15 Cheapest Countries to Visit in Asia

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Looking for the 15 cheapest countries to visit in Asia for a budget-friendly yet beautiful holiday? Keep reading!

Asia is the largest continent in the world and full of some of the most unique and exciting places to visit. With 48 countries to choose from, Asia is a gold mine for travelers looking to explore amazing cultural, historic and nature-filled destinations.

Although Asia is home to some very expensive countries like Singapore and Japan, it is also home to some of the cheapest countries in the world. This makes Asia one of the most popular places to visit for budget-seeking travelers.

Here are 15 of the cheapest countries in Asia to visit for the perfect budget-friendly getaway.

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15 Cheapest Countries in Asia

Cambodia

  • Lowest Daily budget: $25 / day

Cambodia is a stunning and historic country located in South East Asia. It is super centrally located and a great starting point for your Asia travel adventures. It is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia and a top travel destination for backpackers. In fact, Siem Reap is often referred to as the backpacker’s world capital.

Temple in Cambodia

The low prices in Cambodia are only amplified in the more rural parts of the country. Getting outside of the more popular touristy cities will help you see a new side to this country and enjoy lower costs. While in Cambodia be sure to check out the white sand beaches, Angkor Temples, rice fields and more!


Georgia

  • Lowest Daily budget: $20 / day

Georgia is a seriously underrated country that sits along the Black Sea between Asia and Europe. It is full of natural beauty and various different cultural influences which make it an extremely interesting and unique place to visit. From the famous Caucasus Mountains full of villages to the colourful capital of Tbilisi there is so much beauty to see and discover.

Huge black mountain with a church on a hill

Georgia is also an extremely cheap place to visit. You can find hostels for as cheap as $5 a night and super cheap meals. As one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia you can enjoy an amazing getaway without breaking the bank. Plus, you get to explore one of Asia’s hidden gems before it becomes super popular.


Indonesia

  • Lowest Daily budget: $25 / day

Indonesia is a beautiful country made up of over 17,000 islands. Its natural beauty and plethora of things to do dazzle all tourists who visit. If you are looking for variety from beaches, to the jungle, to volcanos and more – a trip to Indonesia is for you.

As for prices, Indonesia is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia, making it one of the top tourist destinations in Asia.

Rice terraces in Lombok
Beach in Lombok

Many people who visit Indonesia head straight for Bali. For its beautiful beaches, stunning waterfalls, and young social scene. However, there are so many other beautiful places in Indonesia like Lombok, Sumatra and more. All of these cities in Indonesia offer low-cost accommodation, food, and transportation making them ideal for a cheap getaway. You can also enjoy a more luxurious stay at a very low cost.


Nepal

  • Lowest Daily budget: $30 / day

Nepal is a wonderfully preserved country full of natural beauty. Here you will find snow-capped mountains, jungles and lakes all with their own unique magic.

This diverse and stunning country is often overlooked by travellers touring Asia which is a shame! There is so much natural wonderment here as well as an incredibly diverse set of wildlife that the country works to protect and preserve.

Snowcapped mountain and temple

You can expect to spend are $30 a day in Nepal on the higher side. Food is very cheap at around $3 per meal. If you are looking to do activities these are also low in cost, with the most expensive being the climbing of Mount Everest. Nepal is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia that should not be overlooked.


Thailand

  • Lowest Daily budget: $25 / day

Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia that is full of beauty and excitement. Many cities in Thailand like Koh Phang rank as some of the most beautiful places in Asia!

Despite this, Thailand is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia that attracts millions of tourists each year all eager to enjoy its beauty. From the lush jungles to historic landmarks, to awe-inducing blue waters – Thailand is a traveller’s dream.

Aerial view of the ocean
Temples

Due to the large volume of tourists who come to Thailand, especially backpackers, there are a ton of low-cost hostels scattered all around. The low-cost accommodation, food, drinks and experiences all add up to make Thailand the perfect budget travel destination.

Bonus: there are some ethical elephant experiences here that are an amazing cultural experience.


Pakistan

  • Lowest Daily budget: $30 / day

Pakistan is a vast and unique country that welcomes more and more tourists every year. It has the fifth largest population in the world (200 million) and is the third cheapest country in the world. This makes it one of the more popular places to visit for anyone seeking a low-cost getaway in an amazing country. Many people in the past avoided Pakistan due to political instability, but this is more stable now and people can visit without worry.

Building in Afghanistan

As one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia you can surely find low-cost accommodation, food, drinks and transport in Pakistan. A hostel will cost you around $5 and food for the day around $10. These low costs make travelling around and doing and seeing more much easier.


Laos

  • Lowest Daily budget: $12 / day

Laos is a beautiful country in South East Asia with tourism on the rise. Although it is completely landlocked (surrounded completely by other countries, therefore having no coastline) it is still full of immense natural beauty and things to see and do. It is considered one of the most beautiful countries in the world with its lush green jungles, huge waterfalls, and cultural landmarks.

