Incredible Beach Cities You Can Live In Without Breaking The Bank!
It's no surprise that so many people want to live by the beach. You have access to the ocean, incredible sunsets, a variety of recreational activities, and time seems to move a little slower. Luckily, not every beach city around the world is expensive as Laguna Beach, California. Take a look and see if these beautiful beach cities from around the world fit into your monthly budget!
Cartagena, Colombia Was Once Part of The Spanish Empire
Cartagena, Colombia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1533 under the colonial name of Cartagena de Indias. It was a major port for trade between Spain to the rest of the empire until it gained its independence from Spain on November 11, 1811.
With a population of just over 1 million, it is the fifth-largest city in Colombia, known for its vibrant nightlife, countless activities to do both on and offshore, and is full of history. It's estimated that the monthly cost of living here would be around $1,800 to $2,000 to live comfortably.
Surf's Up In Taghazout, Morocco
Located in southwestern Morocco, Taghazout is a small fishing turned-surfing village where its oil, fishing, and budding tourism industry are the basis of the city's economy. Over the past several years, Taghazout has become a major tourist hotspot due to its beautiful beaches and prominent surf culture.
It is also appealing to travelers for being a slow-paced environment and being close to more busy places such as Marrakech and Agadir. Popular activities in the area include camel riding, yoga, paddle boarding, surfing, etc. Incredibly, the cost of living in this beautiful town is around $500, making it in the top 17% of the least expensive cities in the world.
Split, Croatia Is An Ancient City
The second-largest city in Croatia, Split is on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, founded all the way back as an ancient Greek colony in the 3rd or 4th century BC. It then went on to trade hands from the Greeks to the Romans, Italians, Austrians, and more until it finally gained its independence in 1991 during the Croatian War of Independence.
With a population of almost 200,000, almost 97% of the inhabitants are Croats, with the city being split into a metropolitan and urban area. Typically described as a rich and active yet "sleepy" seasonal city, you can live here for almost $1,400 a month.
Granada, Nicaragua
A city in Nicaragua, Granada is the capital of the Grana Department as is the ninth most populated city in all of the country. Considered to be the first European city on land in America, it was not only the result of the Spanish conquest but was a registered city in official records of Spain, making it rich in history.
Described as a city stuck in time, over the years, it has been filled with restaurants, bars, and other impressive attractions. To live in this beautiful community, it's estimated to cost you $1,200.
Budva, Montenegro Is Both Ancient And Modern
On the coast of the Adriatic Sea, Bodva is a town in Montenegro that is a combination of medieval and modern cityscape with beautiful beaches. Additionally, Budva is one of the oldest places ever established on the Adriatic coast being settled more than 2,500 years ago.
Tourism is the driving force behind Budva's economy, yet surprisingly isn't popular for cultural tourism. Instead, visitors prefer to stay at the lavish resorts to enjoy the beaches and nightlife. Living here costs around $1,000 a month.
Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic Is Known For Its Spectacular Beaches
Las Terrana, translated to mean"the landlord" in French, is in the province of Samana, Dominican Republic, on the northeast coast. Beautiful beyond belief, it is popular for its white-sand beaches and booming tourism industry.
The city was founded in 1946, where it was established as a fishing community, although it has slowly developed to include bars, hotels, restaurants, and shops. Quiet and scenic, and with a population of under 50,000, you can call this place home with an above-par lifestyle for around $2,500 a month.
Algarve, Portugal Was Voted Best Place To Retire
In the southernmost region of Portugal lies Algarve, which encompasses 16 municipalities. The Faro District is where the international airport, university, and a lot of the tourist attractions of the area are located. The production and trade of food such as seafood and certain fruits and vegetables on top of its tourist industry help feed the economy.
Algarve is considered to be the biggest tourist region in all of Portugal. It is a highly desired place to live and was named the world's best place to retire in 2016. Incredibly, it only costs around $1,000 a month to live there.
Koh Phi Phi, Thailand Was Made Popular By The Film The Beach
The Phi Phi Islands are a grouping of islands off the coast of Thailand located between the larger islands of Phuket and the Straits of Malacca. The largest and most populated island is Ko Phi Phi Don, with Ko Phi Phi Le following after.
In the 19940s, Don was a coconut plantation lived on by Muslim fishermen with the island today having a population between 2,000 and 3,000. Prior to the film The Beach, the islands remained relatively unknown to most and have only increased as a tourist destination. Living on the islands costs only around $750 a month.
Roatán, Honduras Is A Small Island With An International Airport
Located off the northern coast of Honduras, Roatán is an island in the Caribbean that is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras. At its widest point, the island is 5 miles across and 58 miles long. Christopher Columbus stopped here on his fourth voyage, and the island developed into a slave trade island.
At the moment, fishing and tourism are the island's primary sources of income. One of the reasons the island is so popular is that it has an international airport that can take passengers to and from the US. The monthly cost of living here, depending on your comfort levels, is $900.
