4 of the World's Best Cities for Renting Apartments

[Nick Marr]

Many expats prefer to rent their homes for the first several years of their lives abroad, while they're getting a feel for their new countries, without having to commit permanently or semi-permanently. Various cities around the world have, of course, various costs of living - and that includes rental costs. But to give you an idea, here are a quartet which are particularly good renters' markets.

Bogotá

Columbia is known as one of the few places untouched by the dreaded “Americanism”. Its rich culture is available for absorbing. Color is everywhere in this city, with the buildings looking like they were invented by Willa Wonka, the vintage 50’s cars transporting you back in time and even the crowning jewel of Bogota, the gold museum, shining in the sun. The varied cuisine and vibrant nightlife will make every evening one to remember. This is a place where an empanada is a snack on the go, bursting with flavor.

And it’s cheap. Expats can expect to pay a lot less than they would back home. According to the Numbeo cost of living database, consumer prices, rent and groceries are all on average 55 per cent lower than Ottawa, for example and Bogota is even considered a lot safer than most US cities.

Average household income: $24,900. Average rent per year: $6,600

Kuala Lumpur

It would be hard to be bored in a place like Malaysia, but also hard to be overwhelmed. The environment allows for a slower pace of life, with naturally occurring ways for stress to dissipate. You can spend your days snorkelling around the coral reef, admiring its aquatic creatures, or strolling past white sand beaches. You can explore the Batu Caves full of monkeys or the Gomatong Cave’s birds’ nests. A day out could start with a hike through the wondrous rainforest national park in Taman Negara or climbing to the top of Mount Kinabalu. To ease even more stress, the cost of living in Malaysia is famously low. House prices have been rising for the past few years but even with a rise it is still reasonable in comparison to other countries. Detached houses are widely available for rent and purchase, and apartment living in Malaysia means living in a building constructed in the past 20 years which offer a variety of facilities like tennis courts, pools, BBQ areas, gyms and more.

Average household income: $22,400. Average rent per year: $4,500.

Singapore

There is a lot to love about Singapore. Far from what is commonly expected of an Asian country, there is little smog, a lot of English language. But what differs is from Malaysia is its hustle and bustle lifestyle and its solid embrace of technology. It's best to look for a short-term lease before you move, since the cost of property can be particularly steep in Singapore. Finding the right place before you move will be particularly stressful due to this, so arriving in temporary accommodation will allow you to explore the island and browse the HDB rental situation and apartment offers.

And, like Malaysia, there are a multitude of serviced apartments scattered all over the island which offer flexibility and convenience and come with features like pools, gyms, and barbeque areas to really get the most out of a tropical experience.

The city makes up for the high rent with a lower general cost of living, with food and drink being particularly reasonable. The islands have three major types of local cuisine: Malay, Chinese and Indian, with the cross variations that would naturally come with. Try a bowl of curried noodles called laska, Hainanese chicken rice or chili crabs which is hard-shell crabs cooked in gravy with a tomato and chili base. If you want to really try something new you can go for a barbecued stingray or an oyster omelet.

Average household income: $68,400. Average rent per year: $7,500

 

Toronto

The rushing waters and vast view of Canada’s most famous natural attraction, Niagra Falls, is an experience that will have you feeling very humble. Against the crashing falls of the water down 57 meters, you will feel very small and will not be heard easily. But Toronto has more to offer than a waterfall. The city is Canada’s version of New York City with skyscraper buildings and a busy nightlife that feels like living in a safer version of Saturday Night Fever. In fact, the country is renowned for the quality of life of its citizens, to the point that their happiness and ongoing merriment is a stereotypical joke The cost of living is also a very desirable aspect of living in Toronto. The average rent is 46 per cent lower than it is in London and a comparison of median home costs in New York brings up a whopping $654,000 compared to Toronto’s $88,000.

Average household income: $60,500. Average rent per year: $17,760