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In this episode of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with  @thestoryofkt  and  @evan_eh  we compare the best affordable places to live and retire early in SE Asia, including a full monthly budget breakdown and discussion of the pros and cons of living in Vietnam, and Kevin tells me what it is like to be a black man in Vietnam. He also shares his experience of dating, working and living in Vietnam as an African American.

0:00 Intro - Kevin from Story of KT Youtube Channel
1:00 “It was time to leave” the USA
2:35 I sold everything & moved to Vietnam
10:00 Living in Hanoi vs Living in HCMC Saigon
17:50 what’s it like being black in Vietnam?
25:00 trash, sanitary, huge banh mi rats
28:00 Dating Vietnamese women as a black man
31:00 speaking Vietnamese & Language Barrier
35:00 Vietnam is a crazy animal
38:00 Story of KT and Starting on Youtube 
39:30 “You will get scammed in Vietnam”


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Watch the full interview on Youtube here. 

In this episode of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with Ryan Mellon from Digital Nomad Nation Podcast. We compare the best affordable places to live and retire early in SE Asia, including a full monthly budget breakdown and discussion of the pros and cons of living in Bali and Vietnam.

If you enjoyed the episode, leave us a 5 star  review — it helps more than you think.

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✈️ Moving to Vietnam? Watch my 60 minute masterclass first → 👉 Watch now

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Use my discount code EVAN and you'll get $3 off your first eSIM purchase!

Watch the full epsiode and house tour on Youtube here.

In this episode of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with ‪@maiabundant‬ and ‪@evan_eh‬ we house tour and $800 house in Da Nang Vietnam's best expats area, An Thuong, look at how an expat family life in Vietnam and we compare the best affordable places to live and retire early in SE Asia, including a full monthly budget breakdown and discussion of the pros and cons of living in Vietnam in an expat interview with Mai from Canada.

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In this episode of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with Mike the ‪@thecodingtravelbug‬ we compare the best affordable places to live and retire early in SE Asia, including a full monthly budget breakdown of Pattaya Thailand and Da Nang Vietnam, and a discussion of the pros and cons of living in Vietnam vs Thailand, and why expats are leaving Thailand and moving to Vietnam.

Watch this interview on Youtube here

Episode chapters:
0:00 backstory and living in Tokyo Japan
5:00 Da Nang Vietnam cost of living in 2025
7:45 Cost of living in Vietnam vs Thailand (Half what it is in Thailand or less)
11:30 road trips and train travel in Vietnam
14:20 Laos Travel advice - Luang Prabang and Vientiane
16:00 When did you move to Thailand
20:00 How do you make money online? 
21:30 How much money do you need to retire in Thailand?
22:15 Bangkok 2015, When I arrived in Thailand
24:00 Buying a condo in Bangkok vs Buying a Condo in Pattaya
28:00 Why expats are leaving Thailand for Vietnam
29:01 getting out of Thailand for a month and a day…
30:00 Da Nang if you need to focus and beach….
31:00 healthcare and aging in southeast asia
41:00 Where is best to retire in 2025? (Thailand vs Philippines vs Vietnam)
42:50 Da Nang Vietnam is definitely in my future
46:00 How to live on $300, but make $2000

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This episode of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod is brought to you by SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. In this episode of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with ‪@NolanJax‬ and ‪@evan_eh‬ we compare the best affordable places to live and retire early in SE Asia, including a full monthly budget breakdown of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Opening a Thai Lady Bar, dealing with Thai Bar Girls, and discussions of the pros and cons of living in Thailand vs Vietnam.

Here is the link to Nolan's business: https://www.nolan-jax.com/home

Episode chapters:

00:00 Cost of Living in Chiang Mai
04:37 Setting Up a Lady Bar
12:31 Challenges of Staffing and Management
18:26 Transitioning from Software Development to Entrepreneurship
23:55 Understanding the Lady Bar Culture
30:21 Safety and Community in Chiang Mai
33:21 Navigating Language Barriers in Thailand
35:45 Cultural Adaptation and Insights
37:40 Transportation and Cost of Living
40:49 Lessons from Opening a Lady Bar in Thailand
45:26 YouTube Journey and Authenticity


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This episode of The Cost of Living Abroad is brought to you by SafetyWing Nomad Insurance. Get SafetyWing Nomad Insurance here 

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Watrch this interview on Youtube here.

