Buenos Aires or Bangkok? Sao Paulo or Saigon? There’s a good chance you’re torn between South America and Southeast Asia. And in today’s article, I want to share the dating differences in Asia vs Latin America. These are bigger than you might think.
And it’s well worth knowing about them, before you pack your bags.
What Continent Has A Language Barrier?
English is widely spoken throughout most of Asia. A lot of older Americans don’t realize this, which is why the Philippines is a retirement hotspot, but the majority of Thai and Vietnamese locals speak English fluently.
Pretty much everybody in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang speaks English.
And at the risk of sounding like the stereotypical “Ugly American,” there’s no real need to learn the local language.
It’s good to know some common words and phrases. But, your experience won’t be too impacted if you can’t speak Thai. You can still rent an apartment, order food, and go on dates.
This is not the case in Latin America.
English isn’t widely spoken in many Latin American countries. And there’s a huge expirience barrier between travelers who know Spanish or Portuguese and travelers who don’t.
You really need to know the local language if you want to date in countries like Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, or Paraguay. Otherwise, you’re dating pool will mostly consist of: local gold diggers, older single moms, and women who are “very large boned.”
If you speak Spanish, you have a huge dating pool of hotties.
But, this is a major time commitment.
Asia wins, unless you’re looking to relocate to Latin America permanently and already plan on becoming a fluent Spanish speaker. But for 99% of guys, you’d be better off sticking to English language megacities like Bangkok.
What About Online Dating?
Online dating is dead in most of the world.
Apps like Tinder are basically ghost towns or populated by low-quality weirdos. At least in the U.S.. And the same is certainly true for Latin America. Countries like Mexico and Brazil are nightlife oriented, meaning you have to be good at dancing and face-to-face socialization.
This might sound intimidating. But going to clubs in Latin America is actually super fun. And I honestly prefer it to using dating sites or apps.
That said, clubbing has its downsides. It’s an expense. If you’re a young guy looking to move abroad and build a business, spending $75 – $200 a week on nightclubs will be a hinderance. Clubbing is also time consuming. And, like learning the local language, it requires time and effort as you build a social circle to get invited to different clubs and events.
Also, some people just don’t like staying out late.
Meanwhile, online dating is alive and well in Asia. Dating sites and apps are still popular. And while nightlife is a thing, most Asian countries don’t have the same “party culture” that a country like Brazil does.
You can easily hang out at home, messaging girls on Tinder or Thai Friendly, and still rack-up a lot of dates.
Asia wins again.
Final Thoughts On Asia Vs Latin America
Whenever I tell friends who live in Asia about Latin America, they say it sounds terrible. There are a lot of lifestyle adjustments, like learning the local language or breaking into the local party scene. Things that aren’t an issue in most of Southeast Asia.
On the surface, this is true.
However, Latin America offers an equally high quality of life – if you overcome the initial barriers.
That’s not to say Asia is bad. I love Thailand and Vietnam, it’s just that Southeast Asian countries are generally more accessible.
If you want to date cute girls, without spending years studying local grammar, move to Asia. If you don’t like nightclubs and dancing, move to Asia. And, if you like easy online dating, move to Asia.
When it comes to Asia vs Latin America, it really boils down to your personal investment in the local culture.
Asia is the better choice for newer expats, and short-term travelers.
But Latin America can be just as rewarding, if you put in the effort to understand the local language and culture.