[KYT88]

As you like Malaysia anyway it may be worth considering Melaka(Malacca) as a 2nd tier city. It's only 2 hours from KL and the overall cost of living is low though it's not going to have many other expats there.

[whiteknightrises]

(04-24-2018 09:53 PM)Super_Fire Wrote:  

The only thing with Taiwan is it's hard to find a place to rent month-to-month outside of Airbnb. Almost every place wants a one-year contract minimum.

Which is annoying because look at what you can get for sub-$300 a month there:

https://rent.591.com.tw/rent-detail-6265698.html

The same place would definitely cost closer to $500 in Taipei, for example.

Don't even bother with Craigslist or similar ads, they'd want $1,000 a month for the same place.

It's worth digging a bit to see if you can find someone who will do month-by-month though. This is all moot if you're going the Airbnb route though.

Fb groups can be good

E.g. start typing "taipei apart"... "taipei expat..." into the search bar and some groups should pop up where people post rentals/you can post that you're looking for a place (lots of people will message you). Taking over someone's lease might land you a good deal since they probably care more about getting out easily/quickly

[gowest]

Why don't you simply go back home to chill a bit? Constant traveling sucks.

[Suits]

(04-26-2018 09:00 AM)gowest Wrote:  

Why don't you simply go back home to chill a bit? Constant traveling sucks.

Did you read my post? Beijing is home.

[cosworth]

I honestly wouldn't rule out the Philippines , since all the drug dealers have been shot the general crime rate has dropped dramatically.
I felt safer walking around Manila and Cebu City that I do in London.
It's in your budget , they all speak English , the internet isn't too bad, some great places to visit etc.

[mementoaudere]

Yogyakarta is really cheap even for indonesian standards, has cute girls (many universities there), good internet too. The only problem for me is the muslim prayers day and night. If you are a deep sleeper it could be your city though.

[nomadbrah]

Chiang Mai is what you need and can afford Suits.

In the winter, the temperature will even be low enough so you won't be sweating like a pig.

Chiang Mai is very cheap in accomodation (can definitely find something for $200), has a major entrepreneural scene and plenty of attractive girls. I'd like to add, there are actual real location independent businesses in Chiang Mai. Not just bloggers/digital nomads/gap year people. Thai food is excellent. There's no beach there and it isn't a metropolis, so if you need either of those, then it is not for you.

Disclaimer: I haven't personally lived in Chiang Mai, only visited, but I know quite a few who live there and have good, "normal" lives with the usual benefits of Thailand living. Business people.

You could go to Bangkok or Phuket too, but your rent budget would leave you in peasent areas where it wouldn't be fun or productive.

[Suits]

Thanks for all the recommendations so far, guys.

I won't be making this decision until autumn, as I don't need to start buying air tickets and finding housing to September at the earliest, so the remaining portion of the spring and the summer will be focused on growing the location independent side of my work and researching possible locations to move to in December.

In the meantime, if any one has any more suggestions, they will be very appreciated. The quality of the data provided so far has been excellent and I've definitely got more than a few great options, but am more than open to considering a few more.

[Thaitanium]

I would also advise either Chiang Mai (cheap and you are bound to meet a lot of start up people there, lots of those shared work cafes around), or Da Nang.

I am in Vietnam myself, and I think Da Nang is probably the most livable city in Vietnam. It has clean air, is at the beach but also close to the mountains (you can drive to the Laos border in 1-2 hours for some amazing scenery), big enough city but not too big. Hoi An is also close by. Da Nang has the best laid out city plan of the cities in Vietnam too. Best of all, Vietnam is cheap and so is Da Nang. Many direct flights from China nowadays. Very low cost of living, plenty of cute girls, fast internet and Vietnamese food is great (and plenty of western food around too).

Chiang Mai is probably best if you think that local expat entrepreneurial start-up scene is most important, but for all your other demands I think Da Nang ticks all your boxes, though Kaohsiung as mentioned in Taiwan is nice too, but a tad more expensive.

[Cyclone]

(04-24-2018 02:16 AM)Aquarius Wrote:  

Before I even finished reading your post, the first place that popped into my mind is Taiwan. Taipei will be a tad too expensive for your liking, but second tier Taiwanese cities like Kaohsiung or Taichung squarely fit all your goals:

Aquarius verdict for Suits: Kaohsiung (or Taichung, but I recommend Kaohsiung more)

This.

