When I first started thinking about moving abroad, I kept seeing the same question:
How much does it cost to live there?
I wanted a number. Something clear and simple.
But after living in multiple countries, I’ve found that the answer is never just one number.
It depends on where you live, how you live, and how much you adapt to your surroundings.
Housing
Housing is usually the largest expense, and it varied quite a bit depending on the country.
Thailand
In Chiang Mai, I rented a modern one-bedroom apartment in a newer building for about $350 a month.
The building itself only had about 10 units, and many of the residents were English teachers and expats. The surrounding neighborhood, though, was primarily Thai.
It was comfortable and more modern than places I lived in later, but still modest compared to U.S. standards.
Ecuador
In Cotacachi, I rented a large apartment for about $400 a month. It was spacious and comfortable, but not especially modern.
For around $550, I could have rented a house or townhouse — two stories, wooden beams, sometimes even a fireplace. Those places felt more finished and a bit more inviting.
Paraguay
In Paraguay, my rent was 4,200,000 PYG.
When I signed the lease, that was about $525. With the change in exchange rate, that same rent would now be about $651.
Even though the local price hasn’t changed, the cost in USD has increased significantly.
Food
Food has been one of the biggest differences across countries — not just in price, but in how I buy and eat.
In Thailand and Vietnam, I mostly shopped at neighborhood markets and small produce stands. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and prepared foods were easy to find and inexpensive.
In Ecuador, it was similar. Local markets were part of daily life, and food costs stayed low without much effort.
In Paraguay, I’ve had a different experience.
There are markets, but they’re not as easy for me to access regularly. Some are only held once a week and are farther away. Most of the time, I shop at the supermarket.
That alone has increased my grocery costs.
I’ve also changed how I eat. In earlier years abroad, I mostly followed local diets — more coconut and chicken in Thailand, more meat in Ecuador.
Here, I’ve been more intentional about what I eat, focusing on things like lower saturated fat and higher fiber.
That has changed what I buy and added to my overall food costs.
Healthcare
Healthcare is one of the areas where living abroad can feel very different from the United States.
The costs are often lower, but the experience can vary depending on the country and the situation.
Paraguay
In Paraguay, I’ve been paying for healthcare as I go rather than using insurance.
Appointments have been easy to get. When I needed to see a doctor, my friend made the appointment and I was seen quickly. For specialists, the timing was similar. I made appointments with a dentist and a dermatologist and was seen the next day in both cases.
With the ophthalmologist, I didn’t have an appointment. I went in to schedule one, but instead they added me to a list and I was seen when my turn came, after about a 30-minute wait.
A typical doctor visit has been around 120,000 PYG (about $17 USD). I had two visits related to bloodwork — one to request the tests and one to review the results.
When I went in for the initial visit, I explained that I wanted a number of tests done. I shared my medical background, showed previous lab results, and gave her a list of tests I wanted. She added others she thought were important.
She didn’t hesitate to include them — which I noticed.
I didn’t have the blood drawn that day, but when I did go in a couple of days later, the process was straightforward. The blood was drawn in the morning, and I had the results in my email that afternoon.
The full set of labs cost 1,722,000 PYG (about $244 USD).
Later, I tried to recreate that same set of tests in the U.S. It wasn’t one panel. I had to piece it together — starting with a basic package, then adding things like ApoB, vitamin D, B12, and magnesium.
The total came out to about $390.
In Paraguay, I paid $244 for the same group of tests.
Other costs I’ve paid include:
- Eye glasses (progressive lenses and frames): 1,800,000 PYG (about $225 USD)
- Ophthalmologist: 250,000 PYG (about $31 USD)
- Dermatologist (including treatment of three spots): about $74 USD
- Teeth cleaning: 780,000 PYG (about $112 USD)
The prices vary, and some services — like the dental cleaning — felt expensive for Paraguay. But overall, I’ve been able to access care quickly and without much process.
