Guide For Living Abroad In Asia

Many countries in Asia offer a much lower cost of living. Some countries, like the Philippines, also offer visa programs for retirees wanting to live abroad. Depending on the career field, expats may find the lifestyle and salary they seek by moving abroad to Asia.

Are you considering a move to Asia? Are you wanting to compare one country to another before making your decision? Looking into living, working, or retiring abroad? Then this is the guide for you!

In this guide, we will compare the cost of living in several Asian countries. These countries are popular among expats and retirees from the United States of America. We’ll also offer some pointers about things to be aware of. We’ll point you in the right direction for visas too.

Most Important Information For Living In Asia

Planning a move abroad whether it’s to work or retire abroad requires understanding the cost of living. Most countries in Asia offer a lower cost of living when compared to the USA. Some also offer visas and perks to retirees relocating to the country, but others do not.

Have you already decided which country you would like to move to? If not, check out the Best Places to Live in Asia for more ideas and insights specific to expats!

To gather more information about particular countries and cities abroad, please check out our guides for that location for additional details.

Guides to Living Abroad

• Philippines
• Taiwan
• China
  • Beijing
  • Shanghai
  • Guangzhou
  • Hong Kong
• Thailand
• Vietnam
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• South Korea
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• Japan

Cost Of Living In Asia Vs. The USA

We compared the cost of living in 10 Asian countries popular with expats and the USA. Nine out of ten countries had a lower cost of living than the United States. In many countries, the average salary is also much lower than in the USA, but often the average salary is much lower than expat wages.

To compare the costs of living, we used crowd-sourced data. The data is a compilation of recent responses from users and is averaged across the country. This means that actual incomes and expenditures will vary. 

Cost of Living for One Person

The country with the lowest average cost of living for a single person is Indonesia. The country with the highest average cost of living is Singapore. You can see the complete comparison of the average lowest cost of living to the highest average cost of living for a single person.

1. On average, Indonesia costs 74.7% less than the United States.
2. The Philippines is 72.4% less expensive than the USA.
3. Malaysia is 71.6% less costly on average.
4. On average, Vietnam is 70.9% less expensive.
5. China is 65.9% less expensive on average than the USA.
6. Thailand is 60.4% more affordable than the United States.
7. Taiwan is 55.3% less costly on average.
8. South Korea is 49.5% less expensive than the USA on average.
9. Japan is 45.8% less expensive on average.
10. The United States ranks here for the average cost of living for an individual.
11. Singapore is 48.2% more expensive than the United States.

Cost of Living for a Family

The rankings for the most affordable countries for families are similar to the rankings for the individual, but a few countries have switched places, and the average savings or extra expenses are different. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Indonesia is 71.5% less expensive on average for a family than the USA.
2. Malaysia is 70.4% less costly on average.
3. The Philippines is 68.9% cheaper to live than the USA on average.
4. On average, Vietnam is 63.9% less expensive.
5. China’s average cost of living for a family is 60.4% lower than the United States.
6. Thailand is 49.4% more affordable than the United States.
7. Taiwan is 44.5% cheaper on average for a family.
8. Japan is 39% more affordable for a family than the USA.
9. South Korea is 38.6% less expensive on average for a family than the USA.
10. The United States ranks here for the average cost of living for a family.
11. For a family, Singapore is 55% more expensive on average than the United States.

Housing Cost Comparison Asia Vs. The USA

For an individual, Indonesia had the lowest average rent price, which is 81.9% less expensive than rent in the USA. For a family, Malaysia had the lowest average price for rent, which is 79.4% cheaper than in the USA. Singapore had the highest average rent prices for families and individuals.

Average Rent Prices for an Individual

Here is the rank list for the lowest average rent prices for an individual in each country and the reported rent price average.

1. Indonesia $253
2. Malaysia & the Philippines $292
3. Vietnam $301
4. China $339
5. Thailand $385
6. Taiwan $386
7. South Korea $460
8. Japan $546
9. United States $1399
10. Singapore $2339

Average Rent Prices for a Family

Here is the rank list for the average price of rent for a family in each country. For convenience, we also supplied the reported average amount.

1. Malaysia $480
2. Indonesia $508
3. China $583
4. The Phillippines $595
5. Vietnam $663
6. Taiwan $858
7. Thailand $962
8. South Korea $992
9. Japan $1049
10. United States $2331
11. Singapore $4687

Food Cost Comparison Asia Vs. The USA

The average amount spent on food for an individual varies by city, eating at home versus dining out, and other factors. The cost of food in the United States is more expensive than any of the ten Asian countries we analyzed.