I've had a few people ask me about Kaohsiung after posting my datasheet.
My overall response that it's still a bit expensive (maybe $1500/mo) but the bigger reason to choose it over Taipei is that Taipei is too distracting. Especially if you want to get some product dev in.

Plus, internet speeds 2nd only to Korea.
.

[RagnarLothbrok]

(05-05-2018 11:25 PM)Thaitanium Wrote:  

I would also advise either Chiang Mai (cheap and you are bound to meet a lot of start up people there, lots of those shared work cafes around), or Da Nang.

I am in Vietnam myself, and I think Da Nang is probably the most livable city in Vietnam. It has clean air, is at the beach but also close to the mountains (you can drive to the Laos border in 1-2 hours for some amazing scenery), big enough city but not too big. Hoi An is also close by. Da Nang has the best laid out city plan of the cities in Vietnam too. Best of all, Vietnam is cheap and so is Da Nang. Many direct flights from China nowadays. Very low cost of living, plenty of cute girls, fast internet and Vietnamese food is great (and plenty of western food around too).

Chiang Mai is probably best if you think that local expat entrepreneurial start-up scene is most important, but for all your other demands I think Da Nang ticks all your boxes, though Kaohsiung as mentioned in Taiwan is nice too, but a tad more expensive.

What's a good monthly budget for Da Nang, if you get a 3-6 month lease in a studio or small 1 BR,eat mostly at local restaurants and go out at night 1-2 times a week?

[Cyclone]

(05-06-2018 10:46 AM)RagnarLothbrok Wrote:  

What's a good monthly budget for Da Nang, if you get a 3-6 month lease in a studio or small 1 BR,eat mostly at local restaurants and go out at night 1-2 times a week?

Honestly, I'd say $700 would cut it easily.

$300 for rent of a solid studio
$150 for food monthly
$50 for clubbing
$30 for gas every month
$20 for good 4G
$150 for other random shit like gift-buying, clothes, dates...

- Cyc

[Sp5]

Sri Lanka. Kandy, Negombo, Galle, Colombo, Batticaloa.
Just for a real different alternative
Lodging prices would be competitive with Vietnam

[Thaitanium]

(05-06-2018 11:24 AM)Cyclone Wrote:  

(05-06-2018 10:46 AM)RagnarLothbrok Wrote:  

What's a good monthly budget for Da Nang, if you get a 3-6 month lease in a studio or small 1 BR,eat mostly at local restaurants and go out at night 1-2 times a week?

Honestly, I'd say $700 would cut it easily.

$300 for rent of a solid studio
$150 for food monthly
$50 for clubbing
$30 for gas every month
$20 for good 4G
$150 for other random shit like gift-buying, clothes, dates...

- Cyc

Pretty accurate yeah. You might want to add 1 or 200 extra, if you want to eat some decent western food every now and then, or get some big seafood dinners. But Da Nang and Vietnam are dirt cheap.

By the way, about Sri Lanka, in my experience it's more expensive then Vietnam, not sure I agree on lodging prices being similar, especially not in Colombo or Kandy. Maybe I went to the wrong places though

[Burn]

(04-24-2018 06:57 AM)asiaslayer Wrote:  

I’d argue that Vietnam is more dangerous than the Philippines (at least Manila). You don’t really need to be worried about someone snatching your phone on a motorbike or getting stabbed to death in Manila.

Most Viets you come across in daily encounters won’t speak enough English. Even lots of girls on tinder that you’ll meet. You won’t really be able to get anything decent to live in on $200 in HCMC.

I’d probably go with Bangkok or Chiang Mai.

I haven't been in Philipines but I have spent almost 2 years in Vietnam and i have never felt so safe anywhere as i do in Vietnam.

I agree that english level is not that high but i wouldnt see it as a problem, especially not in Hcmc.

$200 is tight in Hcmc. 2 years ago i rented a apartment without kitchen but private bathroom/shower(not share house dont know what to call it), modern and fresh for $320.

I think Vietnam would be perfect for you.

[MongolianAbroad]

(05-06-2018 11:24 AM)Cyclone Wrote:  

(05-06-2018 10:46 AM)RagnarLothbrok Wrote:  

What's a good monthly budget for Da Nang, if you get a 3-6 month lease in a studio or small 1 BR,eat mostly at local restaurants and go out at night 1-2 times a week?

Honestly, I'd say $700 would cut it easily.

$300 for rent of a solid studio
$150 for food monthly
$50 for clubbing
$30 for gas every month
$20 for good 4G
$150 for other random shit like gift-buying, clothes, dates...

