Today $100,000 is said to be the “minimum” amount required to truly be “middle-class” in the USA. But what would happen if you took your $100,000 and moves to another country? There are some countries where you’d be considered wealthy if you had that amount of cash. Here’s a list of what that kind of money can get you in 20 other spots across the world.
20. Nicaragua
A source with Numbeo reports that Nicaragua is a good place to be. A good quart of milk will cost you less than one dollar. You can purchase a train ticket for 30 cents. For $100,000 in Granada, you can purchase a beachfront home that would run you at least $1 million. The country’s government is stable, the crime rate is low, and the infrastructure is good too. Additionally, in the past few years, prices have risen so your home investment would build equity too.
19. Ecuador
Have you always dreamed of owning a beachfront condo looking out over the Pacific Ocean? Imagine breezy, warm weather and beautiful neighbors. You can have this for $75,000 but you have to settle in Ecuador.While critics once questioned the government in this country, it’s not an issue unless you’re participating in a Marxist demonstration or dealing drugs. The Global Property Guide notes that a house will run you $100,000 but you can score a new condo complete with A/C for anywhere between $75,000 and $95,000. Click On the Next > Button to See Next.
18. Albania
Are you hoping for a lifestyle that is more European? Have no fear. Check out Albania. It comes complete with old-school European towns, miles, and miles of forest, beautiful Adriatic beaches, and even cities that feature all the expected amenities and modern-day nightlife. Write a check for $60,000 and a Tirana-based 3-bedroom townhouse is yours. With the remaining $40,000 in change, you can live like a rich man for a couple of years as well. Finally, as part of the European Union, you can easily see the rest of Europe too.
17. Cambodia
For $100,000 you can live like a king in Cambodia. Although it may be the poorest place in Asia, things are looking up. Both real estate values and standard of living are on the rise. Mind you, a 3-bedroom apartment in Phnom Penh will cost you $50,000. $100,000 will pay for a nice beachfront condo in the tourist-inspired Sihanoukville. The only catch is legallynon-citizens may not own property so your apartment must be on the second floor. Still, the views are worth a quick elevator ride or even climbing a few stairs. Click On the Next > Button to See Next.
16. Vietnam
Do you want an even lower crime rate and more stability? Move next door to the country of Vietnam. Yes, this is a Communist country and owning private property is “outlawed.” Still, the country reportedly has a growing real estate market. Recently it has become possible to purchase property in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. For $50,000 you can buy a gated place in Hanoi. The remaining $50,000 will allow you to live a rich lifestyle for quite some time. Property prices are climbing as this goes to press!
15. Mexico
Mexico is not all as cheap as it once was. In Mexico City and around the Gulf you can’t find any place for less than $100,000. Farther south or along the Pacific coast though you can enjoy a similar lifestyle. There $100,000 will score you a little villa or even an air-conditioned two-bedroom condo with change to spare. You might not want to try raising a family there and there may be some technicalities regarding owning and leasing for 99 years but it’s worth consideration if you can Habla Espanol. Click On the Next > Button to See Next.
14. Thailand
While the high-end luxury penthouses in all-glass buildings in Bangkok might cost $10 million, you can score a nice house on the coast for under $30,000. For the most part, it’s all about “location, location, location.” The closer you wish to live to the center of Bangkok, the more you have to pay for almost everything. The touristy islands of Rayong and Surat Thani are also a bit crowded and don’t offer a lot of opportunities but it’s still possible to get an inexpensive beachfront home if you keep your eyes open.
13. Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s capital is Sofia. It’s a place that blends modern glitz with classic elegance. For under $80,000 you can live right here. Spend a bit more, $90,000, and you can get a brand new condo. If you’d rather have a place situated along the Black Sea you’ll put out less than $75,000. Numbeo notes that the cost of living (including food, clothing, transportation, and utilities is under $200 per month. The market there is reportedly strong and growing too so investing in a home there should not be at all harrowing. Click On the Next > Button to See Next.
12. Hungary
The housing market here started to fall apart in 2006. By 2014 it had collapsed. It was bad for the locals but it’s good for those looking to buy cheap housing. The market has rebounded recently and places like Budapest are reportedly “booming.” Still, for under $90,000 you can pick up a nice gated bungalow in the suburbs of Budapest. If you prefer the country, you can get a nice micro-farm for roughly $50,000. You’ll need to learn Hungarian but you’ll live a relatively stress-free life.
11. The Philippines
People have been retiring to these islands because of the excellent healthcare and low-cost housing. Here you can purchase a two-bedroom apartment in Manilla for $80,000. For under $60,000 you can buy a house near the beach on almost any of the 7,000 islands. While you might have to beware traffic cops and corrupt officials, the weather is generally warm and the food is inexpensive. Just be careful driving on those crazy roads in Manilla or you really will need some of that excellent, affordable health care. Click On the Next > Button to See Next.
