🍜 Best-of list

Best cheap safe cities in Southeast Asia

8 of the 18 cities we cover in Southeast Asia make this list, ranked by overall fit for someone moving from the US. 🇻🇳 Da Nang ranks first. Cheapest: Denpasar at $787/mo all-in. Most pleasant year-round: Hanoi, 4 months.

How this list is chosen

All-in cost under $1,500 a month (everyday living costs plus a 1-bedroom city-center rent).
Rated safe: the city resident survey where one exists, otherwise the country’s official crime and road statistics.
In Southeast Asia.

Ranked with the City Finder's default weights for cost, climate, safety, internet and visa-free stay. Change the weights in the City Finder →

#1⭐ 82 🇻🇳 Da Nang Vietnam 🗓️ 90 days $952/mo😅 Sep 89°F

#2⭐ 82 🇹🇭 Chiang Mai Thailand 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 60 days $1,041/mo😎 Sep 86°F

#3⭐ 81 🇻🇳 Hanoi Vietnam 🌫️ Poor air🗓️ 90 days $873/mo😅 Sep 88°F

#4⭐ 81 🇲🇾 Penang Malaysia 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $925/mo😅 Sep 87°F

#5⭐ 74 🇹🇭 Phuket Thailand 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 60 days $1,361/mo😎 Sep 85°F

#6⭐ 73 🇹🇭 Bangkok Thailand 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 60 days $1,367/mo😅 Sep 88°F

#7⭐ 69 🇮🇩 Denpasar Indonesia 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 30 days $787/mo😎 Sep 84°F

#8⭐ 62 🇱🇦 Vientiane Laos 🗓️ 30 days ≈$1,110/mo😅 Sep 87°F

#	City	$/mo	⭐ Fit
1	🇻🇳 Da NangVietnam	$952	82
2	🇹🇭 Chiang MaiThailand	$1,041	82
3	🇻🇳 HanoiVietnam	$873	81
4	🇲🇾 PenangMalaysia	$925	81
5	🇹🇭 PhuketThailand	$1,361	74
6	🇹🇭 BangkokThailand	$1,367	73
7	🇮🇩 DenpasarIndonesia	$787	69
8	🇱🇦 VientianeLaos	≈$1,110	62

Best cheap safe cities in Southeast Asia

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