- Cyc

^^ That looks amazing, but...

We can nix the plane ticket cost, as that's a one-off. However,

What about visa fees for a year long visa, about $600, I think, so we could round off to $50 a month-ish. Not bad at all.

But if you don't do the one year business visa, then you have border run costs, plus the cost of the lost day of time. Or if you take the visa run by plane, then you've got plane tickets + hotel tickets, plus that lost day of time, at least.

And on food, how much meat is included in the $150 a month for food? If you don't eat pasta/bread, can you still eat on $150 a month? Or does $150 a month mean you have to eat like a 5'4" tall local with a small frame? I'm cool with eating chicken and pork if it isn't injected with the stuff you see in the local Vietnamese groups where Viet folks are upset about the food tampering that goes on in that country, but I'm thinking red meat is going to be much pricier, like it is in the Philippines?

$700 just seems too good to be true, like you'd be living like a Vietnamese person, but with a nice apartment.

[CUNT GET LAID]

Eat pussy

[Suits]

(05-09-2018 03:31 AM)CUNT GET LAID Wrote:  

Eat pussy

[TheBulldozer]

It's rainy season in DaNang in the winter. Having been washed out for days at a time there in the off season, I'd avoid.

[Lighter]

(05-08-2018 11:48 PM)Spaniard88 Wrote:  

(05-06-2018 11:24 AM)Cyclone Wrote:  

(05-06-2018 10:46 AM)RagnarLothbrok Wrote:  

What's a good monthly budget for Da Nang, if you get a 3-6 month lease in a studio or small 1 BR,eat mostly at local restaurants and go out at night 1-2 times a week?

Honestly, I'd say $700 would cut it easily.

$300 for rent of a solid studio
$150 for food monthly
$50 for clubbing
$30 for gas every month
$20 for good 4G
$150 for other random shit like gift-buying, clothes, dates...

- Cyc

^^ That looks amazing, but...

We can nix the plane ticket cost, as that's a one-off. However,

What about visa fees for a year long visa, about $600, I think, so we could round off to $50 a month-ish. Not bad at all.

But if you don't do the one year business visa, then you have border run costs, plus the cost of the lost day of time. Or if you take the visa run by plane, then you've got plane tickets + hotel tickets, plus that lost day of time, at least.

And on food, how much meat is included in the $150 a month for food? If you don't eat pasta/bread, can you still eat on $150 a month? Or does $150 a month mean you have to eat like a 5'4" tall local with a small frame? I'm cool with eating chicken and pork if it isn't injected with the stuff you see in the local Vietnamese groups where Viet folks are upset about the food tampering that goes on in that country, but I'm thinking red meat is going to be much pricier, like it is in the Philippines?

$700 just seems too good to be true, like you'd be living like a Vietnamese person, but with a nice apartment.

You can just do the one year business visa depending on nationality. I don't know why you're talking like you can't.

$700/month in HCMC is easily doable, but probably not super comfortable. I spend $340/month on rent (not that nice of an apartment, but it's in district 1 and includes electric, water, and internet).

I get free breakfast in the AM and then I spend another $3ish for lunch (rice and pork) and $3ish for dinner (bunh thit, bo la lot, or pho). It fills me up, but I'm not that big of an eater.

And yeah that's pretty much it for my expenses. Other than the occasional beer or coffee date.

[Cyclone]

(05-09-2018 10:34 AM)Lighter Wrote:  

(05-08-2018 11:48 PM)Spaniard88 Wrote:  

^^ That looks amazing, but...

What about visa fees for a year long visa, about $600, I think, so we could round off to $50 a month-ish. Not bad at all.

But if you don't do the one year business visa, then you have border run costs, plus the cost of the lost day of time. Or if you take the visa run by plane, then you've got plane tickets + hotel tickets, plus that lost day of time, at least.

And on food, how much meat is included in the $150 a month for food? If you don't eat pasta/bread, can you still eat on $150 a month? Or does $150 a month mean you have to eat like a 5'4" tall local with a small frame? I'm cool with eating chicken and pork if it isn't injected with the stuff you see in the local Vietnamese groups where Viet folks are upset about the food tampering that goes on in that country, but I'm thinking red meat is going to be much pricier, like it is in the Philippines?

$700 just seems too good to be true, like you'd be living like a Vietnamese person, but with a nice apartment.

You can just do the one year business visa depending on nationality. I don't know why you're talking like you can't.

