The Two Cheapest Countries in the World
Key Takeaway
Top cheapest countries to travel to in 2026: Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia (excluding Bali), India, Nepal, Bolivia, Georgia, Albania. A budget of 25-40€/day is enough for a comfortable stay, including transport and accommodation.
During my 3-month stay in Southeast Asia, I had the opportunity to compare the cost of living in different countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and South Korea.
In this article, I will present to you two countries that are known to be among the cheapest countries in the world.
2 Cheapest Countries in the World Are in Asia
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Thailand,
It is no longer a country to introduce since it is known as one of the top destinations in Southeast Asia, it is one of the places where you can party without spending too much.
If you live like a backpacker, it is one of the cheapest countries in the world. I remember stopping in a small non-touristy or local town and stopping to eat; I had a soup with a sweet drink, they asked me for 30 bahts which is the equivalent of 0.75 euro cents for a fairly hearty meal! I even gave her the change and she refused because for them, it seems like a lot of money!
My Experience
My cheapest month: Vietnam in 2017, 28 days for 700€ all included (flight excluded). Night buses, street food at 2€, hostels at 8€. Similar budget in Georgia in 2022, and comparable quality of stay.
Did You Know?
In India, you can live comfortably for 10€/day by staying in the south (Kerala). Conversely, Bhutan charges a minimum of 250 USD/day to any foreign tourist, to limit the number of visitors and preserve local culture.
If you look in the right place and take your time to search, you can always save and pay less!
Find more details in my article about living like a backpacker in Thailand, I share tips to spend less and travel more!
Advantages
- Very cheap accommodation
- Authentic street food
- Possibility of long trips on a small budget
- Often beautiful countries
- Welcoming population
Drawbacks
- Variable comfort
- Sometimes rough transport
- Hygiene to watch out for
- Wifi sometimes limited
- International flights not always cheap
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Indonesia
This country, a little less touristy than Thailand, has one of the most famous islands in the world, which is Bali. Indonesia remains one of the cheapest countries in the world due to its very low cost of living. The ideal is to go to small restaurants. Choose a hotel in the small streets, very close to the beaches, rent a scooter to get around but watch out for the police who often scam tourists! By giving them fines that are not justified. You can even find yourself on paradisiacal islands like the islands off Lombok, the Gili islands and pay very little, less than 20 euros per day.
The classic trap to avoid
Beware of “cheap countries” on the continent (Vietnam, Cambodia): flights to get there from Europe cost 600-900€ round trip. The destination budget is low, but the plane ticket can represent 40% of the total budget. Include this cost in your planning.
- The budget for these 2 countries:
- Count between 5 and 10 euros for entry-level room accommodations
- 1 to 3 euros for your meal
- Rent a scooter between 4 and 10 euros per day, watch out for fines.
- a large 0.7-liter beer for less than 1 euro
- Visa for these countries
Thailand does not require paying for a visa, you have a 30-day tourist visa and a possible 15-day extension if you leave and return by land.
| Country | Daily budget | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| India | 10-20€ | Culture, spirituality |
| Vietnam | 20-30€ | Landscapes, gastronomy |
| Cambodia | 25-35€ | Temples, beaches |
| Georgia | 25-40€ | Mountains, wines |
| Albania | 30-45€ | Beaches, mountains |
However, for Indonesia, the visa costs 25 dollars and can be renewed once.
Other readings that follow the same logic: our feedback on tips for a that sets the tone, the practical guide on traveling cheaper for concrete details, and finally travel to Canada if you want to extend the reflection.
 It is always possible to bargain, I would even say that in these cheapest countries in Asia everything is a pretext for bargaining except in some stores where prices are displayed!
Which country to visit on a small budget?
Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Georgia, Bolivia: a budget of 20-40€/day is enough for a comfortable stay.
Cheapest country in Europe?
Albania, Georgia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria. A budget of 25-40€/day is enough.
How to reduce expenses while traveling?
Dormitory hostels, street food, public transportation, free sites, traveling in the low season.









