Most Affordable Countries for Expats & Digital Nomads
Ranked by GeoCompass Affordability Index — measuring the actual monthly cost of living for a professional expat, including housing, food, transport, and utilities. Tajikistan leads with 8.53 / 10, ahead of Madagascar (8.53 / 10) and Bangladesh (8.53 / 10). This view ranks 205 scored jurisdictions.
Methodology: rankings use the GeoCompass objective scores only. They do not include profile-specific dimensions such as visa fit or time zone fit.
Jurisdictions with a geopolitical stability score below 3.8 / 10 (active conflict or state fragility) are not ranked in this list. They appear without a rank below the table, and their scores stay visible on their country profiles.
What the Affordability Index measures
The Affordability Index reflects the real cost of living for a foreign resident, measured against global benchmarks. It covers housing, food, transport, and everyday goods and services at the standard a working professional actually keeps, which is why some places with a cheap reputation score lower once city-center costs and reliable services are counted. A higher score means your purchasing power stretches further.
Affordability only means something next to your income and your base. A strong remote salary changes what cheap means, and a capital is rarely priced like a secondary city. Pair this ranking with the cost figures on each country profile to turn the score into your own monthly numbers.
Ranking table
| Rank | Flag | Country | Affordability Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | Tajikistan | 8.53 / 10 | |
| =1 | Madagascar | 8.53 / 10 | |
| =1 | Bangladesh | 8.53 / 10 | |
| =1 | Turkmenistan | 8.53 / 10 | |
| 5 | Egypt | 8.49 / 10 | |
| =6 | Nepal | 8.44 / 10 | |
| =6 | Mozambique | 8.44 / 10 | |
| =8 | Uzbekistan | 8.40 / 10 | |
| =8 | India | 8.40 / 10 | |
| =10 | Moldova | 8.35 / 10 | |
| =10 | Malawi | 8.35 / 10 | |
| =12 | Kyrgyzstan | 8.31 / 10 | |
| =12 | Tunisia | 8.31 / 10 | |
| 14 | Kosovo | 8.19 / 10 | |
| =15 | Tanzania | 8.16 / 10 | |
| =15 | Uganda | 8.16 / 10 | |
| 17 | North Macedonia | 8.11 / 10 | |
| 18 | Albania | 8.05 / 10 | |
| =19 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 8.04 / 10 | |
| =19 | Bolivia | 8.04 / 10 |
Below the stability floor: 27 jurisdictions with scores but no rank
These jurisdictions sit below the 3.8 / 10 geopolitical stability floor (active conflict or state fragility), so they are listed without a rank. Their scores are shown here for transparency and stay fully visible on their country profiles.
- Afghanistan8.87 / 10geo 1.06 / 10
- Yemen8.85 / 10geo 1.00 / 10
- Syria8.85 / 10geo 1.00 / 10
- Pakistan8.53 / 10geo 3.12 / 10
- Sudan8.53 / 10geo 1.00 / 10
- Somalia8.53 / 10geo 1.00 / 10
- Burundi8.44 / 10geo 3.73 / 10
- Iran8.39 / 10geo 2.75 / 10
- Ethiopia8.31 / 10geo 3.48 / 10
- Venezuela8.31 / 10geo 3.34 / 10
- Ukraine8.29 / 10geo 1.65 / 10
- Myanmar8.28 / 10geo 1.18 / 10
- Niger8.01 / 10geo 2.56 / 10
- Central African Republic8.01 / 10geo 1.00 / 10
- Eritrea8.01 / 10geo 3.74 / 10
- Burkina Faso7.97 / 10geo 3.28 / 10
- Libya7.97 / 10geo 1.48 / 10
- Mali7.97 / 10geo 1.46 / 10
- Democratic Republic of the Congo7.97 / 10geo 1.00 / 10
- South Sudan7.97 / 10geo 1.13 / 10
- Belarus7.95 / 10geo 2.44 / 10
- Iraq7.94 / 10geo 2.94 / 10
- Haiti7.79 / 10geo 2.50 / 10
- Chad7.79 / 10geo 2.76 / 10
- Russia7.62 / 10geo 1.67 / 10
- Lebanon7.53 / 10geo 3.01 / 10
- Palestinian Territories6.96 / 10geo 1.34 / 10
Top five spotlight
=1Tajikistan8.53 / 10
- Affordability Index: 8.53 / 10 — Very affordable cost of living
- Tax Freedom Index: 7.93 / 10 — Favorable tax environment
=1Madagascar8.53 / 10
- Affordability Index: 8.53 / 10 — Very affordable cost of living
- WeatherComfort Index: 7.07 / 10 — Comfortable climate year-round
=1Bangladesh8.53 / 10
- Affordability Index: 8.53 / 10 — Very affordable cost of living
- Market Depth Index: 7.10 / 10 — Strong market depth index
=1Turkmenistan8.53 / 10
- Tax Freedom Index: 8.59 / 10 — Very favorable tax environment
- Affordability Index: 8.53 / 10 — Very affordable cost of living
#5Egypt8.49 / 10
- Affordability Index: 8.49 / 10 — Very affordable cost of living
- City Comfort Index: 7.87 / 10 — Comfortable city living environment
See how you rank against these countries
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Get your reportFrequently asked questions
What does the Affordability Index measure?
The overall cost of living for a foreign resident, housing, food, transport, and everyday goods and services, compared with global benchmarks. A higher score means lower relative cost and more purchasing power.
Why does a country known as cheap rank lower than expected?
Because the index assumes a professional standard of living and city-center costs. Places that are inexpensive for short visits can cost more once you add reliable housing and services for a long stay.
Is the most affordable country the best value?
Value depends on your income and needs. The ranking shows cost, the country profile shows what that cost buys in internet, healthcare, and safety.
Related rankings
Editorial guide: Read on Lucky Nomads
Founder, Lucky Nomads · Wealth manager
Researched from official sources, leading global indices and Lucky Nomads' own scoring.