10. Mississippi, USA
Looking for someplace affordable where you won’t have to learn a second language? Looking to move to someplace where they speak English? Try Mississippi. $100,000 won’t pay for a grand old plantation home but you can get a quarter-acre of land and a bungalow for less than that. (That sure annoyed the locals!) Luckily for home shoppers, however, the United Nations designated the state a “developing state” which helped drop the cost of housing. The fact is Mississippi is said to be a beautiful state by those who’ve been, the state infrastructure is reported to be secure, and you don’t need a passport to move there.
9. Costa Rica
There are not a lot of countries where you (as a foreigner) can stroll in, purchase property hassle-free and have the same property rights as the locals. The list gets even shorter if you add in the lack of a military and no visa requirement. Costa Rica is a great place for investing in real estate. In Playa Guiones and Santa Teresa, waterfront homes go for under $100,000. Those locations are smack dab in the middle of popular tourist territory so amenities are close and the infrastructure is just fine. Enjoy the surf! Click On the Next > Button to See Next.
8. Austria
Europe isn’t the first place to pop into your head when someone mentions “affordable living” but Austria is almost as friendly to a budget as it is to tourists. While a cultural albeit pretentious lifestyle in Vienna is out of range, you can score condos in Carinthia, St. Urban, and Treffen, and for under $90,000. All those places are but a brief train ride from the capital. You’ll also be able to drink some of the world’s best beer, enjoy some world-class skiing in the Alps and be building equity since housing prices are going up roughly four percent every year.
7. Scotland
You might think this country is very beautiful but have you ever thought about living here? You can purchase a terraced, two-story home in Lossiemouth for less than $100,000. In Kilmarnock, one of the country’s most affordable areas, you can purchase a townhouse for under $90,000. Forget about “Trainspotting” and “Braveheart” too. Modern-day Scotland is an inspiring, progressive with a noteworthy mystical history. Yes, UK winters are foggy and wet but summers can be that way too so you’ll save money because you won’t need a wardrobe for each season. Click On the Next > Button to See Next.
6. Russia
Moscow was once the world’s most expensive place to live. It was on its way to being the center of fashion, finance, EDM and European luxury living. Some time in 2013 things began to go bad and now Russia is actually a fine place to buy a house. You still may not be able to live on $100,000 in the city of Moscow, you can afford a place in such cities as Ekaterinburg, Rostov, Smolensk, or Volgograd. For $65,000 you can buy a three-bedroom apartment. Spend the $100,000 and you can move on up to a five-bedroom condominium and live more luxuriously.
5. India
Now if you are looking for excitement and chaos as opposed to a more laid-back lifestyle, this is the place to be. Additionally, while it’s of the most populated places in the world it’s also somewhat expensive. Here $100,000 will only get you a condo or small home in one of the suburbs of New Delhi or Mumbai. Living any closer to a city will cost you more. If you enjoy country living you could find something for less than $75,000 in the Indian countryside. Mind you, even the locals would rather live in the cities. Click On the Next > Button to See Next.
4. Japan
This country is one of the most expensive places to live in the world. The largest city in the world, Tokyo, is the second-most expensive city in the world. A little efficiency apartment there will run you almost half-a-million dollars. It’s not much cheaper outside of the city either. You can use your $100,000 as a good down-payment or use it to rent a small apartment for a couple of years. In Tokyo or any of the other major metropolises, a three-room apartment–defined as a living room and two bedrooms–will cost you an average of $3000 per month.
3. Canada
Canada is expensive and unlike Japan, the only place to do anything is in the cities. Plus, this place is pretty much frozen half the time. Vancouver and Toronto, two big cities with millions of residents, are two of the world’s most expensive places to live. Here your $100,000 will score a new mobile home in a park situated in one of those cities, but that doesn’t include utilities or space rent. In Canada, middle-class families also deal with high taxes and climbing prices. Click On the Next > Button to See Next.
2. The Netherlands
The Netherlands’ real estate market is much like their tulip trade. Both are on the rise. Experts claim there’s no end in sight either. The Global Property Guide reports that home prices have shot up 17 percent last year. In other words, your $100,000 budget is blown if you buy here. Your options include leasing a windmill with a nice loft for a year or renting a small apartment for two years. The windmill will cost you a little under $9,000 per month but think of the great story you’ll have to tell when you go back home.
1. New York City, New York
Last year, America’s “Big Apple”, became “the most expensive city in the world.” $100,000 won’t even buy you a one-room condo in Manhattan. On average, a two-bedroom condo in New York City goes for about half-a-million. A house costs more than a million. Nyhabitat.com, notes that your average two-bedroom apartment, a walk-up, is almost $4,500 a month. If you insist on an elevator, that will run you at least $6,000 per month. Ergo, $100,000 will keep a roof over your head here for less than a year assuming you don’t eat much, use the heat, or flush the toilet.
