It can be inexpensive in terms of rent but you will need to pay for transportation (i.e. car and gas) to live in the US.

I lived in Budapest and Chiang Mai, Thailand before and the advantage of these cities is that you can pretty much walk anywhere or pay little for private/public transportation. Food is everywhere and you're not stuck in the middle of nowhere.

The cost of owning a car is part of the living expense... so it's not just rent.

And FYI, I had a nice studio in Chiang Mai for less than $250 a month. It was professionally cleaned every week and the place was just steps away from cafes and grocery stores. No cars required.