This week, I sat down with Josh from Josh on the Move to talk about why so many expats are falling out of love with Thailand. Are we seeing a tourism bubble? A full-on collapse? We break down the rising costs in Thailand, compare it to Vietnam, and dig into what’s really going on. Stick around to the end—Josh reveals how he grew his YouTube channel from under 1,000 subscribers to over 166,000 in just one year. We did a deep dive with ‪@josh.onthemove‬ to compare Phuket Thailand vs da nang Vietnam, the best affordable places to live and retire early in SE Asia, including a full monthly budget breakdown and discussion of the pros and cons of living in Phuket Thailand vs da nang Vietnam and why he left the UK and he left Australia, but he doesn't forget where he grew up or what his home country gave him.

chapters:
0:00 Where you live in thailand?
2:00 Why did you move to Thailand?
3:00 Food cost of living UK vs Thailand
7:30 How much does it cost to run your online business?
14:00 in terms of value for money, Vietnam is the best
16:20 Da Nang is great for living, but...
17:40 Why SE ASIA over UK and Australia
18:30 Do you really hate your country or do you hate your way of life?
19:55 it makes me feel fucking alive, i dont like being micromanaged
21:15 monthly expenses total in da nang vietnam and phuket thailand
22:50 $2500US … it would cost me 2 to 3 times more to live in the uk
24:15 $1000 a month ive done it, would i do it again?
25:22 3 pros reasons for staying in phuket thailand
30:00 healthcare experiences in thailand vs UK NHS 
34:00 How am I making money online as a digital nomad working remote in Thailand? 41:00 How I grew so fast on Youtube
44:00 Trolls on Youtube, how do you deal with it?
48:00 Whats your dream day like in thaialnd
51:00 dealing with loneliness living in thailand
54:00 A day in the life of a digital nomad in Thailand

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👉https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/newsletter

In this conversation on The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with ‪@evan_eh‬ and ‪@mogul.x‬ Mogul shares her experiences as a young creative navigating life between the UK and Southeast Asia. She discusses the significant differences in cost of living, food preferences, and cultural dynamics between the two regions. Mogul expresses her aspirations to move to Bangkok to expand her creative ventures while reflecting on the challenges and opportunities that come with living abroad. The conversation also touches on safety perceptions, social interactions, and the reasons behind her desire to leave the UK for a more fulfilling life in Thailand.

Mogul shares her motivations for leaving the UK for Thailand, discussing the high cost of living and the desire for a more appreciative lifestyle. She explains her transition to online work as a UX/UI designer and her journey into YouTube content creation, emphasizing the importance of building a personal brand and community engagement. The discussion also covers video planning, scripting, and the challenges of maintaining consistency in content creation, ultimately highlighting the potential for success in the digital nomad lifestyle. 

Chapters 
00:00 Introduction to Mogul and Her Journey
02:27 Cost of Living Comparison: UK vs Southeast Asia
05:38 Food Culture: Meals and Preferences
08:17 Monthly Expenses: Subscriptions and Living Costs
11:07 Cultural Insights: Living with Family vs Independence
13:50 Housing Costs: Bangkok vs London
16:27 Travel Plans: Moving to Bangkok
19:27 Cultural Experiences: Returning to Thailand
22:12 Multicultural Living: Experiences in Kuala Lumpur
30:30 Cultural Connections in Malaysia
32:50 Safety Perspectives: UK vs. Southeast Asia
40:03 Navigating Safety in Kuala Lumpur
44:05 Reasons for Considering a Move to Thailand
46:30 Challenges of Living in the UK

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🎙️ This episode of The Cost of Living Abroad Podcast is brought to you by SafetyWing Nomad Insurance.

In part of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with Patio Owners Will and Cyril we compare the best affordable places to live and retire early in SE Asia, including a full monthly budget breakdown and discussion of the pros and cons of living in Da Nang Vietnam.

🌴 Today, we’re asking: Why are so many expats moving to Da Nang, Vietnam for a better life? 💡 Is it still worth it in 2025 — and how hard is it really to open a bar or business here? 💸 Stick around to hear the real cost of starting fresh abroad — straight from two guys who did it. 

