We should take out Singapore and Tokyo/Japan from the list, they are outliers Instagram tourist style living is going to be very expensive anywhere in the world, but apples to apples comparison, SE Asia, single guy, can live very comfortably on $2k, not just getting by $1500 apartment in California is 1-bedroom in a bad neighborhood $500 condo ltr in SE Asia is 1-bedroom, with 24 hour concierge, 24 hour security (all entry points, all parking spots, all floors), gym, (rooftop) pool (maybe more than 1) in the city If someone cannot eat for $7/meal in SE Asia, has an eating disorder, big mac meal is $5, for comparison, so $7 meal in local quality food is doable, $21/day = $630-$650, no cooking needed electricity, water, internet, cell phone service = $300/mo that's with 8 hours of AC per day due to heat Clothes are washed by the kilos, a single dude can get clothes washed and folded nicely for $7-10/wk, = $40/mo get a house cleaner every 2 weeks, $15 = $30 soap, toothpaste, shampoo, very cheap, get sachets a beer is $1 at a local bar, coffee can be expensive depending on someone's preference, but can also be cheap but good Grab (Uber) for traveling around and deliveries, very cheap, compared to Uber in California healthcare insurance and a gf , other discretionary items are all subjective, so not including necessities but way above average single dude lifestyle in California is about $1500-1700 in SE Asia {our family's rental cost for the condo is ~$3k/mo)
None of those numbers make sense in Singapore but that's expected. Thailand is way cheaper but if you live the expat life (clubs, restaurants, western food, wine, travel)... it's definitely more than 2k/month, which is why I was asking if he's from SE Asia. Bali is similar; you can live local for cheap but as soon as you live a westerner life, it can add up, not like Singapore but more than 2k month. I'll be visiting North Vietnam in October, solo motorcycle ride 2-3 weeks to reenergize. I know everything is quite cheap there and 2k a month is easy living.
Definitely can spend much higher, I'm just comparing to a single guy living in Cali, going to clubs on the weekend can be more than $2k/mo and those items you mentioned also more than $2k/mo no basic necessities covered, lol I did not want to mention to avoid Thailand, but since you mentioned it, I'm seeing a lot of videos on expats problems in Thailand, beware, and tbh, just avoid Nomad Capitalist lives in Malaysia and highly recommends the place, fwiw
Im in Singapore and been to Malaysia a few times, but I'm not a fan, too Muslim socialist royalty. A good friend lives the expat life there and loves it after moving out of Singapore. Singapore is $10k a month, ridiculous considering how cheap it is to live around.
Ahh, good point on Malaysia, never been there but I have a friend who was from there and also has many relatives in Singapore It's been a while but read the story on Singapore and shared history with Malaysia, Lee Kuan Yew was the greatest of all time (g.o.a.t)
Thailand cracking down on expats is no surprise. If you're buying real estate in a foreign country, you're opening yourself up to risk — and frankly, you're asking for it. This kind of backlash can happen anywhere when people trade their middle-class lifestyle at home for luxury living abroad. When large numbers of expats move in, they drive up local prices — housing, groceries, services — and locals get squeezed. It’s the reverse of the usual “immigrants are taking jobs” narrative. We’ve seen a crackdown for years in places like Canada, where foreign buyers’ taxes, speculation taxes, and other restrictions have been rolled out to curb outside influence on the housing market. Bottom line: if the government decides you’re a problem, they can shut you down overnight. Mexico probably next: Recent protests in Mexico City against rising living costs and gentrification have led to increased scrutiny of expats and digital nomads, with some calls for stricter immigration enforcement and regulations. While there haven't been widespread "crackdowns" in the sense of mass deportations, there is a growing awareness and some actions being taken to address the impact of foreign residents on local communities.
And those dynamics also have intended consequences. Immigrants fill jobs that no locals want, they maintain wages and inflation under control, they pay taxes and work hard to improve their condition. On the opposite side, wealthy immigrants/tourists create a catering service economy, stimulate job growth, raise property values and pay more taxes than locals. In flux, there's always winners and losers. Do we want government to decide (like Trump is doing now) or do we want supply and demand to meander through what people want? The other option is a mix of one and the other.
Chat gpt says: Yes, but when those immigrants do improve their conditions — as many inevitably do — the dynamic changes. They’re no longer just doing the jobs locals won’t; they’re now competing for the same homes, schools, healthcare, and upward mobility. It’s the same cycle we see with expats, only in reverse. Regardless of direction, the pressure builds — and the outcome is the same.
The alternative are countries like Japan, aging at a rapid pace and unwilling to modify their approach to foreigners. There are many studies available online showing the dramatic negative impact on Japanese society. Also, if you take America as an example, just about everyone is an immigrant, from early indians to westerners, slaves and the multiplicity of others. Everyone has had to compete for their space and place in society, sometimes through wars.