The safest country in the world is also one of the priciest. Iceland ranked first across all three domains of the Global Peace Index, yet it is also one of the most expensive places to live.[1] On the other end, the countries with the lowest cost of living are not the safest places to live.[2]
So the useful question is where those two lists overlap. This article pairs peace and rule of law rankings with 2026 cost data to pick nine countries that sit in that middle ground. The numbers come from different indexes with different methods, so treat them as a guide to compare, not as a promise about your own budget.
Portugal
Portugal is the clearest case of a country that scores well on both counts. It ranked seventh in the 2025 Global Peace Index,[3] and it earned a spot among the regional top five most peaceful countries.[4] That puts it ahead of several wealthier Western European neighbors.
On cost, Numbeo’s 2026 midyear cost of living index for Europe puts Portugal at roughly 49,[5] well below Ireland, Germany or France. One budget guide lists Portugal at about $1,500 a month and describes it as one of the safest in the world.[6] That makes it pricier than some entries below, but it’s cheap by Western European standards.
Slovenia
Slovenia is small, green and easy to overlook. It sits ninth in the 2025 Global Peace Index,[7] and its ranking was unchanged from the year before.[4] Steady results like that suggest stability, not a one year blip.
Costs are moderate, not rock bottom. Numbeo’s European table gives Slovenia a cost of living index of about 54,[5] noticeably under Austria, its neighbor to the north. Its rent index is about 18, far below Ireland’s.[8] If you want a calm base in the Alps and don’t want Swiss prices, this one fits.
Czechia
Czechia gives you a major European capital without the usual price tag. It ranked eleventh in the 2025 Global Peace Index.[7] That places it in the top tier worldwide, not just in the region.
Prices sit in the middle of the pack. Numbeo lists the Czech Republic at about 53 on its European cost of living index,[5] and its rent index is roughly 19.[8] One 2026 relocation guide gives a typical monthly budget of about $1,300 to $1,600.[9] Expect to pay more in Prague than in smaller cities.
Malaysia
Malaysia is the only Asian country on this list, and it holds its own on safety. The 2025 Global Peace Index ranked it thirteenth,[7] ahead of Canada, Belgium and Germany. Singapore is the only other Asian country in the top ten.[10]
Everyday costs are well under Western levels. One 2026 guide names Malaysia among the countries pairing a low cost of living with high quality of life,[11] and another estimates about $1,100 a month for a single person.[6] That estimate comes from a private budget site, so check current rents in the city you’re considering.
Hungary
Hungary doesn’t always come up in relocation talk, though its safety record is solid. The 2025 Global Peace Index placed it seventeenth.[7] One 2026 safety and cost ranking gave it a safety score of 78 against a cost score of 52.[12]
It’s one of the cheaper options in the EU. Numbeo’s European index puts Hungary at about 47,[5] below Portugal and Czechia. Lower prices can come with lower local wages, so the savings are biggest if you earn income from abroad.
Croatia
Croatia has become a popular choice for people who want a Mediterranean coastline. It ranked nineteenth in the 2025 Global Peace Index,[7] just inside the top twenty. One 2026 comparison scored its safety at 82.[12]
Rent is the standout. Numbeo’s rent index for Croatia is about 16,[8] lower than Spain’s or Slovenia’s. Its overall cost of living index is about 52.[5] Coastal towns in summer can run much higher than inland cities, so location matters.
Poland
Poland offers some of the lowest prices among the larger EU economies. Numbeo’s 2026 European cost of living index puts it at about 47,[5] well under Germany’s figure of roughly 69. A 2026 comparison scored Poland at 84 for safety and 50 for cost.[12]
That second source is a small dataset of ten countries, so it’s best read as a rough signal. The Global Peace Index’s top twenty doesn’t include Poland, so it’s a step below the other European picks here. Still, it’s a sensible option if cost is a priority.
Latvia
Latvia is a quiet one, and its housing costs are very low. Numbeo’s 2026 rent index for Latvia is about 11,[8] well under most other EU countries listed. Its overall cost of living index is about 52.[5]
On safety, Immigrant Invest compared the 35 safest countries in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index with their living costs. It found that Latvia, Chile, Costa Rica, Slovakia and Lithuania were the most affordable among them.[2] Those countries cost between $1,000 and $1,100 a month.[2]
Costa Rica
Costa Rica rounds out the list and takes us to Central America. The same Immigrant Invest analysis named it among the most affordable of the safest countries, with monthly costs under $1,100 for rent, groceries and everyday expenses.[2] That figure is the publisher’s estimate, not an official statistic.
Numbeo’s data shows a middle ground on price. Its 2026 cost of living plus rent index for Costa Rica is about 40,[13] well under the United States’ figure of roughly 55. Housing, healthcare and food are cheaper than in many Western nations.[11]
