According to the Cost of Living Index, these 12 countries are the cheapest countries to travel, ranked according to prices of food, accommodation and transportation prices. So if you’re a shoestring traveller, be sure to hit up one of these countries
So, don’t let a small budget keep you from seeing the world. Some of the most interesting places in the world are also amongst the cheapest countries to travel to. In fact, spending time in one of these countries as a tourist could be even cheaper than staying at home – especially if you try to live like a local! The best thing about these countries is some of them are most beautiful like Pakistan and Nepal where others have rich Historical and cultural background like India and Egypt.
1- Pakistan
With about almost two million tourists every year, Pakistan’s cultural and natural attractions draw more visitors than you might think. Most travellers come to see ruins, mountainous landscapes, and 5000-year-old cities. The most popular attractions include Taxila, Lahore, Karakoram Highway, Karimabad, and Lake Saiful Mukluk and Sharda Peeth in Pakistan administrated Jammu Kashmir.
Pakistan’s restaurants are some of the cheapest to be found, with full meals in an average restaurant at just 210PKR (1.5USD)! Local transportation is also quite cheap, with tickets beginning at 300 PKR (2.2USD). Recently the government of Pakistan has announced to open all of its attractions and historical places for international tourism without any NOC to travel that was essential in the past.
2 – Tunisia
It may be but a slim wedge of North Africa’s vast horizontal expanse, but Tunisia has enough history and diverse natural beauty to pack a country many times its size. With a balmy, sand-fringed Mediterranean coast, scented with jasmine and sea breezes, and where the fish on your plate is always fresh, Tunisia is prime territory for a straightforward sun-sand-and-sea holiday. But beyond the beaches, it’s a thrilling, underrated destination where distinct cultures and incredible extremes of the landscape – forested coastlines, Saharan sand seas in the south – can be explored in just a few days.
Terrorist attacks in 2015 that targeted foreign visitors caused damage to the important tourism industry, something that Tunisia has struggled to overcome, but the removal of travel advisories for the country by Western governments has given the industry a chance to start to rebuild. Although it is not much safe and one has to take care of himself and at the same time forces are in a position to cope up with any surveillance situation. Cost of living index ranked it on 118th position.
3 – India
It’s definitely not surprising to find India at the top 3 of the list for cheapest countries to visit. India has long been recognized as a budget traveller’s dream. You can easily find all-you-can-eat thalis for 100 to 300INR (1.50-4.50USD), and a bed in a dorm at just 100INR (1.50USD), though private rooms will set you back a bit more, starting at 300INR (4.50USD) in a budget hotel. Prices for bus and train tickets start from just 300INR (4.50USD).
India is a huge and varied country, with something for every kind of traveller. Whether you’re after big cities, beautiful beaches, fascinating history, or gorgeous countryside landscapes – India has it all, and at a fraction of the price of other countries.
4 – Moldova
Moldova is one of the newest countries on the list, literally. The little landlocked nation declared independence only in 1991. It is known for a mild and sunny climate, with the majority of the hilly country located between the Dniester and Prut rivers. The region is actually wonderful for growing excellent wine grapes, and a multitude of vineyards are scattered throughout the country.
Tickets for local transport start at just 2MDL (0.10USD), and a meal in an inexpensive restaurant will set you back at around 80MDL (4USD). If you want to rent an apartment in the city centre for a whole month, you’re looking at just over 3950MDL (200USD). Tourists seeking beautiful landscapes, historical sites, and wine won’t be disappointed. The cuisine is hearty and perfect for a filling meal before setting off on explorations. It is similar to Romanian food, with beef, pork, potatoes, and cabbage playing major roles.
5 – Kazakhstan
The tourism sector in Kazakhstan is tiny but slowly growing. The traditionally nomadic culture is known for horse raising and riding, and that history definitely encourages horse lovers to visit. The country is so horse-focused that even the national beverage comes from a horse: fermented mare’s milk! There are also lots of great hiking in Kazakhstan that are relatively easy to access by public transport.
You can save a lot of money by self-catering (grocery store costs are very low, less than 300KZT (°USD) per kilo for most common vegetables), but restaurant meals start at just 1976ICT (6USD).
