It’s time to plan your next big adventure – to Asia! However, you’re on a budget. Is it possible to travel this far without emptying your wallet? Absolutely! In this article, I’ll outline the top cheap Asia travel destinations you should add to your itinerary (and bucket list for future trips), the highlights of each place and your estimated daily budget per day for budget travelers.
Read on to learn about the top cheap Asia travel destinations.
Why Travel on a Budget?
Reason #1: Appreciate Low-Cost and Free Activities
Why travel on a budget? It’s simple logic. When you plan budget travel for your family, friends or just you, you’ll stretch your pennies and will be able to spend a longer time travelling. Additionally, budget travel will allow you to get your creative juices flowing surrounding:
- How you’ll get to and from destinations
- What you’ll eat – when you’re traveling on a budget, you’ll have the opportunity to seek out cheaper, local food instead of always going to high-end, touristy restaurants.
- Which activities you’ll select – there’s nothing wrong with splurging on a treat or two (you can’t go to Northern Vietnam without doing a Ha Long Bay cruise, for example!). However, when you travel on a budget, you’ll appreciate the array of low-cost or free activities available.
Reason #2: Experience Slow Travel
Another reason to travel on a budget while in Asia or anywhere else: slow travel. From bus tokens, train tickets into the city and overpriced meals at airports, transportation costs take up a significant portion of any travel budget. When you stay in one area for a longer period of time, you’ll be able to take advantage of:
- Getting to know the local area’s cheap food and drink options
- Taking advantage of longer-term transit passes that many major cities offer
Reason #3: Feel a Sense of Accomplishment
When I travelled internationally (a 3-week trip to Europe) for the first time at the age of 23, I spent way more than one usually does on a trip like that. However, the costs were worth every penny. The tour company and excursions helped me gain a sense of confidence that I could arrange my own flights, hotels and excursions.
The next time I travelled solo to a foreign country outside of North America (Mexico), I spent less than half one usually does. Why? I forced myself to travel on a budget by planning ahead and choosing cheap options that were still enjoyable. It felt great that to eat delicious food, enjoy fun excursions and stay in comfortable accommodation (a villa in the jungle with a pool) while staying on budget and without compromising my safety.
When you see how much less you’ve spent than the average person does on a vacation due to meticulous planning, you’ll feel great.
Important Notes about Cheap Asia Travel Destinations
Check Visa Requirements
While a country may be cheap to visit, there may be strict visa requirements that come at a cost. Alwayst check the visa prices and requirements before booking hotels and excursions.
Be Aware of the Exchange Rate and Currency Value
While all the destinations listed above can be traveled on the cheap, there’s one important point I need to note. In some countries, you can spend as little or as much as you want. Before you know it, you can go way over budget. This is especially true if the currency system is completely different than your country’s. For example, when I first moved to Vietnam, I had no idea that 200,000 VND (around $8 USD) for as street food meal is considered ‘cheap’ to foreigners, but in reality, it’s a total rip-off (a meal like that usually costs 30-60,000 VND).
Commit to traveling on a budget by determining how much you’re allowed to spend in total. From there, determine how much you’re willing to spend on:
- Hotels
- Inter-country and inter-city travel
- Restaurant dining
- Excursions
When you have a budget, you’ll know how much you’re allowed to spend per day. When I travel, I like to log my expenses in a journal or on an Excel spreadsheet and track how much I have left to spend for the day. This way, I am truly committing to sticking with my budget. You can’t track what you don’t measure!
Determine Why the Price is So Low
While many of the places I’ll list below offer accommodation, food and attraction prices for a fraction of the price of other countries, be careful about prices that are too low. If a hotel or flight price seems too good to be true, be sure to check:
- The reviews for the hotel or service you’re booking
- When you’re booking – if you’re going during monsoon season, you’ll be able to take advantage of dirt-cheap prices, but you aren’t going to have the best time.
Decide How Low You’ll Go
While it’s exciting to travel on a budget, you’ll need to decide if you’re comfortable traveling around Asia with a backpack, sleeping in shared rooms on a bunk bed and eating street food. While the destinations on this list are all wallet-friendly, some countries offer cheaper private rooms and restaurant dining experiences than others. If you’re on a really tight budget but need to stay in a private room, you’ll need to choose cheaper destinations.
