Cost of living is usually the first filter, not the last one, when picking a city to date and live in abroad — and it's easy to get wrong by chasing the single cheapest number in a spreadsheet. A city can be inexpensive because it's genuinely affordable, or because safety and infrastructure are weak enough that prices stay low. This list only includes cities that clear a safety score of 5/10 and a dating scene score of 6/10 in our database, then ranks what's left by monthly cost of living from cheapest to most expensive.
The result skews toward Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Eastern Europe, where a comfortable monthly budget — rent, food, transport and a normal social life — runs well under $1,000, alongside a handful of South American cities that combine low cost with a strong dating scene. None of these are the cheapest possible way to live in a given country; they're the cheapest cities on this site that are still safe and social enough to recommend without a long list of caveats.
Every entry links to a full city guide with real neighborhoods, cost breakdowns and dating-app advice — use this page to shortlist, then read the guide before you book anything.
| # | City | Best for | Dating | Safety | English | Cost / mo | Affordability score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davao City 🇵🇭 Philippines | English speakers, Tight budgets, Remote work | 8 | 7.5 | 9 | $500 | 10.0 |
| 2 | Da Nang 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Tight budgets, Safety first, Remote work | 7 | 8 | 5 | $500 | 10.0 |
| 3 | Belgrade 🇷🇸 Serbia | Dating scene, Tight budgets, Remote work | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7 | $600 | 9.3 |
| 4 | Cali 🇨🇴 Colombia | Dating scene, Tight budgets, Remote work | 8.5 | 5.5 | 4 | $600 | 9.3 |
| 5 | Buenos Aires 🇦🇷 Argentina | Tight budgets, Remote work, Easy visa | 8 | 6.5 | 6.5 | $600 | 9.3 |
| 6 | Hanoi 🇻🇳 Vietnam | Tight budgets, Remote work | 7.5 | 7.5 | 5 | $600 | 9.3 |
| 7 | Phnom Penh 🇰🇭 Cambodia | Tight budgets, Easy visa | 7.5 | 6 | 5.5 | $600 | 9.3 |
| 8 | Sofia 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | Tight budgets, Remote work, Easy visa | 7.5 | 7 | 6.5 | $600 | 9.3 |
| 9 | Cebu City 🇵🇭 Philippines | Dating scene, English speakers, Tight budgets | 8.5 | 7 | 9 | $700 | 8.7 |
| 10 | Bogotá 🇨🇴 Colombia | Tight budgets, Remote work, Easy visa | 8 | 5.5 | 5 | $700 | 8.7 |
Davao City, Philippines
Southeast Asia · affordability score 10.0/10
Photo: Patrickroque01 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why Davao City ranks #1
Davao ties for the cheapest city on this list at about $500/mo, and unlike most budget picks it doesn't force a trade-off: English proficiency of 9/10 is among the highest anywhere in this database and safety sits at 7.5/10. The catch is that it's the least "expat-scene" city here — nightlife and foreigner infrastructure are thin next to Cebu or Manila.
Where to base yourself: Ecoland, Matina, Lanang, Poblacion. Apps that work: Tinder, Filipino Cupid, Bumble.
Watch out for: Strict smoking laws (Low severity).
Da Nang, Vietnam
Southeast Asia · affordability score 10.0/10
Photo: Somerset999 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why Da Nang ranks #2
Da Nang comes in 2nd at roughly $500/mo, the cheapest beach-city base on this list. Safety runs high for the region at 8/10, but the dating scene score of 7/10 is the lowest that still clears our floor — it's a smaller, more conservative city than Da Nang's beachfront Instagram feed suggests.
Where to base yourself: My Khe Beach, An Thuong, Han River, Son Tra. Apps that work: Tinder, Vietnam Cupid, Badoo.
Watch out for: Strong ocean currents (Moderate severity).
Belgrade, Serbia
Eastern Europe · affordability score 9.3/10
Photo: ZlatanJovanovic · CC BY 3.0
Why Belgrade ranks #3
Belgrade's cost of living (~$600/mo) undercuts almost every Western European option while posting a dating scene score of 8.5/10, the highest of any Eastern European city on this list. Safety at 7.5/10 is solid; the trade-off is a smaller English-speaking bubble outside the center (7/10).
Where to base yourself: Vračar, Stari Grad, Savski Venac, Novi Beograd. Apps that work: Tinder, Badoo, Bumble, Happn.
Watch out for: Pickpocketing in clubs (Low severity).
Cali, Colombia
South America · affordability score 9.3/10
Why Cali ranks #4
Cali is one of the cheapest Colombian cities in our data (~$600/mo) with the highest dating scene score on this entire list (8.5/10). It ranks where it does because safety (5.5/10) and English (4/10) are the lowest of any city that still clears this ranking's floors — budget accordingly for a rideshare-only, don't-flash-your-phone approach.
Where to base yourself: El Peñón, Granada, San Antonio, Ciudad Jardín. Apps that work: Tinder, Colombian Cupid, Badoo, Bumble.
Watch out for: Gang violence in certain areas (High severity).