Munk in Laos
Waterfalls in Laos

In addition to its beauty, Laos is easily one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia. This off-the-beaten-track gem offers transportation for around $1, fried rice for $2 and rooms for $10. If you want to escape the crowds and visit a beautiful and underatted Asian gem, Laos is for you!


India

  • Lowest Daily budget: $30 / day

India is an incredibly diverse country with beaches, markets, churches, mausoleums, and more. This country often leaves a strong impression on its visitors who get to experience its unique and vibrant nature. Be sure to get the full India experience and see all the diversity this country has to offer. Head to Goa for a budget-friendly getaway, make the journey to the very famous Taj Mahal, visit Delhi to experience the vibrant and exciting atmosphere of India.

Taj Mahal

As one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia you can enjoy a wonderful getaway for a very low price. However, you may want to spend more on some things like accommodation to ensure you are in a safe environment.


Myanmar 

  • Lowest Daily budget: $38 / day

Do not visit until political situation settles!

Myanmar is a magical country in South East Asia full of stunning attractions, rich culture and more. It is still one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia, however, rumour has it Myanmar wants to become a luxury travel destination, which is why prices continually are increasing. Getting here before they are too high is a must.

Temple in Myanmar
Train in Myanmar

While here be sure to visit the stunning ancient city of Bagan which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with all the other stunning attractions scattered around. With prices increasing all around, finding lower-cost accmonodation is getting more difficult, but hostels are still priced fairly.


Vietnam

  • Lowest Daily budget: $30 / day

Vietnam is a young traveller’s dream destination. With the cheapest beer in the world, hostels for just a few dollars, and a young vibrant tourism scene it is the place to be! Vietnam is one of the top travel destinations for backpackers since it is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia. You can have a great stay on a budget of $30 a day but spending a little bit more will allow you to enjoy more things and nicer accommodation!

Accommodation in vietnam

Sri Lanka

  • Lowest Daily budget: $20 / day

Sri Lanka is an up-and-coming travel destination full of amazing attractions and things to do. The cost of living in Sri Lanka is unbelievably low which is why it is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia. Backpackers and regular travellers alike can enjoy the beauty and magic that is Sri Lanka without breaking the bank.

Train on a stone bridge
Elephants walking

The cost for food, transportation and accommodation are low, however, activities are priced high. Some of the most popular activities like a safari in Yala National Park, or climbing the rock of Sigiriya will set you back around $20. Avoiding these high-priced activities and enjoying other aspects of Sri Lanka will keep this vacation more budget-friendly.


Kazakhstan

  • Lowest Daily budget: $10 / day

Kazakhstan is located in central Asia and a wonderful place to visit for a budget-friendly holiday. It is the largest landlocked country in the world and is packed with amazing things to see and do. From desserts to lakes, to glaciers, to canyons, to cities and more. Kazakhstan is full of beauty to discover. More so, it is one of the cheapest countries to visit in Asia where accommodation can get as low as $3 a day!

Blue lake surrounded by snow capped mountains

The Philippines

  • Lowest Daily budget: $33 / day

The Philippines is home to 7,500 islands all bursting with life and things to do and see. This country tourism grows more and more each as people from all around the world is eager to visit. Here you will find some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, intense landscapes and a super welcoming culture. Most things in The Philippines are relatively cheap and relying on just over $30 a day is enough for one.

Huge rocks with blue water

Iran

  • Lowest Daily budget: $35 / day

Visiting Iran is an experience to be had. It is a great place for budget travellers to enjoy a unique Asian country on a budget. However, there are some important things to know before going. Firstly, for some countries, like the USA and the UK, you can only visit Iran as part of a tour. More so, you must bring enough cash to last your entire trip as they are not part of the global banking system.

Street with umbrellas covering it
Unique building

Malaysia

  • Lowest Daily budget: $35 / day

Malaysia is a stunning travel destination that combines natural beauty with beaches and modern cities. It is a very diverse country that is safe and affordable. A budget of around $35 a day will give you plenty to explore and enjoy all of Malaysia. This budget will also allow you to move around and enjoy some of the activities of the country like hiking, national parks and more.

Big city at night

Travel Insurance

Getting travel insurance before you travel is a MUST. It’s the number one thing you should always pack before travelling that can save you a lot of money, time, and stress. With how crazy travel has gotten recently you need that peace of mind that no matter what happens there is something protecting you from losing out. I always travel with travel insurance and think everyone should.

I always travel with travel insurance and think everyone should. Below is my favorite travel insurer Safety Wings, enter your details to get a free quote! 

This list of the 15 cheapest countries to visit in Asia is inspiring to say the least. There are so many stunning places to visit that you can enjoy without breaking the bank!

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