5 Dream Destinations Where Rent Is Under $800/Month (+Insider Tips)

Sep 09, 2025

∙ Paid

What if your rent was less than your grocery bill back home?

For many people, housing costs might be the single biggest reason they feel trapped in place.

But the world is wider than your local rental market. There are still cities where a comfortable one-bedroom comes in under $800 a month.

We’re talking about real apartments in real neighborhoods. Places you’d actually want to settle into and call home.

That’s what we’ll talk about today.

Inside you’ll find:

Three (western to south-east) Asian cities where quality of life outpaces cost of living.
Two European options that combine Mediterranean / old-world charm with affordable housing.
Practical notes on rents, neighborhoods, and what to check before you sign a lease.

Let’s get into it.

How to Check Real Rent Prices Abroad

When I started living abroad, finding reliable rent data abroad was difficult. Here’s where I now go to find reliable numbers:

Local property portals. Every country has its go-to sites, usually in the local language. Browse them to see the real monthly rates residents pay. In the age of AI, even if there’s no English version, it’s easy to make sense of the listings.
Facebook marketplace and expat groups. Useful for furnished sublets and short-term stays, but prices here can go higher than the local norm.
Numbeo. A benchmark for average rents across neighborhoods. It’s a good starting point, just double-check with local sources before you rely on it.

Now, let’s look at the cities I recommend checking out.