Buenos Aires, Argentina
South America · affordability score 9.3/10
Why Buenos Aires ranks #5
Buenos Aires is the cheapest major South American capital on this list at roughly $600/mo, helped by a currency that has stayed weak against the dollar. Dating scene score is a strong 8/10 and safety 6.5/10, though English (6.5/10) is patchier than in Bogotá's north side.
Where to base yourself: Palermo, Recoleta, Belgrano, San Telmo. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Happn, Badoo.
Watch out for: Motochorro (motorcycle theft) (Moderate severity).
Hanoi, Vietnam
Southeast Asia · affordability score 9.3/10
Photo: Quangnlnhe182394 · CC0
Why Hanoi ranks #6
Hanoi runs about $600/mo with safety at 7.5/10, among the highest safety scores of any budget pick here. English (5/10) is the main friction point outside the Old Quarter and expat pockets like Tay Ho.
Where to base yourself: Tay Ho, Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, Hai Ba Trung. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Vietnam Cupid, Badoo.
Watch out for: Bag snatching by motorbike (Moderate severity).
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Southeast Asia · affordability score 9.3/10
Photo: Looppty · CC BY-SA 4.0
Why Phnom Penh ranks #7
Phnom Penh is one of the cheapest capital cities in this database (~$600/mo). Dating scene score (7.5/10) is respectable, but safety (6/10) and English (5.5/10) are lower than the Southeast Asian cities ranked above it — it rewards patience more than most picks on this list.
Where to base yourself: BKK1, BKK2, BKK3, Russian Market. Apps that work: Tinder, Badoo, OkCupid.
Watch out for: Bag snatching (Moderate severity).
Sofia, Bulgaria
Eastern Europe · affordability score 9.3/10
Why Sofia ranks #8
Sofia is cheap even by Eastern European standards (~$600/mo) with safety at 7/10. It ranks below Belgrade and Krakow here mainly on dating scene score (7.5/10) and English (6.5/10) — livable, but a slower scene.
Where to base yourself: Lozenets, Doctorska Gradina, Ivan Vazov, Oborishte. Apps that work: Tinder, Badoo, Bumble.
Watch out for: Taxi scams at airport (Moderate severity).
Cebu City, Philippines
Southeast Asia · affordability score 8.7/10
Photo: DisRaptor18 · CC0
Why Cebu City ranks #9
Cebu lands 9th at around $700/mo with a dating scene score of 8.5/10 and English at 9/10 — a genuinely rare combination of cheap, safe (7/10) and easy to navigate without Cebuano.
Where to base yourself: IT Park, Ayala Business Park, Banilad, Lahug. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Filipino Cupid, Tagged.
Watch out for: Ferry safety issues (Low severity).
Bogotá, Colombia
South America · affordability score 8.7/10
Why Bogotá ranks #10
Bogotá's cost of living (~$700/mo) is lower than Medellín's despite being the bigger, more international city. Dating scene score (8/10) and safety (5.5/10) are both solid; altitude and colder weather are the honest trade-off against warmer, pricier Medellín.
Where to base yourself: Zona Rosa, Chapinero, Usaquén, Parque 93. Apps that work: Tinder, Bumble, Colombian Cupid, Badoo.
Watch out for: Millionaire rides (scam taxis) (High severity).
Honorable mentions
Just outside the top 10. Each is a strong pick if its trade-offs suit you.
How we ranked this list
Cities are filtered to those with a dating scene score of 6/10 or higher and a safety score of 5/10 or higher in our database, then ranked purely by cost of living from lowest to highest. The score shown in the table converts that cost into a 3–10 scale — about $500/mo scores a 10, $2,000/mo or more scores a 3 — so it's easier to compare at a glance, but the underlying sort is the raw dollar figure.
Cities under an active government "do not travel" advisory (Kyiv, currently, for the war) are excluded from every ranked list on this site regardless of how they'd otherwise score — see the Kyiv city page for details. Nothing on this list is sponsored; see the full method.
Frequently asked questions
How is 'cheapest' calculated on this list?+
We rank by each city's overall cost-of-living figure in our database (rent, food, transport and going out for one person), converted to a 3–10 affordability score where about $500/mo scores 10 and $2,000+/mo scores 3. We only include cities that also clear a dating scene score of 6/10 and a safety score of 5/10, so the list isn't just 'cheapest, full stop' — it's cheapest among cities that are still reasonable places to date and live.
Why isn't the absolute cheapest city in our database on this list?+
A handful of cities in our database are cheaper than everything here but don't clear the dating-scene or safety floor, or currently carry a government do-not-travel advisory (Kyiv, for the war), which excludes them from every ranked list on this site regardless of price.
Is the cheapest city always the best value?+
No. A lower cost of living often comes with a smaller English-speaking bubble, a smaller dating pool, or more restrictive visa options. Read each city's full guide before booking — the cost breakdown there covers rent, food and going-out budgets in more detail than the headline number.
Do these figures include rent?+
Yes — the cost-of-living figure is a full monthly budget for one person: rent, food, local transport and a normal social life, not just living expenses with rent excluded. See each city page for the accommodation, food and entertainment ranges that make up the total.
How often is this ranking updated?+
The underlying cost, safety, dating-scene and English scores are reviewed and revised periodically as new data comes in; this page reflects the database as of the date shown at the top.
More rankings
See how the same cities stack up on a different priority.
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