0:00 Intro to Patio Bar, Da Nang Vietnam
5:30 How to start a business in Vietnam
7:00 How much does it cost to start a business in Vietnam?
8:15 Why leave France Europe to move to Vietnam SE Asia?
9:15 Why leave California America to move to Vietnam SE Asia?
10:45 How has Vietnam changed in the last 15 years?
12:30 Living in Taipei Taiwan China vs Da Nang Vietnam
13:30 How long does it take to open a business in Vietnam?
16:00 How did you find a place to stay in Da Nang Vietnam?
20:00 Challenges opening a business in Da Nang Vietnam
21:30 How do you meet people & community in Da Nang Vietnam?
23:00 Patio Bar Tapas style in Da Nang Vietnam
27:00 How do locals treat expat foreigners in Da Nang Vietnam?
30:30 What’s it like living in Hoi An vs HCMC vs Da Nang Vietnam?
32:30 How is the language barrier in Da Nang Vietnam?
39:30 Advice to relocate and move to Vietnam SE Asia
40:30 How to Find Expat Community in Vietnam?
42:00 What is the scariest part of moving to Vietnam?
43:30 How much does it Cost to Open a bar business in Vietnam SE Asia?
45:20 How much do cocktails cost at Patio in Da Nang Vietnam?
46:00 What’s the worst part of opening a business in Vietnam?
48:00 How to get a business license in Vietnam?



✈️ Want to live better for less in Southeast Asia?
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com

📬 Get my no-BS expat newsletter + free relocation tools
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/newsletter

📘 Read how I retired early, moved abroad & built income online
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/e-book

💸 Compare real monthly budgets across Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia & more
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/cost-of-living-calculator

✅ Download your First 30 Days in SE Asia Checklist (Video + PDF)
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/30-day-checklist-video
https://youtu.be/6hShK2E0gyg


WATCH Cost of Living Abroad Podcast interviews: https://youtu.be/AoK0w44GQNQ

🎧 Leave a review for the podcast version on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZEKcjfJp6sgYfjKhS97I5

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cost-of-living-abroad-pod/id1813502388
Leave a review — it helps more than you think.

💼 Tools & Services I Actually Use (Affiliate Links):

SafetyWing Nomad Insurance for Nomads & Expats: https://safetywing.com/nomad-insurance/?referenceID=26268054&campaign=cost-of-living-abroad-3-episodes&utm_campaign=cost-of-living-abroad-3-episodes&utm_source=26268054&utm_medium=Ambassador

Transfer & Manage Money Internationally Wise (formerly TransferWise): https://shorturl.at/Bvowz

Protect Your Privacy Abroad NordVPN: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id=15&aff_id=122487&url_id=902

Book Hotels in Vietnam Expedia Vietnam: https://shorturl.at/WKzk2
Trip.com: https://trip.prf.hn/click/camref:1011l4hHv9/creativeref:1101l133638

Get TEFL Certified to Teach English Online TEFL Course (Ninja Teacher): https://academy.ninjateacher.com/p/online-tesol-tefl-course?affcode=217387_moopg3vo

In-Person Course in Ho Chi Minh City: https://academy.ninjateacher.com/p/vietnam-tesol-tefl-course?affcode=217387_moopg3vo

Find the Cheapest Flights Skyscanner: https://skyscanner.pxf.io/GKQJzV

AirAsia Move App: https://airasia.prf.hn/click/camref:1101l575Cq/creativeref:1100l135049

Supplements I Use Abroad Performance Lab: https://shorturl.at/Bvowz

Meet Someone Abroad VietnamCupid: https://www.vietnamcupid.com

📬 Questions about moving abroad? Drop them in the comments

 If you're serious about living abroad, check out my full course, membership and resources: https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/southeastasia
— visas, budget templates, digital income, and more.

