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Cheapest Countries to Live in Southeast Asia (2026)

Every Southeast Asian country in our catalog ranked by cost-of-living scores for 2026. Higher score means more affordable day-to-day living.

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"Cheap Southeast Asia" is not one rent. Singapore is not Laos. This list ranks every Southeast Asian country in our catalog by cost of living, where a higher score means more affordable day-to-day living for someone who might stay months or years.

Pair this table with Compare when you are down to two bases, and stress-test housing and food in our cost of living calculator.

Cost of Living Score on the map

Higher score = stronger cost of living

Tap a country to see its score.

Cost of Living Score world map
8.5+
7.0–8.4
5.5–6.9
Below 5.5
RankCountryCost of Living Score
#1Vietnam9.0
#2Indonesia8.8
#3Myanmar8.8
#4Cambodia8.8
#5Laos8.8
#6Thailand8.5
#7Philippines8.5
#8Malaysia8.2
#9Singapore4.5

Why the leaders rank here for cost of living

Mainland and archipelago bases outside wealthy city-states lead here because rent, local food, and everyday services still sit well below Singapore-level costs.

  1. #1
    Vietnam9.0

    Street food, mid-range apartments, and city services in places like Da Nang or Hanoi still stretch remote income further than most East Asian peers.

  2. #2
    Indonesia8.8

    Outside premium Bali pockets, many Indonesian cities keep groceries and rent closer to regional affordable norms than to Singapore prices.

  3. #3
    Myanmar8.8

    National affordability scores high on paper, but political risk and service gaps mean you should treat this ranking as a cost signal only, not a green light to move.

  4. #4
    Cambodia8.8

    Phnom Penh and secondary towns keep housing and local meals among the lower monthly bills in the region for careful budgeters.

  5. #5
    Laos8.8

    Quieter cities and towns keep daily costs low, though thinner international services and flight links need planning before a long stay.

Rankings are based on our scoring model. Always verify visa and cost information with official sources before making relocation decisions.

How we calculate these rankings

We filter to Southeast Asian countries in our geographic model, then sort by cost of living score, highest first. The order below is generated at build time from our latest editorial model.

What this does not measure: Visa length, English comfort, flood or heat weeks, or how tourist hotspots inflate rent. A cheap country can still be the wrong fit if your work setup or safety needs differ.

Updates: Rankings refresh when we redeploy after underlying country data changes.

Explore these countries

Open any country profile for full cost of living context, visas, and scores. Use compare when you are weighing a shortlist.

Showing top 8 of 9 ranked countries. Scroll the table above for the full list.

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