The Best Places to Live Cheaply

It seems the prices of food and gas are rising daily and yet most peoples earnings have been at a stand still for years now. That leaves a lot of people looking for the best places to live cheaply. That is places where the dollar will stretch and last as long as possible. In this blog we continually review places to live all of the world. We spend a lot of time looking for the cheapest places to live and we also occasionally put money a side and consider things that add up to give the Best Places for Quality of Life.

In your personal quest to discover the best place for you to live cheaply we thought these resources may come in handy. Check them out and please leave us a comment if you find these helpful in finding the perfect place for you and your family.

The International Salary Calculator

One of the first places you may want to consider having a look as you scour the globe to find the most affordable place to live is to determine exactly how far your salary will take you in the a new city or country. Sure, moving means your salary will likely change but it's good to know ahead of time how much you need to earn to cover your living expenses in your chosen new location. The best place we've found to get started is:

Salary.com.  This a terrific financial site that will give you a lot of details. This is  U.S. based information so you can discover the salary range for your chosen career for specific areas in the United States The site also gives you additional information like education requirements and usual benefits, and it'll even estimate your pay check.

International Salary Calculator: For U.S. Citizens considering International Jobs PayScale.com is a great tool for broadening your search to other countries. Their dbase s still more based on US data than anywhere else but they are expanding and collecting data form other countries. SalaryExpert.com is another tool for finding out what your profession makes in another country. It has a large selection of city information for most parts of the developed world.

Cost of Moving Calculator

Sperling.com has one of the best cost of living calculators online. It takes into account where you live now and allows you to compare to where you want to live. You can alos compare your current salary and how much you will need to earn in your new location to maintain your current lifestyle.  CNN Money also has a similar calculator tool but it doesn't offer nearly the depth of detail that Sperling does. Another problem is that CNN tends to be US-Centric so their tools and information are generally limited to the United States.

Where are the Most Affordable Places to Live?

Every now and then Business Week will have some good articles on the most affordable housing  in the US. One such article noted Minot, Fort Worth and Tulsa, Ok all making the list. However, that information is a bit dated as it was originally published in 2006. Still, BW is a great resource for current information on the best places to live and its a good place to start your research. For the past few years  the economic downturn has impacted the housing market the most and it continues to have an affect on most of the country. This has certainly made real estate more affordable for those who still have a job and can afford to buy.

Another study titled 'Eight Cheapest Places to Live' is also from BusinessWeek and it gives a good list of the cheapest places to live in America including info and stats on crime and other factors to consider before moving. Making this list are: Austin,Tx;  Boise, Id;  Minneapolis, Mn and Olympia, WA.

Kiplinger.com is another site for great articles on how far your real estate purchasing dollar will go. It focused on home prices between $300,000 to $1 million. Kiplinger ranked Fort Smith one of the cheapest and also gives us a way to see which areas of the country are offering the best values in Real Estate. And lets face it who doesn't enjoy the fantasy of seeing just how far a million bucks will go!

TODAY.msnbc at msn.com offers up a great little video on the 'Cheapest Places to Rent'. They examine the top cities for living cheap by renting. The cheapest place to live on rent - Wichita, Kansas at just $470 per month for a 600 sq ft place.  In Dayton, Ohio a 500 sq ft home sets you back $570 per month. The video and article also has some interesting details about each city, including some fun facts that might make a move to these smaller cities worth your while. And if you've been searching for a high-end lifestyle at a cheap price they also discuss the top five fancy places to live that have dropped substantially in price. Where lifestyle is your most important criteria and cost secondary you can also explore the Healthiest and Wealthiest countries to live in.

Best Country to Live in 2010

A few months ago we launched the New Year with a discussion about the Best Places for Quality of Life. The list of countries came from International Living Magazine who rate over 100 countries for quality of life. Of course the data is collected over the entire year so when we look at the list it's historical, meaning the best places, in this case the best countries for quality of life  would be from 2010. As we all know a lot can happen in one year and even during a year. Ratings will fluctuate particularly in lessor developed countries. As I look back at the countries who made the list for 2010 I notice some interesting things that very likely have changed up the order and ranking quite a it. But let me pause and recap for a moment.

