Best cities in the Americas to live on $1,500 a month

Every city here in the Americas fits a full single-person budget — rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities and extras — under $1,500/month, ranked by overall quality of life so cheap doesn't mean grim.

Methodology: Only cities with an all-in monthly cost under $1,500 qualify; ranked by average quality of life (safety, internet, healthcare, climate).

1. 1. Boquete, Panama

   $1,350/mo · QoL 84/100 · Safety 88/100

   $1,350/mo all-in leaves $150/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 84/100 average quality of life.

2. 2. Cancún, Mexico

   $1,380/mo · QoL 81/100 · Safety 70/100

   $1,380/mo all-in leaves $120/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 81/100 average quality of life.

3. 3. Cabarete, Dominican Republic

   $1,330/mo · QoL 81/100 · Safety 78/100

   $1,330/mo all-in leaves $170/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 81/100 average quality of life.

4. 4. Cuenca, Ecuador

   $970/mo · QoL 80/100 · Safety 78/100

   $970/mo all-in leaves $530/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 80/100 average quality of life.

5. 5. Mendoza, Argentina

   $950/mo · QoL 80/100 · Safety 78/100

   $950/mo all-in leaves $550/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 80/100 average quality of life.

6. 6. Salta, Argentina

   $810/mo · QoL 78/100 · Safety 78/100

   $810/mo all-in leaves $690/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 78/100 average quality of life.

7. 7. El Tunco, El Salvador

   $1,230/mo · QoL 77/100 · Safety 78/100

   $1,230/mo all-in leaves $270/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 77/100 average quality of life.

8. 8. San José, Costa Rica

   $1,450/mo · QoL 77/100 · Safety 70/100

   $1,450/mo all-in leaves $50/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 77/100 average quality of life.

9. 9. Santiago, Chile

   $1,465/mo · QoL 77/100 · Safety 68/100

   $1,465/mo all-in leaves $35/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 77/100 average quality of life.

10. 10. Valparaíso, Chile

    $1,050/mo · QoL 76/100 · Safety 70/100

    $1,050/mo all-in leaves $450/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 76/100 average quality of life.

11. 11. Panajachel, Guatemala

    $740/mo · QoL 76/100 · Safety 78/100

    $740/mo all-in leaves $760/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 76/100 average quality of life.

12. 12. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    $1,330/mo · QoL 76/100 · Safety 65/100

    $1,330/mo all-in leaves $170/mo of headroom on a $1,500 budget, with 76/100 average quality of life.