Canggu, Bali Is The Essense Of "Hip" Living
More laid-back than its neighboring city of Kuta, Canggu is on the south coast of Bali, Indonesia, and is famous for its beaches, temples, restaurants, and other relaxing activities. Longboard surfing is also a major attraction to the area, which has been fueled by companies such as Deus Ex Machina, which holds annual contests on its beaches.
The city has become attractive to artists, people working remotely, designers, and other foreigners for both its location, energy, and low price of living of around $1,000 to $2,000 per month depending on your lifestyle.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Is Big And Busy
The most populous city in Brazil and the sixth-most in the Americas, Rio de Janeiro has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was founded by the Portuguese in 1565. The city is incredibly lucrative, having the 30th largest municipal GDP in the world in 2008, and being the center of Brazil's oil, telecommunications, and other major industries.
The city is also one of the most visited in the Southern Hemisphere for its beaches, culture, and history. It became the first South American country to hold the Summer Olympics in 2016 and has held two FIFA World Cups. To live in this bustling city by the sea it only costs $1,600 a month.
Hoi An, Vietnam Has An Impressive Historic District
Once known as Faifoo, Hoi An, Vietnam has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 for its deep history, with numerous preserved buildings from the trading port period ranging from the 15th to the 19th century.
The city has an estimated population of 120,000, and right on the beautiful beach, you can still rent a nice apartment for around $500. It's estimated that the overall cost to live here in style would be around $1,100 a month.
Eat Mangos To Your Heart's Content In San Pancho, Mexico
Also referred to as San Francisco, San Pancho, Mexico, is a small town in Mexico in the Strait of Nayarit and north of Puerto Vallarta. Known for its hot and tropical climate, it is also known to be an important region by CONABIO for its natural resources as well as plant and animal life, being home to many different exotic species.
For some time, the town relied on fishing and mango cultivation until President Luis Echeverria made it the location of his vacation home in the 1970s. Since then, tourism has increased, with people being able to live there for just over $1,000 a month.
You Can Go To Medical School In Saint George's, Grenada
The capital of Grenada, Sint George's, is backed by a volcanic crater and is one of the most popular Caribbean tourist destinations. Known for its production of spices, in recent years, the town has significantly grown, even adding Saint George's University School of Medicine and the Maurice Bishop International Airport.
The area has a moderate tropical climate with an average temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit. It is a quiet yet bustling city at the same time and costs around $2,000 to live in this beautiful place.
Las Palmas, Spain Has Been Said To Have One Of The Best Climates In The World
Las Palmas is the capital of Gran Canaria Island, located in the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the ninth-most populated city in all of Spain and the most populous of the Canary Islands, with a population of close to 400,000.
The climate is warm and dry almost throughout the whole year with an average temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit, with some climatologists claiming it has "the best climate in the world." Las Palmas has it all with beaches, a city, countryside, and more. All this can be yours for around $1,500 a month.
Pedasi, Panama Has Come A Long Way
Located on the Azuero Peninsula, Pedasi is the Pedasi District capital in the Los Santos province on Panama's Pacific coast. With a population of around 2,000, Pedasi is mainly a fishing village but has developed to establish a health clinic, banks, libraries, restaurants, Internet, and more.
The town is also known for its immaculate beaches, carnivals, and recreational activities such as fishing, surfing, diving, and more. It is also close to many of Panama's national parks. Today, you can live here for around $1,500.
Penang, Malaysia Is A Bustling City
Penang lies on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia that is separated into Penang Island and Seberang Perai, which are connected by Malaysia's longest road bridges. Penang is densely populated with almost 1.8 million residents, although it is regarded for its diverse culture, with its three main races comprised primarily of Malays, Chinese, and Indians.
Penang is considered to be of great importance to the country and has the highest gross domestic product of all its states. A hopping spot for tourists, Penang is also renowned for its food, beaches, and tropical atmosphere.
Tamarindo, Costa Rica Has The Waves
On the Nicoya Peninsula is Tamarindo, in the Guanacaste province of Costa Rica, largely considered to be the most developed beach town in the area. The beach is very long with waves that draw surfers from all over the world with two main breaks that are known to be favorites of professional surfers.
Surfing, as well as other oceanic attractions, have become increasingly attractive to tourists over the years, with the government doing its best to accommodate the influx of visitors. Living here comfortably can cost around $2,000 to $2,500.
Cascais, Portugal Has An Impressive Standard Of Living
A municipality in the Lisbon District of Portugal, Cascais gained popularity as a tourist location in the 1870s when the King of Portugal and the royal family established a vacation home there. After that, several other world leaders followed suit, making Cascais one of their preferred vacation spots.
Today, Cascais has a population of around 200,000 and is one of the wealthiest municipalities in all of Portugal, and is ranked for its quality of life. Living here will cost around $2,500, depending on your standards of comfort.
Ao Nang, Thailand Is A Tourist Hotspot
Ao Nang is a sub-district in Thailand that's is a coastal; province of Krabi. Known mostly as a resort town, it consists of one main street that is packed full of restaurants, bars, shops, and other establishments geared toward tourism.
The main beach is also a launching point for longboats that can take visitors to nearby islands in the area. With incredibly cheap food, drinks, rent, and activities, you can live an extremely relaxed life here for around $2,000.