Cheap Asia Travel Destinations to Visit
Full of exciting places to see, delicious food and a huge variety of accommodation options, the following countries are popular for a reason.
*Note: all prices are estimates based on my experience and research and are listed in USD.
Popular Cheap Asian Travel Destinations
Cambodia
Cambodia is popular Asian travel destination for a reason! Of course, everyone wants to see the famous Angkor Wat temple. However, this country also has beautiful beaches and temples, cheap street food and great budget accommodation. Be sure to visit Phnom Penh and the beautiful beaches of Koh Rong while you’re in this country.
When I visited Cambodia, I spent around $40 per day for a private room in a hostel, street food and museum excursions. If you’re willing to sleep in a shared hostel room, beds can range from $5 to $15 per night.
China
China is a cheap country to visit in Asia that’s full of history and beautiful scenery. From the Great Wall of China to the bustling cities of Beijing and Shanghai, there’s so much to see.
Hotels on the lower end will run you around $30 per night. Street food will ring in at around $5 to $10. How about transportation? You’ll be glad to know that Chinese cities have some of the best public transportation systems in the world at a very affordable price ranging from $1 up to $5.
Expect to spend $60-80 USD per day in China. While more expensive that other budget travel destinations, China is still a place that will keep your wallet happy.
Mongolia
Mongolia is full of gorgeous landscapes and has a rich culture. Most attractions, including the Terelj National Park and Gobi Desert, can be seen for low to no cost. If you want to ride a camel, you’ll need to shell out more money – possibly up to $100. Meals can range in price from $5 to $10 and budget hotels cost around $15-$25 a night.
High travel season in Mongolia is generally from June to August which means that prices are usually higher. When on a budget, be sure to travel outside these times to get the best deal.
When sticking to a budget, expect to spend around $30 to $50 per day in Mongolia.
India
A massive, massive place with many destinations to choose from, no list of the cheapest travel destinations in Asia is complete without India. From the massive city of Delhi to the beautiful architecture in Jaipur, you could travel this beautiful country for weeks without getting bored. Cheap travel destinations in India include Goa, Jaipur, Gokarna and Amritsar.
There is a great bus and train system in India. Expect that you can purchase first-class tickets for $20 or less that will get you around the country. Guest houses and cheap hotels can be found for $10-20 a night. Food is also cheap – and delicious. Be sure to try chaat, samosas and vada while visiting India.
Expect to spend $30 to $45 per day in India.
Indonesia
When you think of ‘Indonesia,’ does Bali come to mind? Of course it does! Bali is always included on cheap Asia travel destination lists for a reason: it’s beautiful and inexpensive there. If you’re looking for cheap Asian holiday destinations where you can just lay on the beach and relax, look no further than Bali.
Aside from Bali, there are many other places you can visit in this country. Try visiting Lombok, an island next to Bali that has rice fields, beaches and even volcanoes. Lombok gets less rain than Bali during the rainy season which means you’ll be able to spend more time relaxing outdoors. Other alternatives include Sumbawa, Tanjung Lesung (a beach on the western tip of Java) and Thousand Islands, places with stunning beaches ideal for surfing and relaxing.
Expect to spend $40-60 per day in Indonesia.
Malaysia
Malaysia is a beautiful place with a mixture of Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures that’s another one of the top cheap Asia travel destinations. Visit the capital of Kuala Lumpur for street food, the Batu Caves and the Petronas Twin Towers. Afterwards, head over the Langkawi for beautiful beaches, zip lining and water sports.
Accommodation in Malaysia is cheap and ranges from $10-20 per night depending on if you’re in a hostel or cheap hotel. There are tons of street food options that will run you only a few dollars.
Be forewarned that alcohol isn’t cheap in Malaysia. When I visited Kuala Lumpur, I paid close to $6 for a pint of standard lager beer and $8 for craft varieties – Western prices!
Expect to spend $40-50 per day while traveling in Malaysia.
