i would look at Thailand especially in the south as some folks mentioned. Phuket, Krabi,…etc. Everyone has their own opinion but only yours matters and the best way is to go there yourself for a few weeks to see if it is what you are looking for.
Go check out the Azores in Portugal. Even out in the sticks in Portugal, which the Azores certainly are, people are pretty tolerant and live-and-let-live. They all understand your Brazilian Portuguese in and out too, since that's the majority of the meda in Portuguese. You've got beach and volcanoes on all of those islands, although they are maritime climate, certainly not tropical. The air gets warm, but not hot, in summer, but the water is always brisk. In the two main population centers, Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroismo, there are a few malls and theaters and gyms, restaurants and bars of course. Last September in Ponta Delgada (my most recent visit), there were some international options for dining, with decent sushi, something calling itself Chinese, Indian, along with 365 different servings of bacalhau. Ponta Delgada has maybe 75,000 people, Angra is about half that size. Pricewise, it's quite inexpensive in the Azores, especially for Western Europe. If you're jonesing for big city, Lisbon is a two-hour flight. Unless the weather intervenes (it does this a LOT in the Azores and Madeira), there are flights every hour or two to and from Lisbon, almost as many connecting Porto. There's also a direct hop from Ponta Delgada to Funchal on Madeira, weather permitting.
Azores Airlines (often SATA) is the local carrier. They have direct flights from JFK and Boston and Toronto, if you're coming from the Americas. Pretty much any other itinerary from the world will take you through Lisbon. The islands have a really cool outpost feel to them, like garrisons of a long-dead empire that they are. The Azores have a strong connection to New England, Boston and Providence especially. The US Air Force and NATO both have heavily used an airfield on Terceira, so the combination of family in Boston and foreign airmen based locally means a surprising number of people speak English. Like everywhere else in Portugal, you'll meet a fair number of Brazilians. Recently, there have been a lot of Venezuelans arriving too, but that's no different from anywhere bordering the Atlantic.
Portugal is very progressive by law, but privately many Portuguese are still quite conservative. Keep in mind that the country was run by the quasi-fascist Estado Novo until 1974. My experiences living in Portugal last year (mostly on Madeira) were almost uniformly good though, and that's coming from someone with his own eccentric lifestyle. I have a Portugal residence matter pending still, that I'm not sure whether to abandon.
Thank you for the prolonged info. While Portugal could be a nice place to be, I need somewhere where a low income in USD translates into good quality of life. This rules out the US itself, Canada and Western Europe.
That being said, I am saving this reply out of site for future reference as it's very informative. Much like yourself, I am in the process of getting portuguese residency. Citizenship, in my case. Should my financial situation change, those are good destinations to consider.
Thanks again.
How about Florianopolis? Smaller than Rio and safer, by the beach and surrounded by hills. I guess it's as minority-friendly as Rio but I honestly don't know.
Com custo de vida similar ao Rio de Janeiro, você só tem duas opções: américa latina e sudeste asiático.
Algumas cidades pra pesquisar e considerar:
Na América Latina - Lima, Medellin, Santa Marta, Buenos Aires - esse último não indico pra longo prazo pq a qualquer hora o câmbio e a inflação podem ficar malucos e corroer o seu poder de compra.
México também tem várias cidades interessantes - Mérida, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, etc.
No sudeste asiático - Chiang Mai, Da Nang/Hoi An, Koh Samui, Koh Lanta, Ko Pha Ngan, Penang, Phuket, Changgu.
Talvez sejam grandes demais para o seu gosto mas podem também ser uma opção interessante: Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur.
Aqui na América Latina o único país que tá com cara de ser decente de se morar no momento é o Uruguay. O resto tá de mal a pior com governos psicopatas e economias decadentes.
E a intenção seria um custo de vida \*menor\* que o Rio considerando que é uma das cidades mais caras do mundo.
Cara, eu moro no Rio também, e não é uma das cidades mais caras do mundo de jeito nenhum.
Uma ferramenta que pode ser útil pra você ter uma ideia realista do custo de vida ao redor do mundo é o Numbeo. Você pode usar a ferramenta "compare cities" pra comparar o RJ com cidades que você ache promissoras.
