Steven Paul 
Average height can vary dramatically between different countries and regions of the world. Personally, I found when I moved from the U.S. to Southeast Asia, a lot more people viewed me as “tall” in SE Asia. Today, let’s take a detailed look at height in Malaysia and what is generally considered “tall” in Malaysia. Would … Read more
I am not “tall” in America—but in the Philippines, I am. Today, let’s talk about what counts as “tall” in the Philippines. Would you be considered tall there? The average height in the Philippines is 165 cm (5’5″) for men and 154 cm (5’1″) for women. Overall, the Philippines has some of the shortest heights … Read more
I remember one day in a busy 7-Eleven in Thailand, I looked around and I noticed I was clearly the tallest person in the whole store. I’m 5’9″ (175 cm), which is only average height for men in America, so this was surprising. But sure enough, many more such moments would follow during my life … Read more
Singapore often ranks as the “most expensive city in the world.” A simple Airbnb rental will often cost 5x more in Singapore than Bangkok, for example. But of course, there are still some people who are rich even in Singapore. So, how much money would it require to be “rich” in Singapore, when you look … Read more
When judging by total GDP, China is the second richest country in the world (behind the United States). But on an individual level, how much money is needed to be “rich” in China? Would you be considered rich in China? A monthly income of ~$10,000 USD or more would arguably make you “rich” in China. … Read more
For whatever reason, many Americans seem to think Taiwan is a “poor country.” However, when you look at the economic stats, Taiwan is not poor at all, not these days. It’s become quite a wealthy country. Today, let’s look at how much money is needed to be “rich” in Taiwan, on an individual level. Would … Read more
Over the past 60 years, South Korea has grown rapidly to become one of the wealthiest countries in Asia. But on an individual level, how much is needed to be “rich” in South Korea today? Would you qualify as “rich” there? A monthly income of ~$6,000 USD or more would arguably make you “rich” in … Read more
Cambodia still has quite a bit of poverty today. In the capital of Phnom Penh, 1 in 5 people even live in slums, without access to basic needs and hygiene. (source) Visiting or moving to a country like this as a foreigner, you may feel rich in comparison to most locals. But how much is … Read more
Indonesia is pretty affordable. Traveling around Bali, I felt like I could afford stuff that would definitely be out of my budget in other destinations. But how much money is really needed to be “rich” in Indonesia, when you look at the details? A monthly income of ~$1,500 USD or more would arguably make you … Read more
When I visited Kuala Lumpur this year, I stayed in luxury condos downtown for ~$40 USD per night. With those kinds of deals, it’s easy to feel rich in Malaysia. And truly, it’s one of the big perks of living or traveling there. But today, let’s explore: How much money is needed to truly be … Read more