 10 most affordable states in the US in 2009 are:
- Oklahoma
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Arkansas
- Nebraska
- South Dakota
- Missouri
- Kansas
- Georgia
- Mississippi
I wrote a more in-depth article on this subject and it’s also getting a lot of opinions and comments. So come learn more and join the discussion by reading the article: Cheapest places to live in America
Know looking at other countries
Canada
Canada really isn’t one of the cheapest places to live in the world but if you are wanting to be close to the USA either in retirement or for telecommuting and online jobs then it has some great options. I personally lived in Montreal and can say that things like dining out were affordable with many main meals being less than $10 USD. It’s reported that in provinces like Nova Scotia that lakeside homes can be purchased for around $10k and taxes are not too bad in my experiences. I also always found cheap places to shop for food. Many provinces tax high on booze and cigarettes so if you are hell-bent on living this kind of lifestyle it may not be a good choice!
Egypt, Cairo
Cheapest Places To Live - Great Apartments Are Available In Cairo At Great Prices!! This is Maadi, the area I used to live in.
We paid $500 USD per month for a Western style 2 bed medium-sized apartment in a well-to-do part of town. This does not include bills but the rack up to less than $70 per month and that includes doorman and internet.
Food isn’t too much either. I could fill my fridge with veggies for less than $10, eat a local falafel for $0.50 and even get a nice Italian meal for $30 with a fair helping of South African wine.
Taxes are something I am not sure of, I was there on a visa with my partner who is a student. So not paying local tax and from what I hear most of the locals don’t pay tax either!
Transport is cheap with taxes costing less than a few dollars to anywhere in the city and a metro ride is only $0.25.
Cairo is cheap if you want it to be but offers all the luxuries of USA. If you land a job for an American or European company then it’s possible to get good wages and still have the affordability the city offers making it relatively definitely one of the cheapest places to live.
Note: Right now Egypt is obviously going through a lot of strain with the peoples revolution. I was present for much of the revolution and some time after and although I don’t advise to move there right now I would say keep it on your watch list.
Thailand
Many Americans flock to Thailand… Some for its beauty and some for unsavory habits but there is no questioning that life for the average American in Thailand can be a hell of a lot cheaper than back home.
If you stay out of the main cities and move to the mid-sized villages (still chock full of Western amenities for tourists) then you can often find furnished accommodation for around $100 a month. If you eat local you will hardly feel the weight of food costs and generally the locals are reported to be nice to foreigners if you make the effort back.
Mexico
I have a friend who lived quite a lavish lifestyle down in Mexico and she left an awesome comment on one of my other posts “Live In Topekaa For $850 a Month” Here is what she said:
Brilliant Jeni Says:
August 21st, 2008 at 11:56 am I have a friend going to college in New Mexico- $200 month for a 1400 sq foot home; balconies, fireplaces, granite countertops and all… I was impressed.I’m American but now live in Cabo San Lucas, where I moved from Puerto Vallarta. In Cabo, we actually bought a villa and rentals are quite pricey but in Puerto Vallarta- very nice condos for $400 a month and up, just a few blocks from the beach. Food and utilities are next to nothing. $30 dollars a week will fill your fridge for 2 ppl.
Inland rentals (by inland, i mean still walking distance to the beach) start at $200 and go up. Then, as an expat there are numerous tax benefits (great for bloggers and web publishers such as myself.)On $850 a month, you could live a near-lavish lifestyle!
So imagine if you cut down on some of the luxuries!
There are lots more cheap places to live in this world but this post just gives you a taste of what is out there. Please leave an opinion or comment of where you think the cheapest places to live are, and sign up so you can keep up with future writings on this topic. Suggestions for posts are also always welcome.
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78 Responses to “Cheapest Places To Live”
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December 10, 2009
[...] a followup to the recent post Cheapest Places To live I thought it would be appropriate to look at little more in depth at the list I published that [...]
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December 12, 2009
[...] recently wrote a post on the more broad subject of the Cheapest Places To Live and briefly touched on the subject of rent. Renting a home can be a whole different thing to buying [...]
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February 1, 2010
[...] Before we start, just a plug for another post. If you are looking for the cheap places for living then check out my post: Cheapest Places to Live. [...]
