The capital where things actually get done: paperwork, doctors, banks, work and flights anywhere. The metro and skytrain take traffic out of the equation, rent is cheaper than on the islands, and the choice of food and coworking is endless. In return you get humidity, noise and a city several hours away from the sea.

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in Vietnam and the business hub of the south, with a major port and international airport. The pace is dense and urban, and it suits people moving for work or business rather than quiet living. Foreigners can enter Vietnam on an e-visa valid for up to three months, single or multiple entry.

Istanbul is Turkiye's business and cultural hub, a city spanning two continents across the Bosphorus. International companies, startups and most newcomers concentrate here, which pushes rent and restaurant prices above the rest of the country. Metro, trams and ferries connect the districts, though traffic and distances are part of daily life.

Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. The visa on arrival is valid for a 30-day stay and costs IDR 500,000; it cannot be renewed without leaving Indonesia, so a longer stay requires a new visa or a residence permit.

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the cultural center of the north, with the historic Old Quarter at its core. It suits people who want to combine work with a rich cultural life rather than a beach holiday. Foreigners can enter Vietnam on an e-visa valid for up to three months, single or multiple entry.

A beach resort city on the eastern gulf coast, two hours from Bangkok, with a large long-term expat community and infrastructure built for it. Rent runs cheaper than on Phuket, and food and transport stay at typical Thai prices. Visa extensions and the 90-day address report are filed at the local immigration office. The Walking Street area stays loud at night — Jomtien and Pratumnak are quieter for daily life.

Ankara is Turkiye's capital and the centre of government, diplomacy and universities rather than tourism. Life here runs calmer and cheaper than in Istanbul, with lower rent and shorter distances across the city. The continental climate brings cold winters and dry, hot summers, a real contrast with the coast.

Izmir is Turkiye's third-largest city on the Aegean coast, calmer and more spacious than Istanbul, with a long waterfront, universities and a working port. Rent and daily costs run noticeably lower than in the capital, while the city still offers a metro, buses and bay ferries. Summers are hot and dry, winters mild, and the swimming season runs from May to October.

Chiang Mai is a major city in northern Thailand with the administrative status of thesaban nakhon (city municipality). Since 2017 it has been part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the City of Crafts and Folk Art category. Foreigners staying in Thailand longer than 90 days in a row must report their address to immigration using the TM.47 form.

Bandung is a city in West Java Province, Indonesia, with a population of around 2,875,673. The visa on arrival is valid for a 30-day stay and costs IDR 500,000; it cannot be renewed without leaving Indonesia, so a longer stay requires a new visa or a residence permit.

Sharjah is part of the Emirate of Sharjah: as of 2015 the city had a population of about 1.25 million people over an area of 235.5 square kilometres. Investors in the UAE can obtain a long-term residency visa for a period of 10 years, processed by the federal ICP authority.

Surabaya is a city in East Java Province, Indonesia, with a population of around 3,009,286. The visa on arrival is valid for a 30-day stay and costs IDR 500,000; it cannot be renewed without leaving Indonesia, so a longer stay requires a new visa or a residence permit.

Hoi An is a small coastal town in central Vietnam, with a historic quarter of wooden houses and craft workshops. It suits people looking for a slower pace rather than a big city. Foreigners can enter Vietnam on an e-visa valid for up to three months, single or multiple entry.

Uluwatu is a region in Bali, Indonesia. The visa on arrival is valid for a 30-day stay and costs IDR 500,000; it cannot be renewed without leaving Indonesia, so a longer stay requires a new visa or a residence permit.

Yogyakarta is a city in Yogyakarta Province, Indonesia, with a population of around 422,732. The visa on arrival is valid for a 30-day stay and costs IDR 500,000; it cannot be renewed without leaving Indonesia, so a longer stay requires a new visa or a residence permit.

Antalya is the resort capital of Turkiye's Mediterranean coast and one of the most popular cities for relocating expats from Russia and the CIS, with a large Russian-speaking community and bilingual signage in many places. Summer is crowded and hot, winter mild, though many beach venues close off-season. Rent shifts with the season, running noticeably higher in summer.

