World’s Cheapest Places to Build a Life in 2026

The latest global cost-of-living data identifies the countries with the lowest everyday expenses and housing costs in the world, with several in Asia and Africa ranking prominently.

Pakistan emerges as the country with the lowest cost-of-living figure in the latest comparison, followed by Afghanistan, Libya, Egypt and Bangladesh.

The figures are published by World Population Review through its comparison of the cost of living across countries.

The ranking uses Numbeo’s Cost of Living Plus Rent Index, which combines the cost of consumer goods and services with rental costs to provide a broader measure of living expenses.

World Population Review also presents data from other sources, including Livingcost, Expatistan, and Global Economy.

The rankings vary because different sources use different methods to assess affordability and cost of living.

10 Cheapest Countries in the World to Live in 2026

Pakistan

Pakistan records a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index of 11.2 in the 2025 Numbeo data displayed by World Population Review.

Its Numbeo cost-of-living index, excluding rent, is 17.8, making it the lowest figure in the table under that measure.

Libya

Libya ranked second in the cost-of-living ranking, with a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index of 12.1. The country also recorded a cost-of-living index of 18.6, excluding rent.

Egypt

Egypt came third with a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index of 12.2. Its cost-of-living index, excluding rent, stood at 19.0.

World Population Review also lists Egypt among the countries that consistently appear in low-cost comparisons from several different sources.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh has a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index of 12.7, while its cost-of-living index is 20.9.

The figures place it among the lowest-cost countries in the Numbeo comparison.

India

India records a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index of 13.1 and a cost-of-living index of 19.5..

Madagascar

Madagascar has a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index of 13.5 in the Numbeo data used by World Population Review.

Its position places it among the countries with the lowest combined living and rental costs in the comparison.

Nepal

Nepal records a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index of 14.1.

Its cost-of-living index excluding rent is 23.0, according to the figures displayed by World Population Review.

Syria

Syria has a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index of 14.5 and a cost-of-living index of 23.3.

These figures place it among the lowest-cost countries under the Numbeo measure used in the comparison.

Algeria

Algeria records a Cost of Living Plus Rent Index of 15.2.

Its separate cost-of-living index stands at 24.5, according to the 2026 World Population Review table.

Russia

Russia completes the 10 countries with the lowest Cost of Living Plus Rent Index in the displayed Numbeo data, at 15.8.

Its cost-of-living index excluding rent is 22.3.

Rank	Country	Cost of Living Plus Rent Index
1	Pakistan	11.2
2	Afghanistan	12.0
3	Libya	12.1
4	Egypt	12.2
5	Bangladesh	12.7
6	India	13.1
7	Madagascar	13.5
8	Nepal	14.1
9	Syria	14.5
10	Algeria	15.2

What the Cost-of-Living Index Measures

The Cost of Living Plus Rent Index compares the relative cost of living between countries while accounting for housing expenses.

Numbeo’s broader Cost of Living Index considers prices for categories such as food, restaurants, transportation, utilities and consumer goods and services.

The separate Plus Rent Index adds rental costs to the calculation, making it useful when comparing the combined cost of everyday expenses and accommodation.

The index uses New York City as its reference point, with New York assigned a score of 100. Countries with lower scores therefore have lower estimated costs under the index’s methodology.

A country’s position on a global cost-of-living index does not mean that living expenses are the same everywhere within its borders.

Costs can differ between major cities, smaller towns and rural areas. Location and accommodation the also affect housing costs, while food, transport, and other expenses can vary with individual lifestyles.

Different Sources Produce Different Rankings

World Population Review compares information from several sources, including Numbeo, Livingcost, Expatistan and Global Economy

Because these platforms use different datasets and methodologies, their rankings can differ.

For example, a ranking based on the overall cost of living may produce a different list from one that focuses on the expenses faced by expatriates or retirees.

This is why countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Georgia, the Philippines and Thailand can appear prominently in other affordability rankings even when they do not occupy the same positions in the World Population Review comparison.

The World Population Review list is a cost-of-living comparison based on its stated methodology and not a definitive ranking of the best or cheapest places for everyone to live.

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