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April 4, 2010
[...] of the most popular articles on Frugal Zeitgeist is about the Cheapest Places To Live. Since publishing that article and a few similar articles (see related posts below for more info) I [...]
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June 7, 2010
[...] I have written articles on The Cheapest Places To Live and more specifically The Cheapest Places to Live In America but when looking to retire it’s [...]
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June 14, 2010
[...] have written quite a few posts now about where to live for cheap in the USA. As shown in Cheapest Places to Live and Cheapest Places to Live in America many of the cheapest places are found in the Mid States and [...]
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June 15, 2010
[...] in depth on the subject on many artciles. Some of the most popular of these include the article Cheapest Places to Live which also talks a little about some other countries and also Cheapest Places to Live In America [...]
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David Rice
03. Aug, 2009
I see West Virginia is not on the list of least expensive places to live. Where
does it fit into the list? It could not be too high because our taxes are very low, compared to other states. Please e-mail me the information.
Thanks,
Dave Rice
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Forest
04. Aug, 2009
Hey David…. Be awesome if you could go post some figures over at the forum so others can see what sort of costs W.Virginia has for living… It’s hard to choose an exact place but be great to get all places talked about.
http://frugalzeitgeist.com/forum/personal-finances-savings/cheapest-places-to-live-t25.html
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Michael
15. Aug, 2009
If you are not living in TEXAS you must be just camping out!
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Lora
07. Nov, 2010
I have lived in Texas ( San Antonio ) for 13 years. Taxes are at 8.125 not bad but the summers are HOT so I camp INSIDE ! MY a.c bill is 140 for spring and 300 for the summer. The city is growing so FAST! SO it is easy to find a new house and new school in the Northiside school Distric. MIddle class house of 120,000 to 180,00 would be the average. I need to look up the percent of property tax IT IS VERY HIGH compared to my Iowa years. I enjoy the city life but miss Iowa and I am planning to move back in 2-5 years.
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Forest
07. Nov, 2010
Hey Lora, the heat is the big big problem. I live in Cairo right now and I know all about heat!!! You become a creature of the night but that isn’t much better. Moving back to a more rural place can suit as you slow down life but I would miss the city too.
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Nicola
18. Aug, 2009
you might find the 5th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey of 2009 helpful when determining cheapest places to live in USA, it states that Youngstown, OH and Fort Wayne, IN are the 2 cheapest, check it out and you’ll see the cheapest 30 urban areas. If you’re not looking to move to an urban area it will at least give you a guide to cheapest suburban areas surrounding the cheapest cities.
The study itself is held each year and it’s a fantastic resource for anyone thinking of relocation to a less expensive city. It also compares other countries against USA too. I’ve found it extremely useful in our search for relocation.
http://www.demographia.com/dhi.pdf
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Forest
03. Sep, 2009
Thank you so much for this link. I intend to write more on the subject in the future so this could be a great resource of me.
I hope to see you around more often on this blog and if you want we now have a facebook page that you can join.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frugal-Zeitgeist/130432261281
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Forest
17. Sep, 2009
@Michael, Just saw your comment!! Ha ha, never been to Texas sadly.
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cystic acne treatment
30. Apr, 2011
I think accra, Ghana is a very frugal place to live, having been born there the cost of living is very low compared to some other places.
cystic acne treatment recently posted..Cystic Acne Treatment – What finally worked for me
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Joe
05. Dec, 2009
Great post. I like the idea of Cabo. Seems like I should dig out my old Spanish books and get back into it.
Thanks,
Joe
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Ruth - Web Career Girl
05. Dec, 2009
I need to move to Cairo with you. Actually, no, I need to move to Thailand! I am not surprised that the UK isn’t on this list. I can barely even imagine those kind of prices!!
.-= Ruth – Web Career Girl´s last blog ..What Are You Working For and How Do You Measure Your Progress? =-.
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Forest
05. Dec, 2009
@Joe, Yes that’s an awesome choice. I did not list everywhere as it’s kind of not realistic to look at places to live in straight dollars. I’ll be writing more on the subject in the next few months / years so will get more detail and things along the way.