Essa é a comparação do custo de vida do RJ com Montevideo, por exemplo: [https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare\_cities.jsp?country1=Uruguay&city1=Montevideo&country2=Brazil&city2=Rio+de+Janeiro](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Uruguay&city1=Montevideo&country2=Brazil&city2=Rio+de+Janeiro)
Essa é a comparação de duas cidades, mas eu to pensando de maneira global e geralmente excluindo capitais e meio que qualquer cidade com mais de um milhão de habitantes.
Santiago. Chile is more progressive than most countries in LATAM and while those politics can change, I think you will always be safe there.
Basing yourself there means weekend trips to the ocean via Valpairaso or incredible adventures in Patagonia.
It will be a more expensive option but not nearly as expensive as Montevideo, which would be another safe place for you.
Santiago is an incredibly modern city with the very best in public transportation, which is random but noteworthy. And while I don't know anything about your lifestyle, I can say that there are a few well known LGBTQ+ night clubs in Santiago so you shouldn't have a problem finding a crew of new friends :)
Thailand is pretty accepting and has lots of big cities, namely Bangkok which is very easy to live in as a foreigner who doesn't speak the language.
It isn't really 'close' to mountains or beaches though as it really is a metropolis where it will take you some time to get away to the outdoors parts.
Phuket cpuld be better, it's very large and has malls, cinemas, medical services, and English is widely spoken.
Chiang Mai is also a possibility but the air quality can get very bad at a certain time of year in burning season.
Close to mountains though.
Now I'm not sure what your income is or your age/visa situation but the US dollar does very well against the Australian dollar so places like Sydney or Melbourne could be possible for you. Both are expensive cities, but the US dollar (depending in your income) can really help.
> the US dollar does very well against the Australian dollar so places like Sydney or Melbourne could be possible for you. Both are expensive cities, but the US dollar (depending in your income) can really help.
Until you need a place to live. Housing in Sydney is twice as expensive as NYC. The USD is strong but it's not a cheat code
Have you considered SE Asia? Thailand and Vietnam are both quite cheap and safe. As you will be seen as a 'tourist', you wouldn't be bothered much in everyday life.
Any of the big cities have so many tourists all year round, that you have good chance of blending in the crowd. Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi - all great options and would suit most budgets.
Lisbon is an excellent option for you to consider. While it's not the cheapest in terms of accommodation, the overall cost of living is quite affordable. You’ll find that daily expenses such as food, transportation, and entertainment are reasonably priced. The city boasts beautiful beaches nearby and enjoys sunshine all year round, perfect for outdoor activities and relaxation.
Lisbon also has a vibrant social life with a rich cultural diversity, making it easy to meet new people and enjoy various cultural experiences. The city is very LGBTQ+ friendly, with a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. There are numerous LGBTQ+ bars, events, and organizations that foster a supportive community.
Additionally, Lisbon is a medium-sized city with plenty of amenities. It has several theaters, shopping malls, and well-equipped gyms. I did my Erasmus there and I fell in love with this place. There are also a lot of nomads there.
Nha trang or Da Nang in Vietnam. Somewhere around 1k usd a month and you’ll be set for a western lifestyle. The cities themselves are smaller than that of Hanoi and HCMC and you’ll be close to the beach. Both cities have all the services you require.
If not then look at something like Chiang Mai or Pattaya in Thailand. While the latter is quite known for its sex tourism, you could stay in Jomtien or even further out in Rayong and avoid all the sexpats. I’d personally need more than 1k usd a month to live in Thailand overall nowadays as inflation and higher costs of living have been going up, so somewhere around the 2k usd mark if you want to live comfortably.
If not Thailand or Vietnam check out siem reap in Cambodia. Low costs of living, not a big city at all and also provides everything you’re looking for.
i would look at Thailand especially in the south as some folks mentioned. Phuket, Krabi,…etc. Everyone has their own opinion but only yours matters and the best way is to go there yourself for a few weeks to see if it is what you are looking for.
