Unveiling the Top 20 Affordable Travel Destinations for 2024
This list is curated based on factors like accommodation costs, food prices, transportation expenses, and the overall value for money offered. Remember that prices can fluctuate depending on the season and your travel style. Booking in advance and travelling during the shoulder season (the months between peak and off-peak season) can often lead to significant savings.
Here's a quick overview, followed by a more detailed look at each destination:
Destination Average Daily Budget (USD) Why It's Cheap Highlights Vietnam $20 - $30 Affordable food, accommodation, and transportation. Ha Long Bay, bustling cities, delicious cuisine. Cambodia $25 - $35 Low cost of living, cheap accommodation, and street food. Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, pristine beaches. Thailand $30 - $40 Wide range of budget options, delicious and cheap street food. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, stunning islands and beaches. Nepal $20 - $30 Affordable trekking permits, cheap accommodation. Himalayan mountains, trekking adventures, rich culture. India $25 - $35 Very low cost of living, diverse options for accommodation and food. Taj Mahal, vibrant cities, diverse landscapes and cultures. Indonesia $30 - $40 Especially affordable in areas outside of Bali. Bali, volcanoes, stunning beaches, rich culture. Bolivia $25 - $35 One of the cheapest South American countries. Salar de Uyuni (salt flats), Lake Titicaca, vibrant cities. Ecuador $30 - $40 Using the US dollar helps with budgeting, diverse landscapes. Galapagos Islands (can be more expensive), Andes Mountains, Amazon rainforest. Peru $35 - $45 Food and accommodation are relatively cheap outside of tourist hotspots. Machu Picchu, Cusco, Amazon rainforest. Colombia $30 - $40 Affordable accommodation and local experiences. Medellin, Cartagena, coffee region, vibrant culture. Portugal $40 - $50 Western European country with lower prices than its neighbors. Lisbon, Porto, stunning beaches of Algarve. Albania $30 - $40 Rising in popularity, but still very affordable. Beautiful coastline, ancient ruins, stunning mountains. Bulgaria $35 - $45 Affordable accommodation, food, and transportation. Black Sea coast, ancient cities, mountains. Romania $30 - $40 Beautiful scenery, historical sites, and budget-friendly options. Transylvania, Carpathian Mountains, Bucharest. Hungary $40 - $50 Budapest is a stunning and relatively affordable European capital. Budapest, thermal baths, Lake Balaton. Czech Republic $45 - $55 Outside of Prague, prices drop significantly. Prague, medieval towns, castles. Mexico $35 - $45 Especially affordable in areas outside of major tourist resorts. Cancun, Mexico City, ancient ruins, beaches. Guatemala $25 - $35 Low cost of living and opportunities for volunteer work. Ancient Mayan ruins, Lake Atitlan, volcanoes. Nicaragua $25 - $35 Affordable accommodation, food and activities. Volcanoes, beaches, colonial cities like Granada. Sri Lanka $30 - $40 Beautiful beaches, ancient ruins, and delicious food at a low price. Ancient cities, tea plantations, beautiful beaches.
