8 Best Places to Live Abroad for Young Adults Right Now

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Thailand, Travel + Leisure’s 2025 Destination of the Year, is incredibly popular among remote workers and young travelers—even more so since the country launched the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) in 2024. “The long-time champ for remote workers and business owners is now even more attractive thanks to Thailand’s five-year, multi-entry digital nomad visa, the best one of its kind in the world,” says Tim Leffel, author of “A Better Life for Half the Price” and editor of the Nomadico newsletter on Substack, who counts Chiang Mai among his picks for the best places to live for young people. “Many who live here pay $500 or less per month on rent, the food is excellent, and the social options to connect with other expats are nearly limitless. Domestic flights are usually below $100, and ones within the region are not much more for exploring nearby countries in Southeast Asia,” he adds. For young people seeking a unique, interesting, and affordable life chapter, it doesn’t get much better than Chiang Mai.

Toronto, Canada

“We see clients who have developed fantastic careers in Canada, having emigrated there from the U.K. or elsewhere—predominantly in Toronto or Vancouver—while benefiting from an all-round high quality of living, ranging from the social opportunities to things like healthcare and public infrastructure, and being closely connected to nature,” says Luther Yeates, founder of U.K. Expat Mortgage. “The downside is the cost of living, which is why I’d vouch for Toronto over Vancouver as it’s slightly cheaper, but you really need to be tapping into the local employment opportunities to thrive, with rental prices being among the steepest in the world.” Still, he notes that the “balance of career opportunities and quality of life” outweigh the cons and make Toronto, in his opinion, one of the best places for young people to live in 2026.

Dublin, Ireland

“Dublin has a surprisingly low cost of living compared to the local employment opportunities and the average salary on offer,” says Yeates. Numbeo estimates the monthly costs for a single person are $1,210 (excluding rent). “With historic and cultural charm to rival anywhere in the world, combined with a social and drinking culture to be marveled at (if you can keep up), it’s got to be one of the most exciting places to live globally,” he adds. On the career side of things, Dublin has become a global tech hub, so if this is your field (or desired field), there are ample opportunities.

“Public transport is also excellent, and you have top-tier healthcare, etc. As a neighboring Brit, I’d say the major downside is the weather—but if you’re happy drinking away your winter evenings in a cozy pub with good company, then it shouldn’t be a problem,” Yeates says.

Da Nang, Vietnam

“The current runner-up to Chiang Mai is coming on strong, with equally reasonable prices, terrific beaches nearby, and a young population that’s learning English fast,” says Leffel. “Entrepreneurs can find plenty of local talent for tech projects, and it’s a short hop from here to Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Vietnam also has some of the lowest beer prices in the world.” In Da Nang, specifically, young people will find the cost of living is on the lower end. According to Numbeo, the estimated costs for a single person (excluding rent) are around $423 per month.

Bangkok, Thailand

Yeates describes Bangkok as an “amazing city” for those young people with the opportunity to work remotely. “The cost of living is so low that you can afford to not be earning thousands and still have a high quality of life. You can really build something here as an entrepreneur or freelancer and not have to sacrifice living standards,” he says. “Rent is less than half that of most European cities, and the cost of living is similar, and there is a thriving young digital nomad community to engross yourself in—people who likely have a shared vision and values with you.” Time Out also recently named Bangkok the world’s best city for Gen Z after it ranked highly among young people for happiness and affordability.

Bansko, Bulgaria

“This ski town in summer and hiking destination in winter has a thriving expat scene all year and hosts one of the longest-running nomad festivals each summer,” says Leffel, referring to Bansko Nomad Fest, an event billed as a “week-long celebration of the remote lifestyle.” He also notes Bansko’s location—it’s just a few hours from the capital of Sofia, another popular city for nomads—and its affordability, two important factors for young people. “Bansko has bargain apartments to rent for 300 to 600 euros per month, and there’s a thriving co-working and social scene,” he says. Bansko was recently named one of the most affordable European cities to visit this winter, and the cost of living is estimated to be around $1,283 per month for expats. “For non-EU residents, Bulgaria launched its own digital nomad visa this year—and they adopted the euro in 2026,” he adds.

Montevideo, Uruguay

“Uruguay is more expensive than neighbors Argentina and Brazil, but it makes up for it by being the most liberal country in South America. It’s also one of the safest countries in the Americas,” says Leffel. In Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, young single people can expect to pay under $1,000 per month in expenses, not taking into account rent. International Living notes that the “three areas most popular with English-speaking expats” are Ciudad Vieja and Centro, the Pocitos Area, and Carrasco. “The beaches around Punta del Este provide a nice break from the city, and Argentina is a ferry ride away from nearby Colonia,” Leffel adds.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is the type of destination that attracts a few different types of groups. “Portugal’s property market has been among the strongest in the world over the last decade, and I think that is a result of its popularity among high-earners as either a retirement destination or a second-home/investment property hotspot,” says Yeates. But he also shares that the largest city in Portugal appeals to young people. “For Gen Z, I think this is a great place to consider: lots of expat communities already established, incredible weather, sunny beaches, a great lifestyle, and comparatively low cost of living for Europe (although rent is quite high in the city center),” he explains. “If you’re a digital nomad with an established remote income, I can’t think of a better place to live.”