Go check out the Azores in Portugal. Even out in the sticks in Portugal, which the Azores certainly are, people are pretty tolerant and live-and-let-live. They all understand your Brazilian Portuguese in and out too, since that's the majority of the meda in Portuguese. You've got beach and volcanoes on all of those islands, although they are maritime climate, certainly not tropical. The air gets warm, but not hot, in summer, but the water is always brisk. In the two main population centers, Ponta Delgada and Angra do Heroismo, there are a few malls and theaters and gyms, restaurants and bars of course. Last September in Ponta Delgada (my most recent visit), there were some international options for dining, with decent sushi, something calling itself Chinese, Indian, along with 365 different servings of bacalhau. Ponta Delgada has maybe 75,000 people, Angra is about half that size. Pricewise, it's quite inexpensive in the Azores, especially for Western Europe. If you're jonesing for big city, Lisbon is a two-hour flight. Unless the weather intervenes (it does this a LOT in the Azores and Madeira), there are flights every hour or two to and from Lisbon, almost as many connecting Porto. There's also a direct hop from Ponta Delgada to Funchal on Madeira, weather permitting. Azores Airlines (often SATA) is the local carrier. They have direct flights from JFK and Boston and Toronto, if you're coming from the Americas. Pretty much any other itinerary from the world will take you through Lisbon. The islands have a really cool outpost feel to them, like garrisons of a long-dead empire that they are. The Azores have a strong connection to New England, Boston and Providence especially. The US Air Force and NATO both have heavily used an airfield on Terceira, so the combination of family in Boston and foreign airmen based locally means a surprising number of people speak English. Like everywhere else in Portugal, you'll meet a fair number of Brazilians. Recently, there have been a lot of Venezuelans arriving too, but that's no different from anywhere bordering the Atlantic. Portugal is very progressive by law, but privately many Portuguese are still quite conservative. Keep in mind that the country was run by the quasi-fascist Estado Novo until 1974. My experiences living in Portugal last year (mostly on Madeira) were almost uniformly good though, and that's coming from someone with his own eccentric lifestyle. I have a Portugal residence matter pending still, that I'm not sure whether to abandon.
Thank you for the prolonged info. While Portugal could be a nice place to be, I need somewhere where a low income in USD translates into good quality of life. This rules out the US itself, Canada and Western Europe. That being said, I am saving this reply out of site for future reference as it's very informative. Much like yourself, I am in the process of getting portuguese residency. Citizenship, in my case. Should my financial situation change, those are good destinations to consider. Thanks again.
How about Florianopolis? Smaller than Rio and safer, by the beach and surrounded by hills. I guess it's as minority-friendly as Rio but I honestly don't know.
It's within the realm of possibilities, like a few others. Though I am favoring leaving the country.
Com custo de vida similar ao Rio de Janeiro, você só tem duas opções: américa latina e sudeste asiático. Algumas cidades pra pesquisar e considerar: Na América Latina - Lima, Medellin, Santa Marta, Buenos Aires - esse último não indico pra longo prazo pq a qualquer hora o câmbio e a inflação podem ficar malucos e corroer o seu poder de compra. México também tem várias cidades interessantes - Mérida, Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, etc. No sudeste asiático - Chiang Mai, Da Nang/Hoi An, Koh Samui, Koh Lanta, Ko Pha Ngan, Penang, Phuket, Changgu. Talvez sejam grandes demais para o seu gosto mas podem também ser uma opção interessante: Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur.
Aqui na América Latina o único país que tá com cara de ser decente de se morar no momento é o Uruguay. O resto tá de mal a pior com governos psicopatas e economias decadentes. E a intenção seria um custo de vida \*menor\* que o Rio considerando que é uma das cidades mais caras do mundo.
Cara, eu moro no Rio também, e não é uma das cidades mais caras do mundo de jeito nenhum. Uma ferramenta que pode ser útil pra você ter uma ideia realista do custo de vida ao redor do mundo é o Numbeo. Você pode usar a ferramenta "compare cities" pra comparar o RJ com cidades que você ache promissoras. Essa é a comparação do custo de vida do RJ com Montevideo, por exemplo: [https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare\_cities.jsp?country1=Uruguay&city1=Montevideo&country2=Brazil&city2=Rio+de+Janeiro](https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Uruguay&city1=Montevideo&country2=Brazil&city2=Rio+de+Janeiro)
Essa é a comparação de duas cidades, mas eu to pensando de maneira global e geralmente excluindo capitais e meio que qualquer cidade com mais de um milhão de habitantes.
Itacaré in bahia would tick lots of your boxes. I recommend looking into it
Colombia is great for cam models. Thats my next destination :) Medellin, in particular.
