Best cities in the Americas to live on $2,000 a month

Every city here in the Americas fits a full single-person budget — rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities and extras — under $2,000/month, ranked by overall quality of life so cheap doesn't mean grim.

Methodology: Only cities with an all-in monthly cost under $2,000 qualify; ranked by average quality of life (safety, internet, healthcare, climate).

1. 1. Punta del Este, Uruguay

   $1,980/mo · QoL 86/100 · Safety 88/100

   $1,980/mo all-in leaves $20/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 86/100 average quality of life.

2. 2. Boquete, Panama

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

   $1,350/mo all-in leaves $650/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 84/100 average quality of life.

3. 3. Tamarindo, Costa Rica

   $1,540/mo · QoL 82/100 · Safety 80/100

   $1,540/mo all-in leaves $460/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 82/100 average quality of life.

4. 4. Cancún, Mexico

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

   $1,380/mo all-in leaves $620/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 81/100 average quality of life.

5. 5. Cabarete, Dominican Republic

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

   $1,330/mo all-in leaves $670/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 81/100 average quality of life.

6. 6. Montevideo, Uruguay

   $1,665/mo · QoL 81/100 · Safety 80/100

   $1,665/mo all-in leaves $335/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 81/100 average quality of life.

7. 7. Cuenca, Ecuador

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

   $970/mo all-in leaves $1,030/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 80/100 average quality of life.

8. 8. Willemstad, Curaçao

   $1,800/mo · QoL 80/100 · Safety 78/100

   $1,800/mo all-in leaves $200/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 80/100 average quality of life.

9. 9. Mendoza, Argentina

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

   $950/mo all-in leaves $1,050/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 80/100 average quality of life.

10. 10. Salta, Argentina

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

    $810/mo all-in leaves $1,190/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 78/100 average quality of life.

11. 11. El Tunco, El Salvador

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

    $1,230/mo all-in leaves $770/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 77/100 average quality of life.

12. 12. San José, Costa Rica

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

    $1,450/mo all-in leaves $550/mo of headroom on a $2,000 budget, with 77/100 average quality of life.