What was the Best Country to Live in 2010?

If you read my post back in January, Where Should I Live in 2011, you would have learned that the United States was the best country for quality of life in 2010. Looking back over the past year, even over the past few months you can see that a lot has changed in our crazy world. Has it changed enough to dislodge the U.S. for that #1 postion - probably not. In fact I would say recent world events have probably solidified that decision even more. The U.S. is still one of the healthiest and wealthiest countries to call home. Relative to recent international turmoil be it earthquake, Tsunami or revolution the states is also one of the safest and most stable countries on the planet, save perhaps Canada which one most certainly rank up their as one of the best places to live.

Best Places to Live in The World

But lets have a look at what may have changed over the past few months in terms of the Best Places to Live in the World. Canada for one was suspiciously absent from the Top 20 Countries for Quality of Life in 2010. I'm certain that was some kind of oversight or typo as Canada ranked #9 on the 2009 list. Given the rising cost of oil and the strength of the Canadian dollar I've got to believe Canada would now move quite close to the top of the list. If market indicators are any measure it may very well be number as the U.S. dollar has slipped to a value of 95 cents compared to the Canadian Loonie. Japan is another country that we have all been watching closely. Sure it has had soem economic woes over the past few years with a crippling debt and aging population. However, this small island nation still ranked 7th on the 2010 list of best places for quality of life. The recent earthquake followed by a devastating Tsunami and now an ongoing and as yet unresolved nuclear reactor problem will surely have pushed Japan well down the list if not even off the list altogether.

All in all the events of the past few months have certainly confirmed that we are living in challenging and constantly changing times. Lists are fun and interesting to read but current events tell all. For me I'm  thinking a peaceful little place like retiring in Belize may just be the solution - it may even bring me right back to finding the cheapest places to live!

Best Places to Live in the World

Over the past few weeks we have reviewed the Top 5 Best Places to Live in the World according to International Living Magazine's Quality of Life Index. It's time for a bit of a recap and perhaps a Big Picture view of this list.

First the recap -

The Top 5 Leading Countries for Quality of Life in 2011 are -

#1 - The United States - this year hits the top as the Best Place to Live in the World
#2 - New Zealand
#3 - Malta
#4 - France
#5 - Monaco

Now let's back up and take a look at the 'Big Picture' meaning the top 20 countries -

The Top 20 Countries for Quality of Life in 2011 -

#6 Belgium
#7 Japan
#8 The United Kingdom (UK)
#9 Austria
#10 Germany
#11 Netherlands
#12 Portugal
#13 Australia
#14 Andorra
#15 Italy
#16 Norway
#17 Argentina
#18 Hungary
#19 Slovenia
#20 Spain

Each year International Living rates and ranks almost every habitable country in the world to determine which ones offer the best Quality of Life. The overall ranking (Top 20 listed above) are ranked based on their average total score across nine different categories - Economy; Cost of Living; Culture; Environment; Health Care; Freedom; Infrastructure, Climate and Safety. Each country is rated from 1 to 100 on each of those categories. It's not just a few I.L. contributors sitting around a table and making subjective assessments, no they use official data and stats from different sources like - W.H.O. (the World Health Organization); Governments (like Statistics Canada); UNESCO and others.

Best Places to Stay in Sydney Australia

Oprah just finished her whirlwind tour of Australia witha grand gala show at the Sydney Opera House. I thought this Guest post By Fraser Brown was perfect to celebrate one of the best places in Australia and to commemorate Oprah's farewell show from Australia. Thanks for sharing Fraser!