Based on user responses, these are the comparisons, representing the average savings when compared to the United States:

1. Indonesia: savings of 63.6%.
2. Vietnam: savings of 62.9%
3. Philippines: savings of 60.9%
4. Malaysia: savings of 59.3%
5. China: savings of 55.1%
6. Thailand: savings of 51.6%
7. Taiwan: savings of 31.7%
8. Japan: savings of 28.3%
9. Singapore: savings of 8.1%

Transportation Cost Comparison Asia Vs. The USA

The average amount spent on transportation varied from country to country, with the Philippines having the lowest average and Singapore having the highest average. Only half of the countries we analyzed in Asia had a lower transportation cost than the United States.

Here are the rankings based on the reported average amount spent on transportation each month:

1. The Philippines
2. Malaysia
3. Indonesia
4. Vietnam
5. China
6. The United States
7. Taiwan
8. South Korea
9. Thailand
10. Japan
11. Singapore

Salaries In Asia Vs. The USA

Singapore was the only country in Asia on our list with a higher average salary than the United States. The lower average salaries in each country are offset by the lower cost of living. Many skilled workers with visas will also make much more than the average in the country.

Here are the average salaries in each country from highest to lowest:

1. Singapore $4,959
2. United States $4,223
3. Japan $2,447
4. South Korea $2,141
5. Taiwan $1,467
6. China $834
7. Malaysia $810
8. Thailand $626
9. Vietnam $459
10. Indonesia $330
11. The Philippines $317

Is Asia Expensive To Live In?

The cost of living in 90% of the Asian countries we analyzed were significantly lower than the United States. This is a great chance for retirees to save money! The average salaries in the same countries were also much lower, but expats in high demand fields often land competitive salaries.

Nevertheless, we can compare how far the average salary goes in each country when factoring in the cost of living. Here’s the ranking for the average length of time the monthly salary covers expenses for an individual.

1. Japan 2.0 months
2. South Korea & the United States 1.9 months
3. Taiwan & Singapore 1.5 months
4. Malaysia 1.3 months
5. China 1.1 months
6. Vietnam & Thailand 0.7 months
7. Indonesia 0.6 months
8. Philippines 0.5 months

Living In Asia As An American

Living abroad in Asia means learning how to communicate and conduct personal business in another country, and frequently a different language. Get used to the currency and measurements in your destination country. Most will use the metric system, but currency will vary country to country.

For anyone ready to pick up a new language or two, finding English speakers may not feel like a big deal. You can prepare by learning basic phrases to ask for directions, prices, or help in the new language. 

For others, to ease the transition, it may help to have more English speakers in your new home. We used crowd-sourced data to compare the percentage of English speakers in 10 popular Asian countries for expats: 

1. Singapore 96.4%
2. Philippines 58.2%
3. Malaysia 57.3%
4. Taiwan 30%
5. Thailand 27.2%
6. South Korea 20%
7. Indonesia 18%
8. Vietnam 16%
9. Japan 15%
10. China 0.7%

Cultural Adjustments For Americans In Asia

Each country and region will have its own customs, but here are a couple of customs you should be aware of. In Asia, most cultures respect elders. Learn the etiquette around elders for any location you move to. It’s also incredibly common to remove your shoes upon entering a home.

Retiring In Asia From The USA

Many Americans choose to retire abroad to find a lower cost of living for a higher standard of living. Many countries in Asia, like the Philippines, have visas specifically for expats hoping to retire abroad. Each country has its own requirements for retiree visa applications.

Moving To Asia From The USA

An essential part of moving abroad to Asia is making sure that you have international health insurance. Even countries with a single-payer system have a period that can take several months. Additionally, many single-payer healthcare systems in Asia do not cover chronic illness or severe conditions.

Visa Requirements For US Citizens In Asia

Each country in Asia will have its own visa application process. Many countries offer applications that can be completed online for visas. If you are moving abroad to work, your new employer can often help you with the visa paperwork.

You can check out our guides for each country for more specific visa information. Keep in mind that many countries also require proof of international health insurance as part of the visa process.

Conclusion

Living abroad in Asia could be your next great adventure! There are many different climates, cultures, and countries to choose from. Don’t hesitate to begin planning your move or travels to new regions of the world.

If you have any questions about health insurance coverage abroad, contact an expert today!

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Jantra Jacobs

Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime

Jantra Jacobs is a Senior Copywriter at Pacific Prime with over 10 years of writing and editing experience. She writes and edits a diverse variety of online and offline copy, including sales and marketing materials ranging from articles and advertising copy to reports, guides, RFPs, and more.

Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.

Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.

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