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Nepal
Nepal is a cheap and beautiful place that’s home to the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest, is a must-visit place. Public transportation, accommodation and food are all cheap. Visit Kathmandu and explore the Annapurna region. Additionally, trek Langtang and visit Everest Base Camp independently instead of hiring a guide. Choosing to do these activities alone will help you cut down significantly on travel costs.
Stay on budget with food by choosing street food such as thali. Accomodation is cheap, too. Expect to pay $5-10 per night for a hostel room. Cut costs even further by avoiding the high season, October and November. Winter is the best place to visit Nepal as you’ll avoid both high season and monsoon season.
Expect to spend around $20 to $30 per day while on a budget in Nepal.
Taiwan
Everyone goes to China – what about Taiwan? Another less traveled to yet still popular place, Taiwan has it all. The tropical climate, historical architecture and beautiful scenery will draw you in. While not as cheap as other destinations on this list, it is still very much a budget travel destination.
Take advantage of cheap street food by visiting night markets full of options to keep you full. How about public transportation? The good news is that it’s fantastic and affordable – a couple dollars per day will get you around the city. Hostel beds will cost you around $15-20 per night and private hotel rooms will run you $30-$40 per night.
Expect to spend $70-80 per day in Taiwan.
Thailand
Thailand is arguably the most popular budget travel destination. While prices have risen over the past few years, it’s still one of the top cheap Asian travel destinations out there.
Visit the bustling markets of Bangkok, the islands of Ko Samui and Phuket in the South and the gorgeous temples in Chiang Mai. Take advantage of cheap street food and an extensive train network at a reasonable price. Hotels will run you more than other places in Asia, but are still affordable, at around $30 a night. Hostels cost between $8-10 a night for a bed in a shared room.
Expect to pay around $40 to $60 per day for all expenses while on a budget in Thailand.
The Philippines
The Philippines is chock full of huge cities and beaches to enjoy. While Manila is significantly more expensive than other parts of the country, you can fly into the capital and take another flight to a cheaper part of the country.
A hostel bed will cost you $8 to $15 per night. Expect to pay only a few dollars for street food. Get around by taking ferries, which are plentiful and affordable. Keep your activity costs down by doing your own excursions. For example, instead of paying for snorkelling, rent your own equipment for $5 or less.
Vietnam
Vietnam. I’m biased since I currently live here. A beautiful, diverse country full of delicious food, gorgeous beaches and stunning temples dating back hundreds of years, Vietnam is arguably the cheapest Asian country to visit. Why? Cheap street food for $1-$2 and hostel rooms that will cost you only a few dollars a night. Visit Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Sapa in the North, Hue, Da Nang and Hoi An and the central region and Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta in the south.
Expect to spend $5-$15 per night for a hostel dorm bed or $20-$30 per night for a hotel room. Street food is plentiful, delicious and diverse. A plate of broken rice, pho or a banh mi can cost anywhere from $1-3. A sit-down meal will run you $5-10 – a fraction of the cost in other countries!
Cheap Asia Travel Destinations to Visit off the Beaten Path
Looking for something off the beaten path or have you been to the destinations listed above? Here are the top cheap Asian travel destinations to visit when on a budget.
Azerbaijan
Wallet-friendly Azerbaijan is first on my list. This country has beautiful scenery and plenty to see. Visit Baku, Sheki (the oldest city in this country), Gobustan National Park and Yanar Dag. Street food in this country is cheap and delicious – be sure to try lahmucan, qutab and doner. Beer drinker? You can get beer for 1 manat – less than 60 cents a can! I can’t think of many other places in the world that sell beer for this cheap.
Get around the country by minibuses called marshrutkas or night trains for only a few dollars.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh is another one of the cheapest countries to travel in Asia. This country is full of beautiful scenery, cheap accommodation and budget food options. Check out Lalbagh Fort, Ahsan Manzil, the National Martyrs’ Monument and the National Parliament House. Love the beach? Visit Cox’s Bazar.
Hostels are around $5 to $10 for a bed and hotels will run you $20-30 a night.
Expect to spend around $30-50 per day in Bangladesh.
Kazakhstan
Enjoy many different attractions in Kazakhstan. Diverse, off the beaten path and another one of the cheapest Asian destinations to visit, this country offers the opportunity to see ibex and kulan in Altyn Emel National Park, ice fishing, hiking mountains and much, much more.