6 – Ukraine
Ukraine is actually one of the top ten most popular countries in Europe for visitors, welcoming over 20 million tourists each year. With varied geography including a Black Sea coastline, mountain ranges for skiing and snowboarding, and well-preserved nature reserves, the country is a prime destination for outdoorsy types. More culturally-inclined tourists will enjoy beautiful old churches, stunning castle ruins, and of course the lively city of Kiev.
It’s extremely affordable to get around Ukraine’s many hotspots. You can travel 100km on a bus for about 30UAH (just over 1USD), or chow down on a cafeteria-type meal for the same price. A bed in a dorm will range from about 70-150UAH (2.70-6USD).
7 – Nepal
The adventure-packed, mountainous country of Nepal was devastated by not one but two major earthquakes and rebuilding efforts still continue. The country is as cheap as always for visiting travellers but now is perhaps more important than ever before to visit and share your tourist dollars.
In the capital city Kathmandu, a private budget hotel room will be around 107INPR (10USD).
Most travellers in Nepal are after adventure, and you can easily find it here at a much lower price than almost anywhere else in the world. Organized treks start at 6430NPR (60USD) a day, while a more DIY approach with your own trekking guide will start at 1607NPR (15USD) per day.
8 – Georgia
Georgia hosts a small trickle of tourists, about a million each year. Georgia is a definite delight for culture vultures with over 10,000 historical and cultural spots, including four UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Sites. Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital city, is blessed with ornate churches, beautiful open squares, and a feeling of history. The Eastern European nation also claims to be the birthplace of wine.
Georgia offers a feeling of rich culture, at a tiny fraction of the usual price of the rest of Europe. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant costs about 15GEL (7USD), but if you cook for yourself you’ll find that groceries are incredibly cheap (under 2GEL or 1USD per kilo), and a bottle of mid-range wine is just lOGEL (5USD). Getting around is incredibly cheap, with local transportation tickets starting at only 0.50GEL (.25USD). If you fall in love with Tbilisi and decide to base yourself there, an apartment in the city centre starts around 760GEL per month (350USD).
9 – Colombia
The only country from the Americas on the list, Colombia is famed for its verdant rainforest and cultural cities. The country’s landscape is also punctuated by mountains and home to rich coffee plantations. Aside from Bogota, the capital, Colombia has many other fascinating cities.
The Caribbean coast is home to popular Cartagena, known for its beaches and history (including a colonial Viejo district and a castle from the 1500s). Barranquilla is home to one of the largest Carnivals in South America. While Colombia had previously been plagued by reports of violence and crime, the country is ever-improving its safety, especially for tourists. A dorm bed will range from 18000-2700000P (6-9USD), while a set meal will run 5000-1200000P (1.50-4USD).
10 – Azerbaijan
While tourism is steadily increasing, overall the tourism scene is still quite slow in Azerbaijan. Interestingly, the country was once a popular hotspot in the 1980s before the fall of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan offers amazing skiing opportunities doing winter, and stunning biodiversity (nine out of the eleven climate zones are found within the nation). Among the many climate zones, the majority of the nation is subtropical but also includes the Big Caucasus highlands offering mountain tundra, and the Absheron seaside with beautiful beaches.
A meal at a cheap restaurant starts at 7AZN (5USD), and a local transport ticket is just 0.2AZN (0.13USD). If you fall in love with the uniquely modern architecture in Baku, you can score an apartment in the city centre starting around 550AZN (350USD).
11 – Egypt
Egypt tourist attractions are like nothing you will find anywhere else in the world. Ancient Egypt, before its ultimate collapse some 1,700 years ago, was the Land of the Pharaohs, and monuments like the legendary Great Pyramids and Sphinx, and the many royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings stand as a commemoration to all of the Egyptian pharaohs who once ruled this ancient land.
12 – Sri Lanka
Last but not the least in the list with Endless beaches, timeless ruins, welcoming people, oodles of elephants, rolling surf, cheap prices, fun trains, famous tea and flavourful food make Sri Lanka irresistible.
You might say Sri Lanka has been hiding in plain sight. Scores of travellers have passed overhead on their way to someplace else, but years of uncertainty kept Sri Lanka off many itineraries. Now, however, all that has changed. The country is moving forward quickly as more and more people discover its myriad charms. Lying between the more trodden parts of India and Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka’s history, culture and natural beauty are undeniably alluring. It’s the place you haven’t been to yet, that you should.
