I've lived in Singapore and Hong Kong - rent was higher. Once we had kids, had to pay for private school, whereas you wouldn't have to in NoVa. Grocery bill was higher in SG/HK because my family (especially husband) didn't want to change our main diet, so we were buying imported food: meat, cheese, cereal, etc.- all expensive. Labor is cheaper in SG/HK.

Lived in South East Asia and life just cost less. Now, in Europe, life costs more. I still love it though.

Depends where overseas. In europe or much of Aisa, it will be tough (e.g., Singapore, Taiwan, Hong kong, So. Korea, Japan). In Central AM, not hard at all.

I found that in developing countries the salary is also smaller. So in the end the proportion of your income for those services are high.

A maid can make $20 into a living wage

I live overseas in a developing country, not a fancy European one. We are a family of 5.
I analyzed my expenses and they are 40% less.
The differences are mostly from lessons/tuturs/childcare for kids. $10 an hour vs. $40 an hour.
Also from maid and gardening services and any other types of labor) $20 a day vs. $160
No state taxes. (Possibly no federal taxes for some, depending on your job)
Lower rent for an equivalent home.
There are other smaller savings such as food, clothing (warm climate only), gas (less driving), medical expenses, etc.
This is an upper class lifestyle in Central America... I spent nearly $200K overseas. It would have been 40% more in Northern Virginia.

For others that have lived overseas, what do you think? How much less did you spend?

This is why retirees often choose to live abroad.