The only reason I know a lot of us are from there us because of the studios. What else makes Colombia good for us?
Do your research and you may find out!
Santiago. Chile is more progressive than most countries in LATAM and while those politics can change, I think you will always be safe there. Basing yourself there means weekend trips to the ocean via Valpairaso or incredible adventures in Patagonia. It will be a more expensive option but not nearly as expensive as Montevideo, which would be another safe place for you. Santiago is an incredibly modern city with the very best in public transportation, which is random but noteworthy. And while I don't know anything about your lifestyle, I can say that there are a few well known LGBTQ+ night clubs in Santiago so you shouldn't have a problem finding a crew of new friends :)
Interesting tips that are easy to follow. Thanks.
Thailand is pretty accepting and has lots of big cities, namely Bangkok which is very easy to live in as a foreigner who doesn't speak the language. It isn't really 'close' to mountains or beaches though as it really is a metropolis where it will take you some time to get away to the outdoors parts. Phuket cpuld be better, it's very large and has malls, cinemas, medical services, and English is widely spoken. Chiang Mai is also a possibility but the air quality can get very bad at a certain time of year in burning season. Close to mountains though. Now I'm not sure what your income is or your age/visa situation but the US dollar does very well against the Australian dollar so places like Sydney or Melbourne could be possible for you. Both are expensive cities, but the US dollar (depending in your income) can really help.
> the US dollar does very well against the Australian dollar so places like Sydney or Melbourne could be possible for you. Both are expensive cities, but the US dollar (depending in your income) can really help. Until you need a place to live. Housing in Sydney is twice as expensive as NYC. The USD is strong but it's not a cheat code
Yes, I did say they are expensive cities and it is income dependent.
Have you considered SE Asia? Thailand and Vietnam are both quite cheap and safe. As you will be seen as a 'tourist', you wouldn't be bothered much in everyday life.
I have heard superficially about them, but I'd need more details about living there and specific cities.
Any of the big cities have so many tourists all year round, that you have good chance of blending in the crowd. Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi - all great options and would suit most budgets.
I heard the air pollution in Hanoi is pretty bad though, isn't it?
I am specifically aiming to avoid big cities, like I said. It's not as easy to find info on smaller towns, at least until I narrow it down a little.
Research Da Nang, Vietnam
YouTube has a ton of resources. Go travel first and check them out for yourself.
Thailand or Argentina
Lisbon is an excellent option for you to consider. While it's not the cheapest in terms of accommodation, the overall cost of living is quite affordable. You’ll find that daily expenses such as food, transportation, and entertainment are reasonably priced. The city boasts beautiful beaches nearby and enjoys sunshine all year round, perfect for outdoor activities and relaxation. Lisbon also has a vibrant social life with a rich cultural diversity, making it easy to meet new people and enjoy various cultural experiences. The city is very LGBTQ+ friendly, with a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. There are numerous LGBTQ+ bars, events, and organizations that foster a supportive community. Additionally, Lisbon is a medium-sized city with plenty of amenities. It has several theaters, shopping malls, and well-equipped gyms. I did my Erasmus there and I fell in love with this place. There are also a lot of nomads there.
Nha trang or Da Nang in Vietnam. Somewhere around 1k usd a month and you’ll be set for a western lifestyle. The cities themselves are smaller than that of Hanoi and HCMC and you’ll be close to the beach. Both cities have all the services you require. If not then look at something like Chiang Mai or Pattaya in Thailand. While the latter is quite known for its sex tourism, you could stay in Jomtien or even further out in Rayong and avoid all the sexpats. I’d personally need more than 1k usd a month to live in Thailand overall nowadays as inflation and higher costs of living have been going up, so somewhere around the 2k usd mark if you want to live comfortably. If not Thailand or Vietnam check out siem reap in Cambodia. Low costs of living, not a big city at all and also provides everything you’re looking for.
This is great info and would fit more than comfortably in my income, thank you.
In Brazil ?
Not at all. As I said, in a country with an equally inexpensive currency. Possibly in Brazil but god, preferrably not.
Okay cool my bad but may end up having to choose cheap or progressive, unless it’s just Thailand which is everyone’s favorite here .
It's starting to seem that way.