One of my most favorite places to visit in Sydney Australia is Bondi Beach. This is the closest beach to   the centre of Sydney, and is a very popular spot. Bondi beach gives true holiday pleasure with its stunningly blue transparent water, beach front residences places and hip restaurants. This place is the just the best place as a holiday destination for students, family and large groups. Here are my Sydney Accommodation reviews for Bondi beach and area:

Bondi Beach has a huge number of residential places which are equipped with all the modern luxuries. It is situated in south Wales which is in the heart of Sydney. The usual season of popular congregation is summertime, which is an obvious guess, as its quite hot in that time so students and other people of Sydney gather around at this destination - as this is not only a beach. This place is known to have all types of water sports, markets to shop around in, bars and restaurants to dine in, and some cultural programs are also organized, along with some events and other celebrations.

This hotel is a mixture of cozy and luxurious atmospheres, which are decorated by oil paintings, antique sculptures and tapestries which add to the overall ambiance of the structure. Here you will get to see blend of two things: the traditional setup, along with latest amenities. That is what anyone will look for in a good place to spend a few memorable days.

One of the most ideal things about a great tourist destination like The Rocks is that when you visit, you can stay at the town favorite hotels and residential places. Sydney offers tons of luxury hotels, and five start establishments. One of the most well-known is the Amora Hotel, which is a popular spot for business travelers to stay at. Families on holiday also enjoy visiting this hotel as well. Staying at the Amora will place you right in the center of all town festivities.

Another hotel that you will likely enjoy staying at during your visit to The Rocks is the Park Hyatt. This hotel is also located in the heart of Sydney. It's location is especially beautiful, as it's located on the shoreline, nestled along the water. In your room you will have a lovely full view of the harbor, and you can walk to the Opera House whenever you would like to take in a show. These are two of the things that make this trip a five star destination for so many individuals.

If you are interested in staying in house, and enjoying your stay, then there are various facilities available such as a wireless internet to surf on while enjoying wine in the bar, along with listening to classic music. There is also a martini club known for its colorful history. You can also enjoy running around throughout the day shopping, or enjoying the gaming zone.

If you think that you're going to be bored, then you are sadly mistaken. You will find all sorts of activities that you can participate in. The Rocks offers museums, art galleries, theaters, and historical tours. It also has brilliant shopping available at it's local market - which is huge. You can shop in a calm and pleasant marketplace, and buy anything your heart desires. You might want to follow your shopping trip with a walk along the bridge, or a bicycle ride along the quaint bike routes. Most people visit The Rocks, and travel throughout the area by foot. They walk from the nearest railway station, and sometimes they will also take the circular quay on foot as well. Bus service is also available from and to many locations. Common buses taken are the 431 or 432. Wynard is another location that is very location, that can be reached by bus or on foot.

If you wish to reach the Bondi Beach, then the options available for you, are either train or bus. You can take a train to reach the Bondi junction, and then take a bus, which will go straight to the beach. And if you're coming by plane, then the beach is about 25 minutes away from the Sydney airport. From there, you can take a bus directly or hire any private vehicle to reach the beach. So when you have a chance, do not wait to get drenched in the beautiful water of Bondi Beach in the hot summer and chill, as your spirit cheers!

Editors Note - this year Australia once again appears prominently on our Best Places for Quality of Life.

About the Author:

Fraser Brown is actually a seasoned author that is actually a Sydney Accommodation specialist and is principally recognised for working away at Sydney travel and information initiatives

Remember last year when Australia rocked as one of our Best Places to Live?

Healthiest and Wealthiest Countries

I just came across this fantastic little video on YouTube. On the BBC show, The Joy of Stats, Hans Rosling gives us, '200 Countries over 200 Years in 4 Minutes. This video clip shows in just 4 minutes how our world has gone from sick and poor to healthy and wealthy over the past 200 hundred years.

This is just a great example of how and why the world is advancing and opening up to everyone. It's fantastic to see how a multi-media presentation can take information, which could be boring and take a long time to present, sped up and brought to life.

This is demonstrates statistically why we are even having a dialogue and discussion around where in the world to live. It explains and illustrates why we have more options each year - more countries available as Best Places to Retire and Best Places for Quality of Life.

Great stuff!

