A Better Life for Half the Price: How to prosper on less money in the cheapest places to live

by Tim Leffel

There is a newer second edition of this book, published in Novermber, 2020 . Please search for the new version instead! The most comprehensive guide to moving abroad in order to cut your expenses in half , with advice, expatriate interviews, and specific country details for the cheapest places to live. How to cut loose instead of cutting back by having more money to spend each month. "If you want the absolute lowdown on where in the world you can live your best life on your own terms, then Tim's book is for you. He's carefully researched and broken down the key countries in the world that you can live well in and provided great examples and stories from those who've designed their lifestyle by where they've chosen to live."
- Natalie Sisson, podcaster and author of The Suitcase Entrepreneur "Practical examples and detailed suggestions make A Better Life for Half the Price a must-read for anyone looking for a more cost-effective and independent lifestyle today."
- Scott Fox, Author of Click Millionaires: Work Less, Live More with an Internet Lifestyle Business You Love "He’s the master at finding good value destinations to live in around the world."
- Nomadic Matt Kepnes, author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2015

Reviews

[Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information on the costs, visa requirements and living conditions in various countries around the world.

[Teji · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book provides a good basic overview for living abroad in countries where the dollar (or euro) has more buying power. The profiled countries are: Mexico, Ecuador, Panama, Thailand, Cambodia, Colombia, Vietnam, Argentina, Nicaragua, Honduras, Hungary, Guatemala, India, Bulgaria, Portugal, Malaysia, Nepal, and Peru. The countries are not in alphabetical (or even geographical) order-- which would have been helpful; as far as I can tell, they are presented in no particular order at all.

There really isn't enough here to fill an entire book. As a result, each chapter just repeats the same advice over and over (and over) again:
-to really cut expenses abroad you can't just replicate your lifestyle from home;
-instead, you have to live, eat, speak, shop, and get around like a local;
-and, before you move, have a trial run by staying for an extended period in a non-tourist section of the target country
...It made me want to pull my hair out. Also, there are a lot of typos in this book.

Overall, it is an informative, but disorganized book that could have used another (a first) round of editing.

[Rayfes Mondal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great first read if you're thinking about living abroad. Covers the mindset you'll need and what kind of reaction you'll get from friends and family. Then provides a short synopsis of what you'll find in 20 different countries in terms of costs, general pros and cons, weather, quality of healtcare, visa and residency requirements, and transportation. When you choose a particular country to study further you can use other resources for a deeper dive but this book will help you narrow your choices down. It was written in 2016 so some things will be different today.

[Bill Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leffel outlines the pros and cons of living in "expat" destinations. The advantages are certainly lower labour, food and utility costs. Taxes are much reduced, but the author notes the "eternal trade-off" in that the government services such as water treatment, sanitation, and police services are reduced accordingly.

A major reason that many are attracted to other countries is the lower cost of living. In many parts of the U.S., U.K. and Canada, only a heavy workload will provide enough income to support a good lifestyle. Leffel does point out that costs are proportional to the popularity of the location. The cost of living in smaller towns in the U.S. is much less than that in the major cities such as New York and San Francisco. Conversely, the cost of living in major tourist destinations in Central America is grater than in smaller towns.

A major attraction of other countries is the lower cost of health care, especially for those in the U.S. where the profit driven health care system can make medical care actually unaffordable. Costs are so much lower in many other countries that many expat residents do not even care medical insurance. While many are hesitant to leave their home country's medical system, care in other countries can actually be better and faster than at home.

Leffel is very clear on the negatives of moving to other countries and asks the question of whether the reader is really cut out for it. He recommends a trial run where you live in the target country for a period in which you carry out all activities you would do in the long run, such as buying hardware and getting your car serviced. This will bring out the issues of communication in a foreign language and the availability of parts and labour. As well, it is important to experience the country during it's less favourable periods, such as the rainy season.

The author recommends that before a move you should set down criteria of your satisfaction with a new location. The deal breakers should be clear. He categorizes criteria in the groups of head, wallet and heart, the latter being the question of whether one really wants to be in a given location. He compares a "Wings" couple that want to move to experience a new culture with a "Chains" couple that moved for the cost savings but don't really enjoy the foreign culture.

Leffel includes an excellent chapter on safety. While some foreign locations are certainly dangerous, for the most part the overall rates of crime are less in foreign countries than at home. "Statistics Canada only lists eight countries where the five year average of Canadians assaulted or killed is higher than on home soil. Only one in this book makes the list (Mexico), and barely. The worldwide average is 0.5 incidents per 100,000 people, compared to 1.2 at home."

Food and drink come up as a major issue. Other countries vary greatly in their cuisine, with some having more varied and interesting food available. Sanitation can be a problem, requiring one to be careful as to where they eat. "The flip side of this is, most people end up eating a more healthy diet when they go abroad." as there is less fast food and pre-packaged junk food. Interestingly, he points out that "If you have an intolerance to lactose, gluten or nuts, don't be surprised if nobody knows what you are talking about in your new home."

A curious item comes out in his discussion on Nepal - "There are somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 Nepal NGO's in the country because there's no oversight ..." which "use kids like crop to harvest", the top people living in mansions and driving SUV's.

The author includes a chapter on the most popular countries in which he looks at the main issues: accommodation, health care, food and drink, transportation and visa alternatives. Each includes stories of those that have moved to that country. As well, he concludes with a section on the cons, to be clear that it is not all positive. Overall, this is a very balanced book.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straightforward, useful book. Longer than it needed to be, but seems to contain all the facts. Not a particularly engaging piece of writing, though.

[Michael Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

thanks for writing this book.

I now live in Vietnam for two year and meat my wife here.

thanks and God bless

[Rick Chollett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of useful and well researched information.

[Denise Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great introduction to retiring abroad or living as a digital nomad. It provides a comprehensive survey of some of the countries and cities that are accessible and affordable for expatriation. It included many resource links and real costs, so the reader can explore further any specific areas of interest.

Tim also covers many general tips for leaving one’s home country, like what to expect, common pitfalls and how to prepare. I found it incredibly useful as someone considering options for early retirement. If you’re already spending substantial time travelling and living outside your home country, you probably won’t find it meets your needs.

I read the 2nd edition of this book and didn’t see the typos mentioned in reviews of the first edition.

[Mskychick · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
Good resources and good tips.
If we end up strongly looking at moving overseas this will be a must-buy book