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Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

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Re: Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

#31

Post by presentation »

whitepoplar wrote: post #5
ggm wrote: post #2

Montevideo. Some options a bit limited there but good internet and handy access to B.A. along with a congenial climate. For much of NZ/AU, this is too low for rent unless you can find a share house. Assuming you did, Melbourne, Brisbane, Wellington might work. That said, a LOT of money goes on rent. Turkey and Greece aside, I don't think the core EU economies will work out. If you go to the more recent entrants on th…

Thanks! Tokyo is $2k+ per month, even living frugally?

I live in Tokyo - you can get a tiny studio apartment good for 1 person for $400/mo if you live 15-20 mins from one of the outer trains stations in a relatively old building, maybe like 45 mins-1 hr to get to the city center. You might spend like $50-$100/mo on utilities. Food is cheap if you cook a lot and use local ingredients. Eating out isn't cheap, but doesn't have to be expensive (a simple beef on rice bowl or some soba noodles for lunch might be $4, a bit more substantial meal might be like $6-$10, it and it'll probably be healthy).

How cheap you go really depends on your lifestyle - if you bike a lot instead of using the train, you'll save some money (aforementioned place to central tokyo might be $3-5 each way); if you eat out or drink a lot, you'll spend more money. But yeah, probably can do it if you're living frugally, for sure.

Re: Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

#32

Post by cko »

whitepoplar wrote: post #12
sayonaraman wrote: post #9

Bratislava 2-bd start at around 500 EUR/month utilities included, but can go higher if you choose a good location and bigger apartment. For 600 EUR you should be able to find a solid one, with luxurious ones in good location starting at 750 EUR/month. Good internet speed, friendly people, european culture, quick flight or train ride to anywhere in Europe, pretty girls.

Will check out, thanks! Do you have any thoughts on Belgrade or Bucharest?

I lived in Bucharest for a bit and settled in Cluj-Napoca at age 33 (single at the time). I chose Romania over some other countries in the region because of English speaking proficiency, and Romanian is easier than some of the Slavic ones.

Bucharest was fine. The lack of decor started to wear on me after a while. Cool thing about Romania is that you can rent pretty easily and leave with one month's notice even if you signed a one year lease. A decent 400 SQ ft studio in Bucharest or Cluj (the most expensive cities) won't be more than $350 a month.

Re: Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

#33

Post by throwaway019254 »

sayonaraman wrote: post #9

Bratislava 2-bd start at around 500 EUR/month utilities included, but can go higher if you choose a good location and bigger apartment. For 600 EUR you should be able to find a solid one, with luxurious ones in good location starting at 750 EUR/month. Good internet speed, friendly people, european culture, quick flight or train ride to anywhere in Europe, pretty girls.

I was thinking about Bratislava a few years back but heard that people there are not very inviting to anybody non-white or gay. Not sure if it's true. How are people there in this regard?

Re: Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

#34

Post by cko »

Athens is quite cheap, and doesn't get too cold in the winter. For the cheapest Mediterranean beach cities, there's Antalya and Izmir in Turkey.

It's easy to live under $2k a month in many of the places you mentioned. I lived for under $800 a month easy. It dropped even lower after I moved in with my current partner.

What matters to you? Air quality is not great in parts of Turkey or Serbia. I hate seeing cars so I may move out of Cluj soon. If you're gay, some regions will be too, uh, conservative. Weather... anything far from the coast will have all four seasons. I highly recommend cities with a large university presence - if you're young you don't really want to live in a retirement destination.

Re: Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

#35

Post by [deleted] »

throwaway019254 wrote: post #33
sayonaraman wrote: post #9

Bratislava 2-bd start at around 500 EUR/month utilities included, but can go higher if you choose a good location and bigger apartment. For 600 EUR you should be able to find a solid one, with luxurious ones in good location starting at 750 EUR/month. Good internet speed, friendly people, european culture, quick flight or train ride to anywhere in Europe, pretty girls.

I was thinking about Bratislava a few years back but heard that people there are not very inviting to anybody non-white or gay. Not sure if it's true. How are people there in this regard?

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

#37

Post by tdfx »

Mexico City would be a great choice for your budget if you stay clear of the foreigner areas (Polanco, Condesa, Roma), as rent in those areas seems to be approaching US prices due to the influx of Americans. The metro is good, coworking options are everywhere, it's a cultural hub with infinite things to see, and the social scene has something for everyone. Downsides are pollution and traffic.

Digital nomad types seem to really love Medellin, Colombia. Also a very easy place to settle into as a foreigner.

Re: Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

#38

Post by whitepoplar »

tdfx wrote: post #37

Mexico City would be a great choice for your budget if you stay clear of the foreigner areas (Polanco, Condesa, Roma), as rent in those areas seems to be approaching US prices due to the influx of Americans. The metro is good, coworking options are everywhere, it's a cultural hub with infinite things to see, and the social scene has something for everyone. Downsides are pollution and traffic. Digital nomad types seem…

I visited several years ago and enjoyed staying in Roma Norte. I can see why the prices are skyrocketing. Which neighborhoods would you suggest I look at?

Re: Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

#39

Post by thedailymail »

whitepoplar wrote: post #4
version_five wrote: post #3

What kind of lifestyle are you talking about? You can live lots of places for 2k a month in a "student" lifestyle, ie single with roommates, no car, cook most meals, and still have a decent amount of disposable money.

I'd say "lavish frugal" (if that's even a thing)...a small studio/1br, cooking most meals but with the occasional+ night out, no car so looking for good public transit/walkability, etc. This would likely be something I'd do for a year or two...nothing permanent.

Are you planning to do telework, work locally, or just live off savings? Could be important for visas to many of the places that have been mentioned (e.g., Japan).

As a 50-something guy with kids, job and at-home responsibilities, I'm envious: Good luck wherever you end up!

Re: Ask HN: What're some great cities to live for $2k USD per month?

#40

Post by trinovantes »

laurieg wrote: post #16

I'm gonna recommend Fukuoka, Japan. The city is large enough to have many creature comforts, but small enough that you can 'get out' and experience the countryside very easily. Compared to Tokyo you will likely save a good amount of money on rent and transport. You'll probably pay around $400 for a simple room near the city center. You can cycle almost everywhere, Fukuoka is much flatter than Tokyo, or just use the s…

Isn't it ridiculously difficult for foreigners to rent in Japan? Not to mention the language barrier
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