Guides · Southeast Asia
Moving to Southeast Asia: the best places to live
Arcadia scores 350 places across 11 countries in Southeast Asia, from Taunggyi at about $650 a month to Singapore at about $3,450. 274 are by the sea and 161 in the mountains. Typical ratings across the region: safety 4/5, healthcare 3/5, internet 3/5.
What the lists get wrong about Southeast Asia
Every list names Bali, Chiang Mai and Da Nang. This is the region with the widest price spread we cover: from $650 a month to $3,450, more than five to one. Singapore and a small town in Myanmar are both "Southeast Asia", and no top-ten can hold both.
The standouts
Within the 350 places Arcadia scores here, not the whole region.
Every country in Southeast Asia
How many places we score in each, and what a month costs there.
What to weigh before moving to Southeast Asia
Natural risks recur here: earthquakes, flooding, hurricanes and typhoons. It does not mean every place has them, it means you should check the specific one you pick.
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to live in Southeast Asia?
The median across the 350 places we score is about $900 a month for one person, from $650 to $3,450. These are estimates for everyday living, rent included.
Where is the cheapest place to live in Southeast Asia?
Taunggyi, at about $650 a month. It is the cheapest of the 350 places Arcadia scores here, which is not the same as the cheapest in the region.
Is Southeast Asia safe to live in?
The typical safety rating across these 350 places is 4 out of 5, and the highest is Jakarta. These are broad country-level estimates for comparing places, not local advice.
Which of these fits you?
A guide can only rank places for an average reader. Answer a few honest questions and we rank these 350, and 3,500+ others, against your life.
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