@Ruth, Ha ha, it is certainly a good place for Internet Marketing but it does have pitfalls. Firstly almost all internet service is limited to a certain download amount so you have to pay over the odds if you download a lot. As a woman alone it can also be hard too but saying that I know plenty of women who live here without partners…. They just grow thick skins
.
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Jonathan
05. Dec, 2009
Forest,
China is a super, and fun, place to live. I lived there for 8 years and they were truly 8 financially stress-free years. I’ll move back there soon and begin enjoying that affordability again.
Cheers,
Jonathan
.-= Jonathan´s last blog ..Can I Get My Ex Back =-.
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How To Get Back Your Ex
12. Feb, 2010
surrounding cities of vancouver bc are incredible to live. as vancouver expands, it pours into the surrounding cities and are quite cheap at the moment
Terry Schumacher
my latest blog
How To Get Back Your Ex
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Maria Girfen
13. Feb, 2010
I hear Greifen in Turkey is quite amazing. I live in las vegas which has become burden on me
my last blog
[url=http://www.getbackyourex101.com]How To Get Back Your Ex[url]
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Forest
13. Feb, 2010
Hey How To Get Your Ex Back and Maria (I know you are the same person btw
). Thanks for your comments. Turkey and Canada can both be pretty Frugal places to live.
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Tony Romo
15. Feb, 2010
shouldnt michigan be on there? iunno
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kandi
17. Nov, 2010
Michigan isn’t cheap. Food, housing, taxes and rediculouse heat in the 5 cold months.
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Forest
21. Nov, 2010
Thanks Kandi, always have to think about the extras like heating in the cold North!
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Forest
16. Feb, 2010
@Tony, not too sure about Michigan… I heard houses are very cheap in Detroit right now… Will have to check it out.
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How To Get Back Your Ex
16. Feb, 2010
hey is this a statistical or personal list Forest?
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how to get your ex back
30. Apr, 2011
I also live in toronto, canada but I wouldn;t say that it is a frugal place to live as it is very expensive, i currently live with my brother otherwise It would have been challenging moving here.
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Forest
16. Feb, 2010
Hey How To Get Your Ex Back, The list as stated in the post is from “the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center”.
Thanks for your comment.
Forest.
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Red
03. Mar, 2010
I can attest to Tennessee being one of the cheapest! 640 square foot apartment a mile from the downtown of one of the top three largest cities in the state, and my rent is $460 a month. (Which is actually high compared to other places, but I like the area so I’m staying.)
.-= Red´s last blog ..Super Simple Month: Day 1 =-.
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Forest
04. Mar, 2010
Hey Red…. That is awesome! I will be writing about Texas soon and would love to have a photo to publish and get some more prices and things from you if possible?
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F.L. Hill
15. Mar, 2010
Out of all the comments and your info there is still a mystery with the best places to live in America? Whats the
deal? Where is the best place to live?
Atheney!
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Forest
15. Mar, 2010
Hi F.L.Hill,
To be honest it’s become even less clear since I originally wrote the article as there are too many factors to consider.
Generally if you have a reasonable paying job then mid country is the cheapest area to live.
I am actually also writing a new article about Texas soon as that has been getting some good words said about it.
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C McG
02. May, 2010
I’m actually thinking outside the US is sounding better and better. I have an 11 year old daughter so safety is always an issue. I have been considering home-schooling her because of all the cut backs (living in KS btw), and I like the idea of getting out of here and getting her somewhere that life is not so materialistic. I happen to really love the bum’s life. Never was meant for rat race lifestyle!
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Forest
02. May, 2010
Canada may be an option if you have to stay near home but if you really enjoy the chilled life (and feel it’s good for your child) then maybe even going somewhere like France (although not always cheap) or Spain may be nice…. Thailand fits the bill too. Cairo, where I live, is cheap and can be relaxed but I wouldn’t bring up kids here as it’s very polluted amongst a few other things.
