If you're planning a move abroad, working remotely, or simply curious about where your money goes furthest — this list is for you. We used the Burger Parity Score (BPS) to rank 30 countries by real-world affordability.
What We Measured
Unlike generic "cost of living" surveys that rely on self-reported data, our BPS basket includes 6 globally standardized products: Big Mac, Starbucks Latte, iPhone 15, Coca-Cola, Netflix, and an UberX ride. These are products everyone knows, making the comparison intuitive and fair.
The Top 10 Cheapest Countries
Based on our February 2026 data, here are the countries where your dollar stretches the furthest:
- 🇮🇳 India — BPS 52.3 — Almost half the global average cost. A Big Mac here is just $2.45.
- 🇪🇬 Egypt — BPS 55.1 — Incredibly affordable across all categories, especially food and transport.
- 🇹🇷 Turkey — BPS 58.7 — Great for food and entertainment, though tech products (iPhone) are pricier due to taxes.
- 🇻🇳 Vietnam — BPS 61.2 — A digital nomad favorite with rock-bottom food prices.
- 🇵🇭 Philippines — BPS 63.8 — Affordable daily essentials with decent internet infrastructure.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil — BPS 67.4 — Cheap food and services, but electronics carry a heavy tax premium.
- 🇲🇽 Mexico — BPS 69.1 — Close to the US but significantly cheaper. Perfect for nearshoring.
- 🇹🇭 Thailand — BPS 71.5 — The original expat paradise stays competitive.
- 🇵🇱 Poland — BPS 74.2 — EU country with surprisingly low prices for the quality of life.
- 🇲🇾 Malaysia — BPS 76.8 — English-speaking, modern infrastructure, low costs.
Key Insights
A pattern emerges: Asian and emerging markets dominate the top spots. However, the "cheapness" varies by category. Turkey, for example, has the most expensive iPhone in our index at $1,755 — but a Netflix subscription there costs just $3.99/month.
The Burger Parity Score reveals that "cheap" is relative. A country can be affordable for daily life but expensive for technology.
Planning Your Move?
Use our country rankings to compare any two countries side by side. Check the product-by-product breakdown to see exactly where prices diverge.