Ranked
The cheapest countries to move to from the US
Ranked by overall consumer price level, cheapest first, against a US national average of 100.
All 15 countries on this site are ranked. The measure: Overall price level including rent, US national average = 100. Reviewed September 4, 2026.
Thailand leads on this measure at 32. A US average lifestyle reprices to about $1,366 a month here. Read the Thailand guide for the figures behind it and the source beside each one.
| # | Country | Price level | Centre rent | Net salary | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand | 32 | $475 | $485 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $1,366 a month here. |
| 2 | Mexico | 62 | $765 | $1,010 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $2,623 a month here. |
| 3 | Portugal | 63 | $1,200 | $2,077 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $2,665 a month here. |
| 4 | Japan | 66 | $1,280 | $1,985 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $2,779 a month here. |
| 5 | Spain | 70 | $1,390 | $2,620 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $2,961 a month here. |
| 6 | Italy | 71 | $1,200 | $2,690 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $3,003 a month here. |
| 7 | Germany | 72 | $645 | $3,400 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $3,024 a month here. |
| 8 | New Zealand | 87 | $1,112 | $3,392 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $3,680 a month here. |
| 9 | the Netherlands | 88 | $1,640 | $3,950 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $3,722 a month here. |
| 10 | Canada | 91 | $1,433 | $3,210 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $3,849 a month here. |
| 11 | Sweden | 92 | $1,206 | $3,475 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $3,892 a month here. |
| 12 | the UK | 92 | $2,370 | $3,566 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $3,892 a month here. |
| 13 | Norway | 99 | $1,642 | $4,912 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $4,188 a month here. |
| 14 | Australia | 100 | $1,675 | $4,996 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $4,230 a month here. |
| 15 | Ireland | 100 | $2,263 | $4,059 | A US average lifestyle reprices to about $4,230 a month here. |
What this ranking does not settle
A national price level is not a city price level. Lisbon is not Portugal and Munich is not Germany, so treat the ranking as a shortlist to check against real listings rather than a budget.
Nothing on this page is a new figure. Each one is taken from that country's guide, where it sits beside the official source it came from and the date that source was read. If a number here matters to a decision, follow it through to the country page and check the source yourself.
Straight to a country
- Moving to Thailand · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Mexico · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Portugal · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Japan · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Spain · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Italy · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Germany · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to New Zealand · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to the Netherlands · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Canada · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Sweden · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to the UK · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Norway · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Australia · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
- Moving to Ireland · Cost of living · Visas · vs the US
The other rankings
- Countries where Americans can get residency without a job offer — Documented routes that do not require a job offer from a local employer
- Digital nomad visas for Americans, compared — A published residence route of type "digital nomad"
- The best countries to retire to on a US income — A published retirement route, ordered by overall price level (US = 100)
- What healthcare costs Americans abroad, country by country — Typical monthly private insurance premium, US dollars
- Every country, compared — the full table, all measures at once
- Cost of living calculator — put your own take-home pay through it
Top of this ranking
The three countries this list opens on, with the full guide behind each.