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C McG
02. May, 2010
Thank you for the input. Thailand sounds wonderful. Also thought about Belize and Costa Rica. I will need a job when I get where I’m going. The only work I really enjoy is labor. I’ve worked with my husband for years installing flooring. I have no problem cleaning fish (my husband won’t) if that is an option. My entire goal is to make enough to eke by and still spend as much time with my daughter being happy. Family will just have to understand their lifestyle is not mine. Does that sound unfair to my daughter? I am 41. Maybe I should wait until she graduates then go by myself. Even my husband won’t go with me. Ah well, so much to consider… Again, your input is greatly appreciated.
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Forest
03. May, 2010
I have never actually been to Belize, Thailand or Costa Rica but I have heard great things about all these places…. Before relocating though I always recommend a holiday or visit first.
As for your daughter and husband, you really have to talk to them straight up…. I can’t comment on the decision between you and your husband but with your daughter I think the final decision would lay with her, my mother left me at around that age and it was horrible, so for the sake of children I think it’s worth working hard to keep them happy and staying nearby at very least but in the long term you can still work towards your own goals and if she wants to come and start a new life too that may be awesome.
I am not sure what the chances are of finding work are quickly so if I was you I would start getting on some expat forums and asking people who live in these places.
Good luck with your decisions, I see you signed up to the mailing list do I look forward to seeing more comments from you hopefully.
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Ashley
07. Aug, 2010
China is a nice place to live
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Forest
08. Aug, 2010
Hi Ashley, I will have to look into China some more, Thanks.
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Richard
09. Dec, 2010
China really is a nice place to live in , but it’s not cheap at all , I do work online so I get paid in US$ but still a trip to China with lowest possible price for hotels cost me 1000$ for 3 days , not to mention I am not a disco party fan … just sight seeing with a friend of mine , she’s Chinese
Richard recently posted..Help Save London live music venue The 100 Club
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Forest
09. Dec, 2010
Hi Richard, yeah I hear good things about China as a place to live and if you get a decent job I think it’s not bad going there. On a normal blogging income I am not sure.
Thanks for commenting.
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Almond Best
09. Aug, 2010
One of the cheapest places to live is the Philippines, and it’s quite a beautiful country with very hospitable people. Thanks for sharing!
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Forest
09. Aug, 2010
Thanks, I have heard good things about the people in the Philippines.
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flip
16. Aug, 2010
try the philippines. im thinking of relocating to some place cheaper too after quitting my job here…
flip recently posted..Meet the Nomads- Dong Ho
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Forest
17. Aug, 2010
Hey Flip, I really want to go there and check it out. I hear the people are super nice.
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James
23. Aug, 2010
Hello. I would like to know what you think about Belize as being one of the least expensive countries to live in? If you have any other info on this could you please send me an e-mail in regards to least expensive countries to live in. Friendly countries that is. Thanks so much.
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Forest
23. Aug, 2010
Hi James,
I hear a lot of good things about Belize but don’t know too much myself…. I will be getting more info soon though. In the meantime this article may be useful: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/How-to-Retire-Comfortably-for-usnews-2643852806.html?x=0
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PanamaJack
27. Aug, 2010
Look at RURAL PANAMA if want truly affordable living. We are just about to announce our small casitas at under $15,000.
Check out the website easyretirementliving to find more details and contact us.,
Cheers,
Jack
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Forest
29. Aug, 2010
Thanks Panama Jack, I don’t know much about Panama but it may well be worth my time taking a look.
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Chad Walls - Tutor Guy
12. Nov, 2010
Thanks for this post. You were not lying about the houses being cheap. I checked online and yes some houses prices as low as $50,000 in some of the small towns. I live out west in the city and have two university degrees. I will never be able to buy a house here with an average of $400,000 per house.
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Forest
13. Nov, 2010
Hey Chad, yeah sometimes it just takes a flexibility. Ouch $400k!!! That is a lot.
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Dr Alex Johston
29. Nov, 2010
Hi this is great information. Didn’t realize there was such an issue with price difference between states in the USA. Thanks for the tips.
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Forest
02. Dec, 2010
No probs Dr Alex, there are massive differences state to state for various reasons!
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Kate
09. Dec, 2010
Taking into account the cost of health insurance, which would be the cheapest place to live? As I understand it, TX has one of the highest rates.
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Forest
09. Dec, 2010
Hey Kate,
That is an interesting and important variable. Hard to gauge as insurance is in the process of changing a lot and is very different person to person depending on health. If I get round to updating anytime soon I will try and look at this variable.
