Can’t decide between rainforests and beaches? Good thing Malaysia has both. Located in part on the Malay Peninsula, this country’s territory also includes a part of Borneo Island. There are about 32 million inhabitants in this Southeast Asian country, most of which are either Malay or Chinese.
The cultural mix in Malaysia includes local influences as well as foreign, such as Indian, Chinese and European. European architecture is quite common in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, but this city is home to modern buildings as well. Local purchasing power is 26.66% lower
Rent is 88.81% cheaper
Groceries are 57.56% cheaper
Local goods and services are 59.76% cheaper
Ukraine
This country was mentioned as the neighbor of several other countries in this list, and now it gets to take center stage. This country, too, was once part of the Soviet Union, and now stands independent, sharing a border with Russia.
A big part of the country's population of 43.7 million lives in Kyiv, the capital. Travelers love to explore the country's Black Sea shoreline and forested mountains.
Local purchasing power is 73.07% lower
Rent is 90.64% cheaper
Groceries are 80.13% cheaper
Local goods and services are 73.78% cheaper
Czech Republic
In 1993, after Czechoslovakia turned into two separate countries, the Czech Republic was formed. From its location in central Europe, this country borders with Austria, Poland, and Germany. This well-established democracy enjoys a stable economy.
The 10.7 million residents of the Czech Republic speak Czech as their main language. Their capital city is Prague, which is famous for its historic buildings and landmarks.
Local purchasing power is 23.78% lower
Rent is 85.17% cheaper
Groceries are 64.16% cheaper
Local goods and services are 58.78% cheaper
Poland
As a country that survived many brutal wars, Poland has very much evolved over the years. It is now a member of both NATO and the EU, and enjoys a stable economy. Neighboring on seven other countries, this European powerhouse also has peaceful beaches at the Baltic Sea's shores.
There are nearly 38 million people living in Poland, calling the city of Warsaw their capital. Much of the city's beautiful architecture has been hurt by wars, but thanks to professional restoration work, you could never guess it.
Local purchasing power is 28.25% lower
Rent is 86.07% cheaper
Groceries are 70.31% cheaper
Local goods and services are 61.85% cheaper
Libya
The two main pillars on which Libya's economy stands are oil and sand. This sunny country is located in North Africa at the shores of the Mediterranean. It has borders with Chad, Niger, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt and Sudan.
The capital of Libya is Tripoli. The city is home to a little more than a million people out of the country's nearly 7 million residents. Most Libyans speak Arabic, but don't be surprised to hear some Italian too, as the place used to be an Italian colony.
Local purchasing power is 32.65% higher
Rent is 81.2% cheaper
Groceries are 52.99% cheaper
Local goods and services are 54.15% cheaper