Ecuador
In Ecuador, healthcare was also inexpensive, but my experience was more mixed.
I had dental work done where three mercury fillings were removed for $25. The price was low, but the quality of the work was not what I expected.
That experience made it clear that cost alone doesn’t tell the whole story.
Thailand
In Thailand, healthcare stood out for both cost and efficiency.
At one of the more expensive expat hospitals in Chiang Mai, I took my daughter to have a mole checked for possible skin cancer. The visit cost about 500 baht (around $14 USD at the time).
At another time, I had a foot issue that required a doctor visit, an X-ray, and a CAT scan. The doctor visit itself was 5,670 baht (around $162 USD), with the full set of services included in that total.
For both visits, I didn’t have an appointment. I simply went in and was seen.
Dental care was also affordable. From what I remember and what I’ve seen since, cleanings are typically around 900 baht (about $26 USD).
What stood out most was how straightforward everything was. I didn’t need to plan ahead or navigate a complicated system to get care.
Monthly Cost of Living
It’s difficult to give one number for the cost of living in another country.
It depends heavily on how you choose to live.
I saw this in every place I lived. Some people felt they needed $2,000 a month because they kept a Western lifestyle — imported foods, restaurants, socializing, and familiar conveniences.
I lived more simply and had a very different experience.
Thailand and Vietnam
In Thailand, I was very comfortable on about $900 a month.
That included rent, food, transportation, and everyday expenses.
I wasn’t living a luxury lifestyle, but I didn’t feel restricted either.
Vietnam felt similar in terms of affordability.
Ecuador
In Ecuador, my total monthly spending was also low, though I didn’t track it as precisely.
Housing was affordable, and daily expenses were manageable, but my experience there varied depending on where I stayed and the quality of services I chose.
Paraguay
In Paraguay, my costs have been higher — not necessarily because local prices are higher, but because of a few factors that add up.
My rent alone was 4,200,000 PYG, which was about $525 USD when I signed the lease. With the change in exchange rate, that same rent would now be about $651 USD.
Even when local prices stay the same, exchange rate changes can quickly raise your cost of living.
Food has also been different here. In other countries, I bought most of my food from neighborhood markets and small produce stands. In Paraguay, I rely more on supermarkets, which has increased my grocery costs.
I’m also more intentional about how I eat now — focusing on things like lower saturated fat and higher fiber — which has changed what I buy compared to how I ate in places like Thailand or Ecuador.
Monthly Cost Comparison (Based on My Experience)
| Category | Thailand | Ecuador | Paraguay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | Low | Low | Moderate–High* |
| Food | Very Low | Low | Moderate |
| Healthcare | Very Low | Low | Low–Moderate |
| Transportation | Very Low | Low | Low |
| Overall Lifestyle | Very Affordable | Affordable | More Variable |
| My Monthly Spend | ~$900 | ~$900–$1,200** | ~$1,200–$1,500 |
* Higher primarily due to exchange rate changes and housing choices
** Not precisely tracked, estimated based on lifestyle
These aren’t averages. They reflect how I lived in each place.
Thinking About Moving Abroad?
When I was preparing to move abroad, I realized how many decisions needed to be thought through — healthcare, housing, visas, finances, and dozens of smaller details.
Later, I created the 90-Day Move Abroad Planner to organize that process and give others time to think through each step.
If you’re thinking about moving abroad, the planner can help you slow down and think through each step.
View the PlannerFinal Thoughts
When I first moved abroad, I thought the difference would mostly be about cost.
And it is — in some places, your money does go further.
But over time, I noticed something else.
The way you live matters just as much as where you live.
In Thailand and Vietnam, I adapted more to the local way of living. I ate differently, shopped at markets, and didn’t try to recreate the life I had in the U.S. My costs stayed low without much effort.
In Paraguay, even though many things are still affordable, my expenses have been higher. Part of that is the exchange rate. Part of it is how I live now — where I shop, what I buy, and what I prioritize.