A Black Sea resort with a subtropical climate and a fast-growing high-rise skyline along the coast — a magnet for digital nomads and entrepreneurs. Seafront housing costs more than elsewhere in Georgia but less than most European resorts. Rain dominates from autumn through spring, with a dry, hot season from May to September. Citizens of many countries can stay long-term without a visa.

Hai Phong is a major port city in northern Vietnam, an industrial and logistics hub near the capital. It suits people working in manufacturing or logistics rather than those seeking a resort atmosphere. Foreigners can enter Vietnam on an e-visa valid for up to three months, single or multiple entry.

An island that works like a city: west-coast beaches, quiet southern bays and everyday working life in Phuket Town. It holds the country largest Russian-speaking community, international schools and private clinics, but you need a scooter or a car — public transport is thin. High season runs from November to April; summer is cheaper, greener and calmer.

A large university city on the Isan plateau, gateway to Thailand's northeast — few foreigners live here, and services are built for locals rather than tourists. Rent and food cost less than in the southern resorts, though English is harder to find here. Visa extensions and the 90-day report go through the local immigration office. Haze from field burning settles over the city each February through April.

Can Tho is the largest city of the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam, a center of agriculture and regional trade. It suits people who want a slower pace away from the main tourist routes. Foreigners can enter Vietnam on an e-visa valid for up to three months, single or multiple entry.

An administrative and medical hub of the Isan region with a major university and strong public hospitals — few foreigners settle here, and daily life runs around locals rather than tourists. Rent and food cost noticeably less than in the south. Visa extensions and the 90-day address report go through the city's immigration office. From February to April, haze from field burning settles over the area.

A former royal capital an hour from Bangkok — temple ruins and a slow provincial pace, with day-trippers arriving in the morning and gone by evening. Rent and food cost less than in the capital, though long-term housing choices are limited. Visa extensions go through the provincial office, with Bangkok a short ride away. Daytime heat and temple crowds are the main downside in high season.

Ubud is a town in Bali, Indonesia. The visa on arrival is valid for a 30-day stay and costs IDR 500,000; it cannot be renewed without leaving Indonesia, so a longer stay requires a new visa or a residence permit.

Mersin is a Mediterranean port city, industrial and far less touristy than nearby Antalya. Living costs come in lower than resort towns: rent and groceries are noticeably cheaper, and the infrastructure serves locals rather than visitors. Summers are long and humid, winters mild with little rain.

Nha Trang is a coastal resort city in south-central Vietnam, known for its long beach and developed tourist infrastructure. It suits people looking for beach life with solid infrastructure rather than a quiet province. Foreigners can enter Vietnam on an e-visa valid for up to three months, single or multiple entry.

A coastal province near Pattaya known for its petrochemical industry and easy access to Koh Samet island — few expats live here, and most who do work in industry. Housing and food cost less than in the beach resort towns nearby. Visa extensions are filed at the provincial immigration office. The industrial zone affects air quality in some districts, so it's worth choosing housing away from the plants.

The capital and business hub of the country — cobblestone Old Town streets sit alongside modern districts, and the metro covers the city without a car. Rent and café food cost less than the European average, though prices have risen with the recent influx of newcomers. Bank accounts open without a residence permit, and internet and mobile coverage are reliable. Citizens of many countries can live here without a visa.

Dubai is part of the Emirate of Dubai: in 2025 the city had a population of about 3.9 million people over an area of 35 square kilometres. Investors in the UAE can obtain a long-term residency visa for a period of 10 years, processed by the federal ICP authority.

Hue is the former imperial capital of Vietnam in the central part of the country, home to the citadel and the tombs of the Nguyen dynasty. It suits people interested in history who prefer a smaller city over a metropolis. Foreigners can enter Vietnam on an e-visa valid for up to three months, single or multiple entry.