12 Small Towns Around the World Where You Can Live Well for $2K a Month
For Americans priced out of big-city living — or who want a more relaxed pace — small towns abroad offer a way to stretch your budget without giving up quality of life. In many places around the world, it's still possible to live comfortably on about $2,000 a month.
Using cost-of-living data from International Living, here's a look at the small towns around the world that combine affordability, everyday amenities and a desirable lifestyle that can appeal to retirees, remote workers and long-term travelers.
See Next: 50 Cheapest, Safest Places To Live in the US
For You: Start Growing Your Net Worth With Smarter Tracking
Affordable Small Towns in Portugal
Those seeking rich history and culture can find several affordable options in Portugal.
Lousa, Portugal
Total average monthly cost of living: $2,000 per month (if you own your home and car)
Two- to three-bedroom apartment or home: $100,000 to $250,000
Rent for a two- to three-bedroom apartment or home: $700 to $1,000 per month
Lousa is a mountain town in central Portugal, about 35 minutes from Coimbra, that blends historic charm, hiking access and nearby Schist Villages. It has modern conveniences and a year-round community of roughly 17,000 residents. Lousa is especially appealing to expats thanks to its inexpensive cost of living and real estate, as well as an outdoors-focused lifestyle.
Amarante, Portugal
Total average monthly cost of living: $2,000 per month (if you own your home and car)
One-bedroom apartment: $150,000
Three-bedroom house: $300,000 and up
Rent for a two- or three-bedroom apartment: $1,000 per month
Amarante is a historic riverside town about an hour east of Porto that offers a slow-paced, traditional Portuguese lifestyle, strong local food culture and fewer tourists than coastal hotspots. Living costs stay low thanks to its affordable housing, modest rents and access to low-cost local agriculture.
Castelo Branco, Portugal
Total average monthly cost of living: $2,000 per month (if you own your home and car)
Rent for a one-bedroom apartment: Starting at $550 per month
Four-bedroom apartment: Starting at $170,000
Single-family home: $500,000
Castelo Branco is a historic regional capital near the Spanish border that combines medieval charm and green spaces with modern amenities like hospitals, shopping centers and supermarkets. Its off-the-radar location and regional agriculture keep housing and living costs low.
Affordable Small Towns in Greece
Living by the sea can cost less than you think when you relocate to these small towns in Greece.
Kavala, Greece
Total average monthly cost of living: $1,200 to $1,900 per month for a single person
Rent: $350 to $700 per month
Kavala is a laid-back Greek seaside city that combines everyday conveniences, historic charm and a simple life at a far lower cost than larger cities like Athens or Thessaloniki. With affordable rents, good healthcare and services and widespread use of English, you can enjoy a low-stress lifestyle close to the sea for under $2,000.
Litochoro, Greece
Total average monthly cost of living: $1,200 to $1,800 per month for a single person
Rent: $350 to $700 per month
Litochoro is a traditional Greek village at the base of Mount Olympus, just minutes from the sea. It offers a nature-centered lifestyle with access to hiking and waterfalls and is home to a close-knit community. With modest rents, low living costs and access to Thessaloniki within 90 minutes, it's ideal for remote workers or anyone seeking a quiet life surrounded by natural beauty.
Nafpaktos, Greece
Total average monthly cost of living: $1,300 to $1,800 per month for a single person
Rent: $400 to $800 per month
Nafpaktos is a charming coastal town on the Gulf of Corinth that combines a picturesque Venetian harbor and castle with a relaxed, local lifestyle. Patras is also easy to access for bigger city amenities.
Affordable Small Towns in Mexico
You don't have to venture far from the U.S. to enjoy an affordable small-town lifestyle.
Valladolid, Mexico
Total average monthly cost of living: $2,000 per month for a couple (maid service included)
Rent for a four-bed, four-bath colonial house: $1,900 per month
Rent for a two-bed, two-bath apartment: $1,000 per month
Two-bed, two-bath house: $180,000 to $240,000
Bus to Merida: $22
Valladolid is a safe, charming town in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula that boasts colorful colonial streets, rich Mayan history and easy access to sites like Chichen Itza — without the crowds or high costs of coastal tourist hubs. With well-priced housing, low monthly living costs, bustling local markets and easy transport to major cities like Merida, it's ideal for those seeking an authentic, quieter Mexican lifestyle.
Izamal, Mexico
Total average monthly cost of living: $1,500 to $2,000 per month for a couple (if you own your home)
Rent for a four-bed home: $1,000 per month
Rent for a studio: $300 per month
Two-bed, two-bath house: $180,000
Bus to Merida: $1.50
Fresh-squeezed juice: $2 for half a liter
Maid service: $25 for two sessions per week (includes cooking)
Izamal is a visually striking, quiet town in the Yucatan. Known as the "Yellow City," it blends ancient Mayan, Spanish colonial and modern life, with easy access to Merida and new transportation infrastructure like the Maya Train. Its inexpensive day-to-day expenses, rentals and homes that won't break the budget, welcoming local community and relaxed pace allow couples to live comfortably for much less than in tourist areas.
Affordable Small Towns in Costa Rica
Enjoy a simple life and easy access to nature in these affordable Costa Rican towns.
San Ramon, Costa Rica
Total average monthly cost of living: $2,000 per month for a couple living simply
Older home: $150,000
Newly renovated homes and estates: $300,000 to $700,000
San Ramon is a quiet Central Valley town in Costa Rica that offers lush scenery and peaceful living, while also providing easy access to grocery stores, medical care and major amenities; it's a less crowded alternative to Atenas or Grecia. With reasonable home prices, a growing mixed expat-local community and low living costs, it balances nature, convenience and a relaxed lifestyle.
Tronadora, Costa Rica
Total average monthly cost of living: $1,500 per month for a single person
Rent for a smaller home: $500 to $650 per month
Utilities: $50 per month
Homes: $170,000 to $350,000
Tronadora is a quiet town near Lake Arenal that offers cooler weather, volcano and lake views and a strong sense of community at a more easygoing pace than nearby hotspots. With low living costs, inexpensive rentals and homes and easy access to the airport, beaches and shopping, it's an underrated choice for nature-focused, relaxed living.
More Affordable Small Towns
Other parts of Latin America, as well as Southeast Asia, also have low-cost living options.
Volcan, Panama
Total average monthly cost of living: $1,700 per month for a couple
Volcan is a cool-climate mountain town in Panama that offers safe, quiet small-town living surrounded by a volcano, farmland and forests. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and a strong sense of local community. With very affordable fresh food, minimal utility needs and a relaxed lifestyle, a couple can live comfortably here for about $1,700 a month while enjoying one of the country's most scenic and agriculturally rich regions.
Pai, Thailand
Total average monthly cost of living: $2,000 per month for a couple
Rent for a small house or upscale apartment: $300 per month
Rent for a larger home with a garden: $500 per month
Pai is a small, bohemian mountain town in northern Thailand known for its slow pace, nature-centric lifestyle, creative energy and a strong backpacker-expat mix. Life here is centered around hot springs, waterfalls, hiking and wellness culture. With very low living costs, many people come here from Chiang Mai for a short stay and end up settling long term, traveling to Chiang Mai only when they need access to city amenities.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
More From MoneyLion: