Philippines vs Vietnam vs Thailand vs Malaysia vs Cambodia | Cost of Living 2026

Many people move to Southeast Asia because of the lower cost of living — but how does the Philippines actually compare with other popular destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia? In this video we compare five Southeast Asian capital cities — Manila, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Phnom Penh — across 10 real cost-of-living categories including rent, food, electricity, fuel, internet and average salaries. We also look at visa costs, purchasing power and overall cost-of-living indexes to see which country truly offers the best value for expats and digital nomads in 2026. The results might surprise you. Is the Philippines still one of the cheapest places to live in Southeast Asia, or have countries like Vietnam or Cambodia overtaken it? Watch to the end to see which country comes out cheapest overall. Question for you: If you had the same fixed monthly budget to live anywhere in Southeast Asia — Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia or Cambodia — where would you choose to live and why? Curious to hear your thoughts. 🪴 If you enjoyed this video, give it a like, drop us a comment (we’d genuinely love to hear from you), and subscribe if you're curious about living a slower, more intentional life — one that’s a little more connected to nature, community, and what actually matters. 🌏 Stay Connected with The Grounded Nomads: Website ➤ www.thegroundednomads.com Email ➤ [email protected] Instagram ➤ @thegroundednomads Facebook ➤ www.facebook.com/TheGroundedNomads If you're thinking about buying land or building a home in the Philippines, we also offer land-finding assistance and independent build reporting services to help you avoid the common mistakes many foreigners make. Visit www.thegroundednomads.com to find out more. 📘 A Foreigner’s Guide to Building a Home in the Philippines If you’re planning to build in the Philippines, our guide walks you through the entire process — from finding land to managing contractors and avoiding costly mistakes. Get your copy here for only $7.99 👉 www.thegroundednomads.com 🌏 Join Our Private Community If you want deeper conversations about building, living off-grid, relocating to the Philippines and navigating life here as a foreigner, join our private community: 👉 https://www.skool.com/the-grounded-no... Data Sources: Cost of living figures in this video are based primarily on Numbeo (2026) city-level data for Manila, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur and Phnom Penh. Visa information and extension costs were compiled from official immigration websites and current expat resources. Prices shown are averages used for comparison purposes and will vary depending on lifestyle, location and personal spending habits. 📊 Categories Compared in This Video • Rent – 1 Bedroom City Centre • Cheap Restaurant Meal • Groceries – Basic Basket • Electricity (per kWh) • Petrol (per litre) • Internet • Mobile Plans • Utilities (85m² apartment) • Average Net Salary • Estimated Monthly Cost of Living #CostOfLiving #SoutheastAsia #PhilippinesVsThailand #PhilippinesCostOfLiving #VietnamCostOfLiving #ThailandCostOfLiving #MalaysiaCostOfLiving #CambodiaCostOfLiving #LivingInSoutheastAsia #ExpatLifeAsia #DigitalNomadAsia #CheapestCountryAsia #RetireInSoutheastAsia