Budget travel doesn’t have to mean sacrificing fun. In this article, I’ll review the cheapest Asian countries to visit. As a seasoned traveler who has traveled to these Asian countries and has saved thousands of dollars by practicing frugality while on the road, I hope these tips will be helpful for your next trip. Whether you’re traveling in April or October and are looking for your fill of delicious food, checking out incredible temples or just relaxing on white-sand beaches, there’s something here for you.
Read on to learn about the cheapest Asian travel destinations.
The Top Cheapest Asian Countries to Visit
Popular Cheap Asian Travel Destinations
Malaysia
Malaysia is a fantastic place to visit for nature, food and culture fans. As this country has a mixture of Malay, Indian and Chinese cultures, you’ll find Buddhist temples, mosques and churches to explore as well as tasty food. Start out by visiting Little India and enjoying a thali plate or a dosa (my favorite!). Most restaurants are happy to cater to vegans and vegetarians. When I visited Malaysia, I spent around $35 at a 3-start basic hotel.
Beach lovers should head to Langkawi for their fill of sand and sun.
Expect to budget between $40-60 per night when visiting Malaysia.
Cambodia
Cambodia is a destination that any traveler to Southeast Asia cannot miss – especially the famous Angkor Wat. You can choose to visit for either an entire day or over multiple days.
Sun and sand-oriented travelers will also enjoy Cambodia due to its array of white-sand beaches in Sihanoukville, Kep and Kampot.
While you’re in Cambodia, visit Phnom Penh’s Killing Fields and Genocide Museum. While not the happiest places to visit, they’re an important part of traveling to Cambodia as they showcase the horrors of what happened not too long ago.
Vietnam
No list of the cheapest Asian countries to travel to is complete without Vietnam! Vietnam is an incredible country with a diverse climate, food and culture. The country is home to over 50 ethnic minorities and has beaches, temples and islands to explore. Start off in the capital, Hanoi. Tuck into a tasty bowl of pho and enjoy drinking beer (at a bia hoi) while people-watching. Afterwards, head out to Ha Long Bay and enjoy a cruise. You can opt for a day cruise or a 1 or 2-night one. Personally, I did an overnight cruise and found it was the perfect amount of time to spend there. Other highlights in Northern Vietnam include the Ha Giang Loop, Ninh Binh and trekking in Sapa.
After you’ve had your fill of incredible nature in the North, enjoy Da Nang’s beaches and the ancient towns of Hoi An and Hue in Central Vietnam.
Top off your trip to Vietnam by visiting Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta. Expect to spend between $30-60 per day when traveling Vietnam. Keep costs down by opting for street food which is delicious and only costs a couple of dollars per meal! Don’t leave Vietnam without trying ca phe sua da (strong iced coffee with condensed milk).
Thailand
Thailand is another one of the cheapest Southeast Asian countries to visit. It’s popular – and for a reason! This stunning country has bustling cities, beautiful beaches and gorgeous nature, all for a reasonable price.
Start your trip by visiting Bangkok. Dynamic and energizing, you’ll get your fill of temples, street food and artwork here. Start by visiting the Grand Palace and don’t miss the Chatuchak Weekend Market.
After visiting Bangkok, head down to the islands including Ko Samui, Ko Chang, Ko Tao, Ko Lipe and many more. These beaches offer a spot to relax and get away from the chaos of everyday life.
The North of Thailand offers Chiang Mai which also has some great food markets and is more laid-back than chaotic Bangkok. Don’t miss visiting an elephant sanctuary and the most famous temple, Wat Doi Suthep.
Cheapest Asian Countries to Visit Off the Beaten Path
Laos
No list of the cheapest Asian countries is complete without Laos. While most people immediately think of Thailand, Indonesia or Vietnam when they think about Southeast Asia, they should consider Laos on their list of travel destinations as well. Laos has many free attractions such as tubing in Vang Vieng, the Kuang Si waterfalls and the Pak Ou caves.