Best Places to Live #4 France

The Quality of Life Index for 2010 gave France top spot as the best place to live. This year France slipped a little to 4th place mostly due to a rising cost of living - thanks to the economic melt down in Europe and across the developed world. So, while France may not be the Cheapest Place to Live it's still considered first class for many other lifestyle reasons.

Living in France brings romantic visions of Paris, cafes and lingering over fine French cuisine. But these days living in France brings more than the thought of romance and culture, living here also means exceptional care - health care that is.

Best Health Care in the World

As that wave of consumers known as the boomers rolls steadily across the markets everything changes. Today aging boomers are perhaps more interested in health care than romance and that may very well be the reason people are now looking to France for more than just a cup of coffee or a glass of fine French wine. A decade ago the W.H.O. (World Health Organization) gave France top marks with the designation of "Best overall health care system in the world". No one goes with health care in France even if your a non-citizen. French law makes private medical insurance mandatory for non-citizens who reside in France.

Moving to France

If you’re thinking about moving to Europe, then a move to France could be top of your list for consideration. When it comes to Quality of Life France has everything you want to look for. In this years Quality of Life Index France scored top marks (that's 100 out of 100) for Culture, Freedom, Health and Safety. Add to that list the beautiful unspoiled French countryside, the world's best health care system, history and colourful traditions and you've got almost everything you could wish for.

Now if you are seriously considering a move to France, your biggest challenge will be determining which region of France is the best place to live for you. Whether it's Celtic Brittany sun drenched Provence, or grand Paris France has something fort every appetite.  There are numerous reasons to chose France and good reason it's #4 for the best places to live. What are your reasons for wanting to move to France?

Moving to France for Climate

France is one of those fabulous countries that offers a diverse climate with something for everyone - moving to France means you have the mountains, beaches, and countryside all within a few hours.

Moving to France for Life Balance

France seems to always find itself toward to top of the list when it comes to the Best Places to Retire but it's also a very attractive place to work and raise a family. In the west Americans have the reputation for working way too much! The French begin with five paid weeks of vacation each year. They insure work doesn't intrude upon a quality life by working less hours each week too. As we mentioned previously France has the best health care system in the world. The French are known to live longer and have much healthier lives, less stressful than Americans. So, if you're ready to escape the rat race behind France maybe just what the Doctor ordered.

Interestingly our next Best Place to Live in the world is not consider part of France but is a small country on the French Riviera. Watch for it!

Best Places to Live in 2011 - Malta

Next on the list for International Living's Quality of Life Index and at position #3 for the Best Places to Live is Malta.

Like New Zealand Malta gets high marks for Culture, Freedom, Climate and Safety. Malta is also a bit of a darling for those with capital who are looking for the best places to retire where they pay the lowest taxes. Although Malta has taxation agreements with most EU countries and the United States those who manage a work around and show earnings from elsewhere get taxed at a lovely low flat rate of just 15%.

Malta has been growing and attracting a lot of expats over the past six or seven years - basically after they chose to enter the European Union in 2004. As a result the country has become more and more of a multi cultured mix of nationalities. You'll find people who have moved to Malta from just about every european country you can think of in addition to most other parts of the world.

So why move to Malta?

Well besides the opportunity to save big time on taxes there are lot sof reasons to live in Malta. Climate is probably top of the list. This is the place where outdoor living is not only desired but extremely comfortable and easy to do. If you're retired the cost of living is reasonable but if you're still in the job market wages are definitely lower than say the U.K. But many people are willing to accept less pay for a higher quality of life aren't they? Malta has lovely warm weather and beauty in all directions particularly in it's architecture with grand stone houses and flowers running wild along stone walls and fences.

It can be hard to think of Malta as a country because it's really just a grouping of small islands. It's located south of Italy and north of Africa. in the Mediterranean Sea. Malta is often referred as the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The area it covers is quite small as just 122 square miles. To put that in perspective Malta is about twice the size of Washington D.C.

Malta may not be one of the cheapest places to live in the world but it is certainly one of the cheaper places to live in Europe.