This country is home to over 130 ethnicities and is the 9th largest country in the world. You’ll have plenty to see and will enjoy meeting diverse locals.
Expect to spend $30 to $30 per day on hotels or other accomodation and $10-15 per day on transportation and other expenses in Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan
Chock-full of gorgeous mountains, valleys and lakes, Kyrgyzstan has many stunning places to explore.
Expect to pay $10-15 per night for a bed in a hostel. Save even more money by camping instead of spending the night in a hostel or hotel. If you want a true local experience, you can also stay in a yurt for $15-20 per night. Regarding what to eat – you’ll pay only a few dollars for a meal that’s fresh and filling.
Laos
Laos isn’t as popular as neighboring Cambodia, Vietnam and nearby Thailand, but it’s an excellent destination when exploring Asia on a budget. Take advantage of dirt-cheap, high-quality street food and beer that will only run you a few dollars per day. Attractions such as the COPE Visitors Centre are absolutely free. Other attractions such as the Pak Ou caves, Kuang Si waterfalls and tubing in Vang Vieng will only cost a few dollars.
You’ll pay $5 to $10 for a hostel bed in a shared room or $15-20 per night in a private room – incredibly affordable! Expect to spend $25 to $50 per day total when traveling in Laos.
Pakistan
Pakistan is an amazing place to visit for tasty food and historical sights, all while staying on budget. Visit buildings such as the Badshahi Mosque and the Faisal Mosque. See beautiful nature in the Hunza Valley, Margalla Hills and Deosai National Park. Enjoy street food such as saag, mutton, pakoras and lassi, all for only a couple dollars per dish.
Budget hotels in Pakistan will run you around $25 per night and hostel beds will cost you $5 to $10 a night.
Expect to spend around $40 per day in Pakistan on food, accommodation, transportation and sightseeing.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country full of stunning beaches, mountains and viewpoints, delicious food and friendly people. Enjoy hiking Pidurangala Rock, partaking in cooking classes, surfing and scuba diving in Sri Lanka. Get around the country by train – there are three classes of trains to choose from, ranging from $1 to $9 a ticket depending on which type you choose.
Roti, curry and rice dishes are only $1 or $2 a meal. Homestays will run you $15 per night and hotels will cost around $20-40 a night.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is not as cheap as other neighboring countries, but is still much, much cheaper than traveling to Western countries, making it one of the best countries to visit in Asia for budget-minded travelers. If you’re a fan of viewing different types of architecture, you’ll be in paradise. Visit Registan Square, Juma Mosque, Itchan Kala and many other great monuments and mosques.
Breakfast will cost you around $5 a meal and lunch generally costs around $10 per meal. A mid-range dinner will generally run you $15 to $18.
A hostel bed will cost you around $15 a night and around $30 a night for a private hotel room. Trains are a great way to get around the country. Tickets cost around $10-15 depending on if you’re booking during the high or low travel season.
Other Essential Tips to Save When Traveling
Travel on a Budget in Asia by Reviewing Average Prices Ahead of Time
As I mentioned earlier, it’s difficult to know how much you’re spending if you’re unaware of how much the currency is worth in your country’s home currency and the approximate cost of goods and services.
Avoid potential scams by researching currency conversions and average prices before you visit a destination. Additionally, download an app such as XE so you can convert money on the go.
Opt for Night Buses and Trains Over Flights
If your schedule allows for it, choose a night bus over a flight. A night bus from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to Phnom Penh, Cambodia only costs $15-20 and takes around 6 to 7 hours. On the other hand, flights cost anywhere from $150 and up. What’s more is that when you fly, you’ll need to go to the airport 2 hours ahead of time or more. By the time you add up all the waiting time, taking a bus is only a couple hours longer.
Night buses are air conditioned and often provide bottled drinking water and bathrooms on the bus. Drivers make regular stops for food and using the restroom.
In the long run, choosing the bus over flying will save you hundreds of dollars.
