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How to Live Like a Millionaire—Anywhere on Earth
Explore 7 global havens where your nest egg buys wealth, health & ease.
Philip Saparov
December 03, 2025
In partnership with
Greetings, global-minded wealth explorer!
What if your million-dollar nest egg could buy not just comfort — but luxury? In much of the West, $1M barely secures the basics. But in the right corners of the world, it unlocks sun-drenched coastlines, private healthcare, and a truly elevated lifestyle.
This edition reveals seven countries where a modest fortune stretches like magic.
Let’s dive into the places where your dollars live like royalty.
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Retiring in Europe with luxury living and mild Mediterranean weather? Portugal offers just that — without the price tag of its northern neighbors. It has become a go-to haven for expats seeking a blend of culture, comfort, and cost-efficiency.
📍 Lisbon and Porto provide cosmopolitan flair at half the cost of London or Paris.
🏡 A beachfront villa in the Algarve often rents for under $2,000/month — a steal by Western standards.
🩺 Private healthcare is high-quality and shockingly affordable, with many English-speaking doctors.
Did you know? Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax scheme lets you pay little to no tax on foreign income for up to 10 years — an underrated perk for global retirees.
If your ideal millionaire life includes fresh mangoes, $15 massages, and white sand beaches, Thailand awaits. Known for its “smile economy,” this Southeast Asian jewel offers exceptional value, especially outside of Bangkok.
🏝 In Chiang Mai, $1,200/month can get you a modern condo, domestic help, and dining out daily.
🚑 World-renowned private hospitals offer VIP-level care for a fraction of U.S. prices.
🍜 Daily life? Delicious, vibrant, and surprisingly low-cost.
Fascinating stat: A million dollars in Thailand can cover over 40 years of upper-middle-class living for a couple, even with private healthcare and frequent travel.
Just south of the U.S., Mexico offers all the comforts of home — plus better weather, lower costs, and a thriving expat network.
🏖 In towns like San Miguel de Allende or Lake Chapala, you can own a colonial home, employ household help, and dine well on less than $2,000/month.
💵 Utilities, transportation, and medical care are dramatically cheaper than U.S. averages.
🎨 Culture, festivals, and fresh food abound.
Unexpected insight: Many American retirees find that their social lives improve dramatically in Mexico, thanks to active expat communities and affordable domestic help.
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Tucked between Europe and Asia, Georgia is emerging as a top destination for those craving scenic beauty, ancient culture, and incredible affordability.
🍷 Tbilisi offers a European lifestyle at under $1,000/month, including rent.
🚶♂️ Safe streets, welcoming locals, and a fast-growing digital nomad visa add to its appeal.
🌍 It’s also one of the few places where foreigners can own land without restriction.
Intriguing fact: Georgia ranks #2 globally for ease of property registration, making it ideal for foreign investors eyeing real estate plays on a budget.
Long overshadowed by its past, Colombia has reinvented itself — especially for retirees and digital nomads. The country's rich biodiversity and rapidly improving infrastructure make it a compelling place to stretch a million dollars.
🌇 Medellín — the “City of Eternal Spring” — offers luxury high-rises for under $1,500/month.
🍇 Cost of groceries, domestic help, and transport is 60–70% lower than in the U.S.
⚕️ Top-tier healthcare facilities rival those in the West — for one-third the cost.
Surprise: Medellín’s metro system is Latin America’s first and only cable car-integrated mass transit system, connecting hillside neighborhoods efficiently and beautifully.
Ranked consistently among the best places to retire, Malaysia combines modern infrastructure with low costs and easy living — particularly under its MM2H (“Malaysia My Second Home”) program.
🏙 In Penang, a million-dollar nest egg supports a 30-year lifestyle including healthcare, housing, and travel.
🥡 A meal at a hawker center might cost $2, and rent for a luxury condo hovers around $700/month.
🩺 Healthcare is excellent — many expats fly in just for procedures.
Did you know? Malaysia’s life expectancy has surged past 75 — a testament to affordable and effective healthcare in an emerging economy.
Often compared to Croatia (but half the price), Montenegro offers coastal charm, fast-growing infrastructure, and EU-adjacent access — all with a shockingly low cost of living.
🌊 Live steps from the Adriatic Sea for under $1,500/month, with seafood and wine always within reach.
🇲🇪 The country is on track for EU membership, boosting its long-term appeal.
🚤 Yachting, hiking, skiing — all possible within an hour’s drive.
Curious twist: Foreigners can gain residency by simply purchasing property — no income requirements, no red tape. A rare find in Europe.
As this edition shows, the lifestyle $1M buys varies wildly depending on location. In some countries, it barely covers a decade of modest living. In others, it’s your ticket to decades of abundance, wellness, and adventure.
Each place we’ve covered today isn’t just affordable — it’s livable, vibrant, and rewarding. From wine-rich Georgia to sunset-lined Portugal, you have options.
The world is full of doors — wealth just gives you more keys. Where will you unlock your next chapter?
Warm regards,
Shane Fulmer
Founder, WorldPopulationReview.com
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