⛩️ Best-of list

Best cities in East & South Asia under $2,000 a month

9 of the 12 cities we cover in East & South Asia make this list, ranked by overall fit for someone moving from the US. 🇨🇳 Shanghai ranks first. Cheapest: Pokhara at $482/mo all-in. Most pleasant year-round: Pokhara, 8 months.

How this list is chosen

All-in cost under $2,000 a month (everyday living costs plus a 1-bedroom city-center rent).
In East & South 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⭐ 80 🇨🇳 Shanghai China 📄 Visa first $1,567/mo😅 Sep 87°F

#2⭐ 79 🇨🇳 Beijing China 📄 Visa first $1,617/mo😎 Sep 80°F

#3⭐ 76 🇯🇵 Osaka Japan 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 90 days $1,524/mo😅 Sep 89°F

#4⭐ 74 🇳🇵 Pokhara Nepal 🗓️ 90 days $482/mo😎 Sep 82°F

#5⭐ 73 🇳🇵 Kathmandu Nepal 🌫️ Poor air🗓️ 90 days $539/mo😎 Sep 80°F

#6⭐ 64 🇵🇰 Islamabad Pakistan 🌫️ Poor air🐢 Slow net🗓️ 90 days $685/mo😅 Sep 90°F

#7⭐ 62 🇮🇳 New Delhi India 🌫️ Poor air🗓️ 90 days $595/mo😅 Sep 92°F

#8⭐ 58 🇱🇰 Colombo Sri Lanka 🛂 Nomad visa🗓️ 30 days $1,047/mo😎 Sep 84°F

#9⭐ 57 🇧🇩 Dhaka Bangladesh 🛡️ Low safety🌫️ Poor air🗓️ 30 days $555/mo😅 Sep 91°F

#	City	$/mo	⭐ Fit
1	🇨🇳 ShanghaiChina	$1,567	80
2	🇨🇳 BeijingChina	$1,617	79
3	🇯🇵 OsakaJapan	$1,524	76
4	🇳🇵 PokharaNepal	$482	74
5	🇳🇵 KathmanduNepal	$539	73
6	🇵🇰 IslamabadPakistan	$685	64
7	🇮🇳 New DelhiIndia	$595	62
8	🇱🇰 ColomboSri Lanka	$1,047	58
9	🇧🇩 DhakaBangladesh	$555	57

Best cities in East & South Asia under $2,000 a month

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