If you don't mind US small towns and rural life, there are many lovely college towns dotted around upstate New York, Vermont, and Maine that are cheap. And I'm

If you don't mind US small towns and rural life, there are many lovely college towns dotted around upstate New York, Vermont, and Maine that are cheap. And I'm sure there's plenty more across the South, Midwest and Great North. Mexico City is also definitely a contender - amazing creative energy there. It really depends on what you mean by "intellectual," I think.