Admit it. You’ve wondered more than once…
Is there a better life out there?
You work your butt off every day, but just paying for the essentials becomes more difficult with every passing month.
And what about your dreams?
Will you be able to start your own business, send your children to college, or live the life you always wanted?
And you can’t help thinking …
Is there a smarter way of doing things?
A way to achieve a lower cost of living – and a higher quality of life?
Maybe it’s finally time to accept the fact…
Your city is way too expensive.
So why not do what so many others have done before you and move to a place that is more affordable and offers a better quality of life?
Perhaps somewhere with less crime and pollution – and more time to enjoy life.
Let’s see if such a place truly exists.
10) Alicante, Spain – the best of everything Spain has to offer.
OK, an explanation is needed. Yes, Alicante is not a place where you can literally live on a dime.
But compared to any North American city, and many in the UK, the cost of living in Alicante is so low and the quality of living is so high that this fabulous city deserves mention here.
Alicante lives its life in Barcelona’s shadows, which is not a bad thing.
This beautiful and safe beach city on Spain’s Costa Blanca is one of my favorite cities to live.
Alicante is famous for its traditional architecture, climate, food, entertainment, relaxed lifestyle, and lack of mass tourism. If you want to live a modern Spanish dream, Alicante won’t disappoint you.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $550/month.
Public Transportation: $37/month.
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $37.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $5.00
Beer: ½ liter bottle, excellent, domestic $1.00
And if your kids insist on eating at McDonalds, you can get a beer there too.
9) Mendoza, Argentina – where Argentina is still affordable
Mendoza is the heart of beautiful Argentinean wine country. It offers everything you would expect from a major metropolitan city — gourmet dining, exciting nightlife, and an energetic atmosphere, plus endless leisure activities.
The local economy offers ample opportunities for entrepreneurial spirit, and if your dream about starting your own business in Argentina, this could be your place.
The low cost of living in this urban metropolis makes it easy to pursue your dreams.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $380/month.
Buy: One-bedroom apartment, brand new, city center for $62,500.
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $38.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $4
Beer: ½ liter bottle, domestic $1.40
8) Bali, Indonesia – considered paradise by many
If you dream about low-cost living in a beautiful Asian city (perhaps writing your first novel), and you wish to participate in its exotic culture but also are willing to accept things you can’t change, Bali is your paradise.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $300/month.
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $22.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $12
Beer: ½ liter bottle, domestic $1.60
7) Chiang Mai, Thailand – possibly the best climate in Thailand
Exotic Thai culture, amazing food, milder mountain weather and friendly people — this is the city where you can live your dreams without running out of money fast. An active expats community will make integration easy for you and allow you to follow your passion; be on vacation for the rest of your life, start an online business, or work part-time as a tour guide.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $250/month.
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $15.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $13
Beer: ½ liter bottle, domestic $1.30
6) Corozal, Belize – if your dream is to simply “kick back”
Tropical paradise Corozal is all about the slow pace of life — yoga and meditation on the beach, a stroll through beach waters, a cocktail enjoying the sunset, or uninterrupted quiet time to concentrate on your business. Whatever your dreams are, here you can afford them.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $190/month.
Buy: Two-bedroom apartment, brand new, city center for $115,000.
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $19.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $12
Beer: ½ liter bottle, domestic $1.50
5) Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – cozy and romantic despite all the tourism
Vallarta is extremely versatile and has lots to offer those who can look past the cities heavy tourism.
The city offers incredible natural beauty, a small-town atmosphere, and a romantic side that many don’t expect, just outside of town.
If you can’t afford to live your dream in the US, take the short flight to Vallarta where you can.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $450/month.
Buy: Traditional town house, city center for $55,000.
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $15.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $7.50
Beer: ½ liter bottle, domestic $1.25
4) Ojen, Spain – affordable living only minutes from luxurious Marbella
If you ever dreamed about living in southern Spain, Ojen could be your place. A stone throw away from busy Marbella and its multi-million-dollar villas, beautiful and romantic Ojen offers a much more quaint life without being boring.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $330/month.
Buy: Traditional town house, city center for $100,000.
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $28.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $4.00
Beer: ½ liter bottle, domestic $1.25
3) Prague, Czech Republic – a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site
Have you ever dreamt about living in a gorgeous historic European city, sending your kids to excellent international schools, and running your own online business? But Europe is too expensive … so you thought?
Modern Prague is a beautiful and vibrant city with energetic people, yet it’s preserved much of its artsy charm and narrow cobblestone streets.
Prague has it all — beauty, entertainment, culture, thriving nightlife with amazing pubs, restaurants, cafes, and a prestigious university. The best of all … it is inexpensive.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $590/month.
Public Transportation: $25/month or $240/year city-wide
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $27.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $5.00
Beer: ½ liter bottle, excellent, domestic $0.75
2) Bucharest, Romania – the Paris of Eastern Europe
The 6th largest European city is bright, energetic, beautiful, and in the middle of an economic and cultural boom, yet it’s surprisingly affordable.
If you dream of living a rich Bohemian lifestyle in Europe, this is your city.
To top it all off, it’s only 90 minutes’ drive from the beautiful Black Sea.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $450/month.
Public Transportation: $15/month city-wide
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $22.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $7.00
Beer: ½ liter bottle, excellent, domestic $0.80
1) Chisinau, Moldova – Europe’s most affordable city
Today’s Chisinau is emerging from its East Block heritage with a world-class National Opera House and Ballet, three national museums, 33 universities, large shopping malls, and an active nightlife.
Like most European cities, the streets are filled with friendly, well-dressed people and luxury cars. Wi-Fi is everywhere, and it’s free; you can run your online business easily from any of the beautiful city parks while enjoying the scenery.
Rent: One-bedroom apartment, city center $270/month.
Public Transportation: $6/month city-wide
Dinner: Three courses for two, mid-range restaurant, $22.
Wine: Supermarket, good quality $5.00
Beer: ½ liter bottle, excellent, domestic $0.80
So what do you think?
Having seen these alternatives, does your city still seem like a smart place to live?
Thought not.
So isn’t it time to move somewhere you can finally make your dreams a reality?
A place where you have enough money left at the end of the month to invest in your future – and your passions.
Because the perfect place for you is just waiting to be discovered.
Don’t procrastinate any longer. Pick a city from the list and start making your plans. It’s much easier than you think to live a life you love.
So – where will you start living your dreams?
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Wilfried Lehmkuhler is passionate about helping people achieve their dreams; create financial Freedom and a Life they love by applying proven success strategies. Wilfried is a blogger, speaker, consultant and accomplished author who has worked with professional athletes and businesses in Europe and North America. You can find him at FinancialFreedomAndALifeYouLove.com or @WLehmkuhler
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The post The 10 Best Cities to Live Rich on a Dime (So You Can Bring Your Dreams to Life) appeared first on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement.
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