Booking Hotels and Excursions When Choosing Cheap Asia Travel Destinations
Choose Guesthouses over Hotels When visiting Cheap Asia Travel Destinations
Guesthouses are generally a lot cheaper than hotels. Additionally, you’ll get a local, personalized experience you wouldn’t get when staying with a large hotel chain. Another great part of staying at a guesthouse is that the owner can provide you with advice on the best things to see and do in the area. When you stay at a guesthouse, you’re supporting the local economy instead of helping a large corporation pad its pockets.
Use an App to Compare Hotel and Flight Prices
When choosing cheap Asia travel destinations, you’ll need to commit to being frugal when booking accommodation, flights and more ahead of time in addition to watching your daily spending while actually on the trip. Commit to traveling on a budget as much as possible by comparing flight and hotel prices and booking ahead of time.
Use an app or website such as Hotels.com to compare hotel prices and Skyscanner to compare flight prices. Personally, I’ve saved hundreds of dollars by comparing hotels on Agoda and Hotels.com. These apps are great because you can select different filters to choose different options such as:
- Price
- Distance to the city center
- The neighborhood you want to stay in
- The average rating of the hotel
- Style of accommodation – for example, if you want to filter out shared hostel rooms and only show private rooms.
Book Through a Website that Offers Membership Discounts
After comparing prices and finding the hotel or hostel you want to visit, try your best to commit to book on one particular website. If you book enough times on a particular website, some companies offer exclusive discounts as part of their loyalty program. For example, Agoda has four tiers in their loyalty program – Member, VIP Silver, VIP Gold and VIP Platinum. If you’re a Platinum member, you have access to discounts of up to 25% on hotels.
Always Bargain at Markets
Bargaining is essential to finding the best deals and paying appropriate prices. Prices initially quoted are usually way higher than what the seller is willing to accept. To receive a good deal, offer half the price and haggle until you meet somewhere halfway in between your price and what the seller is quoting you.
Eat Street Food and Choose Accomodation with a Kitchen
Food is one of the highest expenses for most travelers. The good news is that most of the cheap Asia travel destinations in this article offer an array of delicious, reasonably-priced street food. If you’re tired of street eats after a while, keep costs low by cooking at your accommodation. Most hostels offer a shared kitchen. Be sure that yours has a fridge, freezer and cupboard space to store groceries. Instead of splurging on Western food once a week, go to the grocery store, shop for cheap and delicious ingredients and make your own pizza.
Make Cheap Asia Travel Destinations Even Cheaper by Volunteering
If you’re really on a budget and feel like giving back, there are tons of opportunities out there that will allow you to make a difference in the lives of others while keeping your costs down.
Organizations such as Workaway and WWOOF allow people from all over the world to post volunteer opportunities. Most often, you’ll be asked to work for a couple of hours a day in exchange for free accommodation and meals.
In addition to traveling Asia (and other regions of the world for dirt-cheap), volunteering is a fantastic way for someone to:
- Learn new career skills
- Try their hand at a new language
- Meet new people from all over the world
- Share your culture with other people
Volunteer opportunities include anything from organic farming, construction, pet sitting, teaching English and nannying.
Housesit for Homeowners
Another great option to keep your Asian travel adventures cheap? Try housesitting. Create an account on Trusted Housesitters or another platform. New to housesitting? Boost your profile by volunteering to housesit for family members or friends and getting reviews for your profile.
You can start by housesitting in your own city before moving on to doing so in other cities or countries. Housesitting opportunities range from short-term gigs to long-term ones of three months, six months or more.
A Final Word on the Top Cheap Asia Travel Destinations
When planning your next adventure to an Asian country or countries, there are tons of places to choose from. Take your time to research costs, book flights and accommodations early to get the best deal and take advantage of free and low-cost activities. When you see how much you’ve saved, you’ll be pleased and motivated to keep traveling!
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Janita is a frugal living expert and owner of Frugal Fun Finance. With over five years of personal experience finding and trying out the best ways to make and save more money, she's eager to share her knowledge. Janita's strategies have helped her save thousands of dollars for funding investments and traveling to over 20 countries.
Janita completed training in personal finance at The University of Western Ontario and McGill University, two prestigious Canadian universities. Her expertise has been shared on GoBankingRates, Yahoo Finance, and NASDAQ.com.
