Yeah, Kiopa_Matt, I'm wondering the same thing
Ummm, wasn't a conscious decision, actually. My dad used to work for Exxon (now retired), and was on an overseas assignment in Malaysia for a few years. I was sitting in Canada, getting a little bored and restless in the city, so booked a 5 week trip out to visit my parents. This was my 3rd or 4th trip to Asia, so I knew my way around a bit. That trip was back in 2009, and I still haven't made it back to Canada.
If I wasn't tied down, and had no strings, I highly doubt I'd be living here though. I've been all over the world, and there's definitely better places out there. Nonetheless, this is where the winds of life blew me, and where I've settled, and I'm happy to call this place home. And after settling here, and getting over all the phases of culture shock, I just can't see myself going back to a luxury condo in the downtown of some metropolis though. I'm happy here.
You know, I enjoy knowing and getting along with all my neighbors (even if that means I have 0 privacy), I enjoy going to the street market to pickup groceries instead of some impersonal 40,000sqft grocery store, I enjoy seeing life all over the streets when I'm out instead of the streets just being used as corridors to get from office A to office B, people aren't as caught up in themselves, are less judgmental, it's very peaceful and safe, and the list goes on. That, and I've let money get to my head before, and I've learned the hard way that's a very bad thing to do. Living here helps ensure that will never happen, and that I'll always stay grounded.
That, and it's simply more realistic here. When you're out having dinner with a bunch of people, you don't have to listen to bullshit like, "well, my daughter's school is calling it a Happy Holidays concert, not a Christmas concert. How outrageous!!!". Oh, for fuck sakes, if that's all you have to be complain about in life, then shut up, and be happy. You know, that type of ridiculous shit just doesn't exist here. People just relax, don't worry about much, and just enjoy the fact they're alive.
And it's not for the financial benefit, because I don't really believe there is any. I know some people say they "live like a king" for $300/month, but that's just ridiculous. We blow through about $3000/month, and our lives are fine, and we never go without, but I'd hardly call it living like a king.