Top Four Beach Cities That Are Cheap To Settle In

More than a few of us do consider taking their daily chores and moving to another seaside resort in a country where your rent is less than a car payment.

It’s a fantasy because while it might be affordable, few people actually end up doing it. There are things to consider other than rent when moving to a far-flung beach town. Stuff like “does anyone speak English?” Or “is the food edible?” Or “is there Wi-Fi?” Miss these answers and your turquoise-watered fantasy turns into an experience so stressful you end up back in America before getting your first sun burn.

But all over the world – even in the US – there are beautiful beach towns where you can live your life better than you do now. Here are top four:

Algarve, Portugal

Monthly cost of living: $1,000

It is hard to believe that a region with a 100-mile [100 km] coastline, narrow rocky roads, and more sun than pretty much anywhere else in Europe has a cost of living this low. Best of all, most of the region speaks English, and it houses 100,000 expats from all over the world.

And the city is cheap. A three-bedroom apartment will cost you about $ 600, but if you don’t need a lot of space, $ 325 will get you one bedroom directly in the city center. Milk is less than $ 3 a liter. Beer for two dollars. Eating dinner is less than $ 10. You get the idea.

And if you miss home, go to Lisbon and take a six-hour flight from the East Coast.

Cartagena, Colombia

Monthly cost of living: $1,800

Living in Cagagena is like going on a hot Caribbean vacation every single day of your life. And that goes for partiers, history buffs, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Snorkeling and scuba diving here is one of the best places in the Caribbean, and it costs about $ 30 per trip.

The city’s historic center is a Spanish Colonial architecture museum, and a wide walkway extends all the way down to the main harbor.

Nightlife is as hot as you would expect in Colombia, and having fun at a nightclub like Drake in South Beach will run you around $ 100 if you do it right. TOO hard and fear not; health care in Cartagena is surprisingly good, with large hospitals and comprehensive health insurance for under $50 a month. Cry if you need to.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Monthly cost of living: $550 to $1,100

Large Vietnamese cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh receive a lot of expat love, but neither boasts much of a beach. Hoi An, on the other hand, is not only bordered on one side by spectacular green mountains, it’s also a skip and a jump from spectacular stretches of sand you’ll have largely to yourself.

The old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you can get a house or an apartment for as little as $ 300 a month, $500 for a nice one with everything included. Fully feel the location of your best bet to rent a motorcycle (about $ 45 a month). In such a fine place, you would be advised not to do so.

Taghazout, Morocco

Monthly cost of living: $1,155

Tech startup whiz kid looking to get out of the country before anyone starts asking what your company actually does? Head to Morocco, which, thanks to its hyper-fast internet connection and proximity to Western Europe, has become a hot destination for entrepreneurs cutting personal costs to support their tech ventures. Your rent plus a chic co-working space will run about $400/month combined, meaning you won’t be stuck looking for a buyout from your beachfront villa all the time.

Taghazout has become one of the largest cities in the western North Atlantic, where you will see people carrying surfboards with Middle Eastern bazaars like they might a basket of fruit.