$700/month in HCMC is easily doable, but probably not super comfortable. I spend $340/month on rent (not that nice of an apartment, but it's in district 1 and includes electric, water, and internet).

I get free breakfast in the AM and then I spend another $3ish for lunch (rice and pork) and $3ish for dinner (bunh thit, bo la lot, or pho). It fills me up, but I'm not that big of an eater.

And yeah that's pretty much it for my expenses. Other than the occasional beer or coffee date.

Well, keep in mind I said $700/mo for Da Nang, not Saigon .. for Saigon I'd bump it up to $1000 easily considering how many temptations there are. And ultimately it depends on your stage in life and expectations, if you're 25-29 I'd say $700 hits the spot just fine for DN.

$150/mo for food would mean cooking 1 meal a day. You need your fucking protein, none of the local fags are gonna cover that for you.
.

[MongolianAbroad]

(05-10-2018 06:23 AM)Cyclone Wrote:  

(05-09-2018 10:34 AM)Lighter Wrote:  

(05-08-2018 11:48 PM)Spaniard88 Wrote:  

^^ That looks amazing, but...

What about visa fees for a year long visa, about $600, I think, so we could round off to $50 a month-ish. Not bad at all.

But if you don't do the one year business visa, then you have border run costs, plus the cost of the lost day of time. Or if you take the visa run by plane, then you've got plane tickets + hotel tickets, plus that lost day of time, at least.

And on food, how much meat is included in the $150 a month for food? If you don't eat pasta/bread, can you still eat on $150 a month? Or does $150 a month mean you have to eat like a 5'4" tall local with a small frame? I'm cool with eating chicken and pork if it isn't injected with the stuff you see in the local Vietnamese groups where Viet folks are upset about the food tampering that goes on in that country, but I'm thinking red meat is going to be much pricier, like it is in the Philippines?

$700 just seems too good to be true, like you'd be living like a Vietnamese person, but with a nice apartment.

You can just do the one year business visa depending on nationality. I don't know why you're talking like you can't.

$700/month in HCMC is easily doable, but probably not super comfortable. I spend $340/month on rent (not that nice of an apartment, but it's in district 1 and includes electric, water, and internet).

I get free breakfast in the AM and then I spend another $3ish for lunch (rice and pork) and $3ish for dinner (bunh thit, bo la lot, or pho). It fills me up, but I'm not that big of an eater.

And yeah that's pretty much it for my expenses. Other than the occasional beer or coffee date.

Well, keep in mind I said $700/mo for Da Nang, not Saigon .. for Saigon I'd bump it up to $1000 easily considering how many temptations there are. And ultimately it depends on your stage in life and expectations, if you're 25-29 I'd say $700 hits the spot just fine for DN.

$150/mo for food would mean cooking 1 meal a day. You need your fucking protein, none of the local fags are gonna cover that for you.

Very cool. So it really is that cheap.

Awesome, and yeah, the one year visa's definitely the visa I'd go for, $600/year comes out to $50/month, which is amazing considering you don't even have to make any actual trips.

It all sounds pretty ideal, finance-wise anyhow.

[Suits]

If it's any help, I'm actually a huge fan of cooking meals at home. It's not that I don't love eating out -- I do -- but I've learned from experience that there's no better way to promote personal health than to eat mainly home cooked meals.

I don't know why McDonalds (and fast-food restaurants in general) gets picked on so badly. It's not like the food at nicer sit-down places is any better for you.

So, it's safe to assume that I will be mainly eating at home, no matter where I go, with a few meals of street food or restaurant fare each week.

[Matt Fecal]

(04-24-2018 12:58 AM)Suits Wrote:  

As I previously mention in the entrepreneurship thread, I have made the decision to stop all of the location based work I have in Beijing and temporarily leave China for the winter of 2018-9. My reason for doing so are several.
.
I've spent time in Malaysia and really like the country, but I've also heard good things about Jakarta. Bali is vacation economy, but I hear it's cheap as dirt, so that might be an option.

Indonesia is too much of a mess if you want to do some work, you will waste lots of time and get stressed. Instead, I would rather sexpat it up in Malaysia for the winter, where internet is good, accomodation is cheap and plane ticket to there from Beijing are cheapest.

[pargan]

From what I hear Mexico City is one of the best places to live for quality of life/cost effectiveness. You can comfortably live on $900 a month rent included over there in a good area. It's also a world class city and I think it's also the biggest in North America.