While traveling Laos, expect to pay up to $15 per night for a hostel bed or $20 for a private room.
Mongolia
While not as popular as other destinations on this list, Mongolia is an essential budget travel destination you should seriously consider visiting. Attractions such as the Gobi Desert and Terelj National Park will cost you little to nothing to visit.
Budget $30-50 per day when planning your travels to Mongolia.
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The Philippines
The Philippines is best known for its beautiful islands with white-sand beaches and gorgeous clear waters that are optimal for snorkelling and diving. Start off in Puerto Princesa and make your way to El Nido for its gorgeous beaches such as Nacpan Beach. Enjoy a boat tour exploring snorkelling spots. Afterwards, you can take a ferry or flight to other islands such as Coron, Cebu and Boracay for more boating and snorkelling spots.
When I visited the Philippines, I spent roughly $60 per day including a room in a hostel. Expect to pay more in El Nido as it’s more touristy.
India
India is a huge country that you’ll enjoy for its rich culture and delicious food.
Start by visiting Jaipur, Rajasthan, best known for the Pink City. Additionally, make your way to Amritsar, Gokarna and Goa.
You’ll be able to travel around India via train for a very reasonable price and have the choice of different classes of tickets.
Budget $30-45 per day when traveling to India.
Nepal
Nepal is home to Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. Even if you don’t have the ability to climb the mountain or even a desire to do the Base Camp trek, Nepal is still worth visiting.
Start by checking out Kathmandu and the Annapurna area. Nepal has tons of tasty street food dishes and accommodation that won’t cost you more than $15 a night per room.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is becoming more popular but is still a relatively cheap country to visit. Hikers willl enjoy climbing Pidurangala Rock. If you enjoy scuba diving, there’s tons of that to do in Sri Lanka as well. Just like India, you’ll be able to get around Sri Lanka by train and will be spoiled for choice when it comes to food that only costs a couple dollars per meal.
Tips to Maximize Your Budget When Visiting the Cheapest Asian Countries
While choosing a budget travel destination will already cut your costs down significantly compared to choosing a more expensive destination, there are other ways to stay on budget. Here are my top tips that have saved me nearly $5000 during my travels to Asia and beyond:
1. Book Ahead of Time
You can score some last-minute deals, but booking ahead of time will give you the highest chance of paying the lowest price possible. Use an app such as Google Flights to send you alerts regarding price changes so you can book at the best fare.
2. Choose Accommodation with a Kitchen
Whether you’re traveling or staying at home, food is a major expense in anyone’s budget. While you can still (and very much should!) sample the local cuisine in each region you visit, keep costs down by booking a bed and breakfast or aparthotel with a kitchen. Choose one meal per day when you go out to eat and cook the rest of your meals and snacks at the accommodation.
I personally cook my breakfasts and dinners at the accommodation. Why? Many parts of the world offer lunch specials that are similar portions and 30-50% less than the price of a dinner at the same restaurant.
3. Travel During the Shoulder or Off-Season
If you have flexibility with when you’ll travel, strongly consider traveling during less popular times of the year. The law of supply and demand dictates that the more people want to buy something, the higher the price will generally be. Conversely, if less people are booking hotel and airline tickets, the prices will generally be lower. When I traveled to Tulum, Mexico, I went in October. It was the perfect time to go as the busy summer had ended and prices dropped. Many families had sent their kids back to school, so less people were traveling during that time of year.
Just be sure to avoid booking during a time when you risk bad weather. In some countries, it isn’t a good idea to travel during the off-season. What’s the point of traveling to Bali in November if it’s just going to rain all day? Remember, it’s good to be frugal, but trying to get the lowest price possible leans towards being cheap instead. Find balance!
A Final Word on the Cheapest Asian Countries to Visit
There you have it the ultimate list of the cheapest Asian countries to visit. Whether you’re traveling for work, pleasure or are looking for a new place to work remotely, there’s something out there. forever travel style and taste. With a little bit of planning, you’ll be able to travel to many different places without feeling you’re sacrificing fun!
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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.