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Description: This AUSSIE Left Australia for KL MALAYSIA Here's WHY. on this episode of The Cost of Living Abroad Pod with  @evan_eh  and  @JackAlderton 

0:00 Intro & recap
1:00 Cost of living in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
3:30 affordable luxury in KL Malaysia
8:30 people think of Malaysia as more conservative/family oriented
10:00 less massive drinking culture like unsafe australia
12:00 Healthcare in malaysia vs australia might surprise you
16:30 cheaper to fly to se asia for medical
19:00 trying to protect a system thats not working
20:00 young people are leaving Australia - here's why.
21:30 Where to Stay in KL Malaysia
23:30 monthly total cost of living in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
24:00 Visa digital nomad and MM2H in malaysia
25:00 Best Places to Retire vietnam vs malaysia vs philippines
31:00 Does KL Malaysia have the best rental market in the world?
34:50 Why Malaysia has better schools than australia
35:25 i didnt come her to cheap out Malaysia affordable luxury
36:30 if youre earning 1000 a month online, you are set in SE Asia
38:45 Why prices in Australia have skyrocketed
39:20 Malaysians why do you want to go to Australia?
40:15 Am i gonna be a target? Is Malaysia safe?
40:45 Southeast Asia on easy mode
44:30 Dating in Malaysia as a Foreigner Expat
45:00 How to make money living abroad?
53:00 Any remote job will cover you here in se asia
53:45 biggest struggle is loneliness, dry spells living abroad

Leave a review to the podcast version on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZEKcjfJp6sgYfjKhS97I5

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cost-of-living-abroad-pod/id1813502388
Leave a review — it helps more than you think.

✈️ Want to live better for less in Southeast Asia?
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com

📬 Get my no-BS expat newsletter + free relocation tools
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/newsletter

📘 Read how I retired early, moved abroad & built income online
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/e-book

✅ Download your First 30 Days in SE Asia Checklist (Video + PDF)
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/30-day-checklist-video

💸 Compare real monthly budgets across Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia & more
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/cost-of-living-calculator

Affiliate links are the best and easiest way to support my channel and help me to produce high quality content for you. Here are a few of my personal recommendations for products that I use everyday:

My Top Travel Cards that I use to save while traveling:
https://www.dailydrop.com/credit-cards-2?via=cost-of-living-abroad

If you're also considering teaching English as a way to relocate to Vietnam, get in touch with Alex at Ninja Teacher and tell him I sent you: https://academy.ninjateacher.com/p/vietnam-tesol-tefl-course?affcode=217387_moopg3vo

Air Asia Move isn't just my favorite airline in the region, with their new app I book my flights, hotels and airport pickups. Sign up using my link for members only exclusive deals and bonus points: https://prf.hn/l/W4xoX4g/

If you're looking for love in all the wrong places, and you're curious About Vietnamese women. Have a gander at who's out there? Maybe she is waiting for you on Vietnam Cupid right now: https://cupidlinks.com/?a=145252&c=33... 

 use SafetyWing Nomad Insurance ‘Complete’ package annual, including Adventure Sports. Save 10% NOW with annual payment using the link below. https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=2...

Hide your data and banking info when you’re abroad. Get 77% OFF NordVPN now. Just $3/month with link below. NordVPN: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id...

Take care of yourself, gents! Click my affiliate link below and buy your subscription of Performance Lab supplements using the link for 32% off while supplies last: https://shorturl.at/QNZqB

I always use my WISE TRAVEL CARD, for currency exchange and to get a Vietnamese Dong travel card you can connect to Google Pay (offer not valid in USA) click the link below: https://shorturl.at/Bvowz

BOOK YOUR TRIP to Vietnam now and save on the best Hotels by clicking the Expedia VN link below: https://shorturl.at/WKzk2

Stop smelling like a sweaty beast, and start smelling like a handsome Canadian, eh! https://amzn.to/4jR131K

Sign up to stay up to date on visa, banking and travel warnings in SE Asia: https://costoflivingabroad.com/newsletter

✈️ Thinking of Relocating to Vietnam or Southeast Asia? Start here → https://costoflivingabroad.com

Join thousands getting free expat resources, downloadable PDF guides, insider courses, and 1-on-1 coaching to help you move smart.