Best Places to Live in 2011 New Zealand

We talked a little about our #1 winner for the Best Places for Quality of Life in 2011, the United States. But we've talked a lot about the U.S. on this blog and I know we will again! So, let's move on a talk about our runner up for the Best Places to Live in 2011, as ranked by International Living Magazine in their annual Quality of Life Index.

New Zealand - a land that prides itself on Life Balance.

The best things about New Zealand include the unending belief and action for living life in balance. Meaning work is just one part of a quality lifestyle. A place where working part time is not something to be embarrassed about but something that is celebrated. Employers recognize that quality performance comes not from cracking the whip but from happy, healthy and satisfied employees. Employers are open to and work towards policies that can insure work flexibility.

Of course New Zealand is english speaking, extremely safe and the quality of education os excellent. Housing, environment, abundant fresh food and water, superior infrastructure and health services all make New Zealand an easy pick for runner up. It's no surprise that New Zealand ranks high, above 90 pts, for Culture; Healthcare; and safety. It does rank a little lower for cost of living but still ranks in the top ten.

Best Places to Live in New Zealand

A lot of people who emigrate to New Zealand live and work in and close to Auckland. But if you talk to a Kiwi (New Zealander) they will quickly tell you that Auckland is thought of poorly. In fact it's one of the locals less favourite places to live. This is due to the generally inflated real estate prices, the high cost of living, and a higher than average crime rate. It's also because of the larger number of immigrants making this city their home!

So if you're wondering where the best places to live in New Zealand are, it's best to ask a New Zealander.  According to the locals the best places for lifestyle in New Zealand reasons are Christchurch in Canterbury, and Tauranga, Waikato and Otago in the Bay of Plenty.

New Zealand is a land of natural beauty and a place where the people are known to be exceptionally friendly, hospitably and happy. I discovered this Unique Guide that reveals insider secrets on how to migrate, live, work or invest in New Zealand - you can learn more about it by Clicking Here!

Editors Note: Last year New Zealand ranked 5th of the Quality of Life Index.

Best Places for Quality of Life 2011

I just received my brand new January 2011 issue of International Living Magazine. Can you believe it's been a whole  year since we looked at I.L.'s  Best Places to Live? Well it's true. One year ago almost to this day we counted off the International Living Annual Quality of Life index highlighting the Top 10 places to live on the planet.

The 2010 List of Best Places to Live was:

1. France
2. Australia
3. Switzerland
4. Germany
5. New Zealand
6. Luxembourg
7. US
8. Belgium
9. Canada
10. Italy

For 2011 the Best Places for Quality of life have changed up a little. In reverse oder, here's where I.L. thinks we'll find the highest quality of life in 2011 -

10. Germany (4th in 2010)
9. Austria (not in top 10 last year)
8. The United Kingdom (not in top 10 last year)
7. Japan (not in top 10 last year)
6. Belgium (8th in 2010)
5. Monaco (not in top 10 last year)
4. France (1st in 2010)
3. Malta (not in top 10 last year)
2. New Zealand (5th in 2010)

and the Best Place for Quality of Living in 2011 goes to,

The United States ! (The United States was ranked the 7th best place for quality of life in 2010)

It's interesting to note that half of these countries weren;t even in the top ten last year. So, what's changed? Well over the next few weeks I offer some comments on each country that appeared on this years list. Of course I will also attempt to build in some info about the cheapest places to live in each country and which ones may present as the Best Places to Retire.

Last year I had a few comments and questions about how the list is created. It's pretty much the same story every year and I will admit I.L. has soem huge gaps in how they measure Quality of Life but they do at least focus in on some pretty important criteria that most people would actually use in their personal judgement. I.L. considers the following when creating their list - Cost of Living; Culture; Economy; Environment; Freedom; Health; Infrastructure; Safety and Climate. Of course the rating is subjective and done by their staffers so it's not exactly an unbiased view. But admittedly they say, "Every index is prone to nonsense by numbers which is why we include some subjectivity."

Regardless, I quite enjoy this list  picking it apart and looking at each country. It's fun, interesting and always giving me food for thought when I think about where I want to live, next!