Why these twelve
This isn’t a ranking based on surveys, popularity, or cost-of-living indexes. These are the twelve places in Southeast Asia that I would genuinely consider living in myself.
When deciding where I’d live, I look for six things: reliable healthcare, an international airport, fast internet, modern infrastructure, affordable living, and enough cafes, restaurants, gyms, and everyday conveniences that life feels easy over the long term.
Every city on this list is somewhere I’d confidently recommend to expats, retirees, or digital nomads. The scores reflect my own experience and priorities, and are intended to help you compare destinations—not declare one city objectively “best.”