📬 Questions about moving abroad? Drop them in the comments Thanks for watching — don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if this helped you! 🌏

✈️ Want to live better for less in Southeast Asia?
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com

📬 Get my no-BS expat newsletter + free relocation tools
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/newsletter

📘 Read how I retired early, moved abroad & built income online
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/e-book

✅ Download your First 30 Days in SE Asia Checklist (Video + PDF)
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/30-day-checklist-video

💸 Compare real monthly budgets across Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia & more
👉 https://www.costoflivingabroad.com/cost-of-living-calculator

Description: I Quit My Dream Job to Be a Digital Nomad (A Year in Asia Cost Me $34,000) Vietnam, Thailand, Bali — the dream of working remotely across Southeast Asia isn't as easy or glamorous as it looks. Here’s the real story.

In this interview on The Cost of Living Abroad Pod, we break down exactly how much  @helenjzhao  spent ($34K total), what she learned, and why Bali still beat Da Nang—for digital nomads. From the breathtaking beauty of Sapa and Ubud to getting chased by dogs and robbed in Cambodia, this is what digital nomad life actually looks like when you're not faking it for Instagram.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro & recap
1:00 Cost of living in Southeast Asia as a digital nomad
11:30 Sapa, Vietnam — one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen
27:00 Ubud, Bali — still my favorite place in the world
30:00 Why Bali is better than Da Nang for some nomads
35:00 Safety concerns — I was chased by vicious dogs
37:00 The hidden sacrifices of being a digital nomad
38:25 Career crossroads — income, risk, success
39:55 Leaving certainty behind — the journalism industry collapse
41:00 At 27, I had nothing
42:24 My phone was stolen in Cambodia
44:00 The worst moment living abroad
45:00 Tips: Start with savings. $34,000 was my number
45:45 I couldn’t live with myself if I hadn’t done that trip
46:15 Burnout, loneliness, and travel fatigue
47:00 How to actually make money as a digital nomad on YouTube
48:30 Why Da Nang is more hype than substance on Instagram
51:49 In the U.S., I couldn’t afford life anymore — rent, house, nothing

🎧 Leave a review to the podcast version on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5ZEKcjfJp6sgYfjKhS97I5

Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cost-of-living-abroad-pod/id1813502388
Leave a review — it helps more than you think.

Affiliate links are the best and easiest way to support my channel and help me to produce high quality content for you. Here are a few of my personal recommendations for products that I use everyday:

My Top Travel Cards that I use to save while traveling:
https://www.dailydrop.com/credit-cards-2?via=cost-of-living-abroad

If you're also considering teaching English as a way to relocate to Vietnam, get in touch with Alex at Ninja Teacher and tell him I sent you: https://academy.ninjateacher.com/p/vietnam-tesol-tefl-course?affcode=217387_moopg3vo

Air Asia Move isn't just my favorite airline in the region, with their new app I book my flights, hotels and airport pickups. Sign up using my link for members only exclusive deals and bonus points: https://prf.hn/l/W4xoX4g/

If you're looking for love in all the wrong places, and you're curious About Vietnamese women. Have a gander at who's out there? Maybe she is waiting for you on Vietnam Cupid right now: https://cupidlinks.com/?a=145252&c=33...

I use SafetyWing Nomad Insurance ‘Complete’ package annual, including Adventure Sports. Save 10% NOW with annual payment using the link below. https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=2...

Hide your data and banking info when you’re abroad. Get 77% OFF NordVPN now. Just $3/month with link below. NordVPN: https://go.nordvpn.net/aff_c?offer_id...

Take care of yourself, gents! Click my affiliate link below and buy your subscription of Performance Lab supplements using the link for 32% off while supplies last: https://shorturl.at/QNZqB

I always use A WISE TRAVEL CARD, for currency exchange and to get a Vietnamese Dong travel card you can connect to Google Pay (offer not valid in USA) click the link below: https://shorturl.at/Bvowz

BOOK YOUR TRIP to Vietnam now and save on the best Hotels by clicking the Expedia VN link below: https://shorturl.at/WKzk2

Stop smelling like a sweaty beast, and start smelling like a handsome Canadian, eh! https://amzn.to/4jR131K

Sign up to stay up to date on visa, banking and travel warnings in SE Asia: https://costoflivingabroad.com/newsletter

✈️ Thinking of Relocating to Vietnam or Southeast Asia? Start here → https://costoflivingabroad.com

Join thousands getting free expat resources, downloadable PDF guides, insider courses, and 1-on-1 coaching to help you move smart.