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get your ex back
20. Dec, 2010
It’s interesting that you have put in Canada on your list.. but I live in Canada, and Toronto area to be more exact. This place is not cheap. Anything BUT cheap. Since I haven’t visited nova scotia, i am not too sure.. but now that you have mentioned it, I think it’ll be a good choice for me to check it out on my next vacation.
get your ex back recently posted..Get Your Ex Back
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Forest
21. Dec, 2010
Hey Get Your Ex Back, yeah Toronto is expensive for sure and some think Montreal (where I lived) is too but I got by fine on a very small budget.
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Evony Guide
27. Dec, 2010
Didnt realise that there was such a price difference between states in the USA. Thanks for the information.
Evony Guide recently posted..Evony Guide � Evony Tips On The Best Evony Defense Measures For Your City
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Forest
28. Dec, 2010
Glad the post was useful Evony Guide.
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Kate
28. Dec, 2010
Thanks, Just saw your reply. Even though NY is considered one of the most expensive for insurance, the state subsidises programs such as healthyny for people whose earned income is under a certain amount. Not referring to welfare..so at the end the health insurance premium is relatively low compared to anywhere else in the US.
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Forest
28. Dec, 2010
Thanks again Kate, that is good info to know. Health is worth a lot when comparing where to live.
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Calgary SEO
28. Dec, 2010
Another cheap place to live in Canada is Manitoba. I know the winters there are harsh but the summer are really beautiful. There are lots of lakes, hunting, fishing, etc. In Winnipeg you can still buy a house for under $200,000 and there is a great university among other things. The smaller towns where I grew up are even better. In my small home town that I grew up in you can still buy a 1,500 square foot home for $70,000. The countryside is great if you enjoy 4 wheeling and ski doing.
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Forest
30. Dec, 2010
Hey Calgary SEO, I have heard the summers are amazing there. I weirdly like Canadian winter (I know I am odd!). Thanks for the tips.
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get your love back
15. Feb, 2011
It’s cheap but is it safe there?
get your love back recently posted..How to get your love back – First Move Video
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Forest
16. Feb, 2011
Hey Get Your Love Back, where are you referring too?
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hailey
16. Feb, 2011
Canada also offer some of the finest ski destinations in the world. Mont Tremblant in Quebec is one of them. You can have lodging options in ski resorts at a very affordable rate.
hailey recently posted..The Canyons-Park City- Utah save up to 50 on lodging!
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Forest
16. Feb, 2011
Hey Hailey, I love Quebec and what it has to offer. Lived in Montreal for 2 years.
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Bocas Del Toro
01. Mar, 2011
My top suggestions are:
1. Costa Rica
2. India
3. Philippines
4. Panama
5. Brazil
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Forest
04. May, 2011
Thanks
, didn’t realise Costa Rica was cheap.
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sarahb
04. May, 2011
Is thailand really still that cheap? I was there recently and it seems that the cost of living has increased dramatically all across the country in the past few years.
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Forest
05. May, 2011
Hey Sarah B, I still hear it is relatively cheap but is getting more and more.
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exback
26. Jul, 2011
I saw in a recent news article that among the top 150 cities the cheapest places to live are Mumbai and Delhi in India.
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Forest
26. Jul, 2011
Thanks Exback, I had heard Mumbai was actually quite expensive in some ways.
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Jas
06. Dec, 2011
yes, Thailand is much more cheaper compare to the other countries you have mentioned. All though the standard of living has increased in big city like Bangkok, but, it is still cheaper compare to Canada/USA.
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Forest
06. Dec, 2011
Thanks for the comment Jas.
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Hannah @ Howmuch
09. Feb, 2012
I had lived in Arizona in the past and I’m amazed at why it doesn’t pop up on these lists. Yes, it does get hot during the Summer but if you have a pool and you work during the day, the house stays rather comfortable at 80 degrees. From October until the end of April, you don’t even need heat or the A/C. On top of that, the property taxes are very, very cheap!
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Forest
21. Feb, 2012
Hey Hannah, if you want to write up a post about the cost of living in Arizona I would gladly publish it.
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