15 Cheapest Countries to Visit in 2023

As we all know, the cheaper the destination, the longer you can afford to stay — or the better your travel lifestyle can be while visiting. The cheapest countries to visit on this list offer both affordability and value for money.

In some countries, $45 per night barely gets you a hostel dorm bed, while in others that can pay for a luxury villa. For example, in Canggu, Bali , you can get a 2 bedroom private pool villa for $50 per night, while when visiting Japan that same $50 might get you a double bed on the floor of a small room.

By opting for more affordable destinations, you’ll be able to enjoy a longer trip, which ultimately means you’ll be able to better immerse yourself into the culture and have more meaningful experiences. If you’re planning your trips for the year, then this post of cheap countries to visit is for you.

Cheapest Countries to Visit

Some of these destinations are more affordable now than ever, largely due to drops in their local currency on the global market, or due to a recent lack of tourism.

We would never write a post to revel in low prices at the cost of economic struggle, but by visiting these places independently now, you can not only enjoy better prices for yourself but also help the local businesses and people along the way.

1. Indonesia

With white sand beaches , world-class surfing, the best scuba diving in the world and some of the most picturesque jungle and rice paddy scenery, Indonesia is without a doubt one of our favourite countries on earth and it’s a cheap place to travel as well.

We spent 3 months living in Canggu, Bali , 2 months backpacking around the archipelago, a week of scuba diving in remote destinations , a week in Lombok and Gili Trawangan Island , and 3 weeks exploring lesser-visited places like Gangga Island , Raja Ampat , and Candidasa .

UPDATE: We recently returned from a trip to Raja Ampat in Indonesia and while it’s the one place in the country that isn’t overly cheap, it’s definitely worth a visit. This archipelago is known to be one of the top 3 best dive locations in the world and there are some relatively inexpensive accommodation options when you consider that you get full board and diving included in most room rates. Even if you’re on a budget, if you have time, don’t miss Raja Ampat!

Currently, Indonesia is one of the cheapest countries to visit that we know of. These days, $1 US dollar will get you around 15,000 rupiah, which is about 1,500 more rupiah than last year.

As I said in the opening paragraphs of this post, Indonesia offers incredible value for accommodation, food and transport. Your budget here will depend on which island you visit, with the popular islands of Bali and the remote areas of Raja Ampat costing more than somewhere like Sumatra.

Regardless of where you stay in Indonesia, you can easily get beautiful guest house rooms, often set in pool villas, for as little as $30 per night. Have a look at this list to see guesthouses, hotels and villas for less than $50 per night.

You can eat delicious seafood meals and millennial classics like “smashed avo on toast” for around $3 and you can rent a motorbike here for just a couple of dollars per day (cars are around $15 per day).

The only thing that’s not of great value is alcohol. Indonesia has placed a pretty heavy tax on imported booze, so a low-quality bottle of imported wine will cost around $20, while a drinkable local wine is still $13 – $15.

Bintang beer is nothing to write home about, but it’s affordable at around $1.50 – $3 at a beach bar or restaurant and imported beer is around twice the price.

Out of all the countries we’ve travelled to and kept track of our budgets, Indonesia is definitely amongst the top 3 best value for money, and with a stronger dollar and weaker rupiah, this has never been truer than it is today.

Don’t miss the islands of Raja Ampat , Bali , Sumatra, Sumbawa, Lombok , Gili Islands , Flores, Komodo National Park , Alor …and more.

There are endless things to do in Indonesia and many tours . Have a look at these top, affordable activities and tours: Cooking Class from Ubud , Surfing Lesson in Bali , and Hiking Mt. Batur Volcano for Sunrise (we did this and it’s awesome!).

2. Mexico (one of the cheapest countries to visit for North Americans)

A diverse and delicious cuisine, friendly local people, world-class beaches, all the amenities you could hope for and an intoxicating vibe make Mexico a place that we return to time and time again.

It’s one of our favourite countries to travel to and one of the few destinations where we could see ourselves living long-term . There are so many incredible places to visit in Mexico , and things to do that you could spend years here and not see it all.

For Canadians and Americans, getting here is very affordable and there are many points of entry, and airlines available.

Now, while Mexico is affordable, and will probably cost less to visit than your home country, getting by on a super-low budget is more difficult these days. With the remote work boom, many Canadians, Americans and Europeans made their way south to Mexico. And with that, they brought their strong currencies and higher budgets.

On top of that, with the demand so high, the cost of accommodation went up. Also, at the time of writing, the US dollar is at just 18 Mexican pesos — which is lower than usual. Click here to have a look at the cost of hotels, guesthouses and apartments in Mexico.

We’ve been to Mexico numerous times. When we travelled here way back in 2014, the dollar was at just 12.8 pesos, while in 2020 it was at 25 pesos to the US dollar. Regardless, Mexico is still excellent value for money, especially if you get off the main tourist / digital nomad track!

UPDATE 2022: While Mexico can definitely be a very cheap country to travel to, you’ll save more money by avoiding the main tourist spots, such as Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen , Cancun and Tulum .

If you want to really save money while visiting Mexico , avoid coming here during peak season (November – March) when accommodation prices can skyrocket (especially in December) and many of the best places are booked out.

To save money, opt for lesser-visited areas like Queretaro , Chiapas , Mazatlan , Puebla , Zihuatanejo , Oaxaca , Guanajuato , etc, rather than the busy Yucatan Peninsula and Riviera Nayarit.

No matter when you travel here, Mexico will shock you with its great value on food, drinks, and transportation. Tacos for around 50 cents each, a kilo of fresh prawns from the fish market for $5, Coronas with a slice of lime for $1.50 and strong margaritas served to you while your feet are buried in the sand for just $1 each.

You’ll find affordable internal flights with Viva Aerobus and Aeromexico, and cheap long-distance bus rides with Addo.

On top of the great prices for food and booze bought in restaurants and bars, Mexico has many shops that North Americans love, like Sams Club, Costco in the major cities, and Walmart.

Mexico also has its own brand of grocery stores like La Comer, Mega and Soriana. Purchasing your own groceries and cooking for yourself is a great way to save money (and make a healthy meal) as the food in the grocery stores here is very reasonable.

Mexico may be one of the cheapest countries to visit, but it’s also a popular destination for digital nomads and retirees looking to spend a longer period of time in the country. Have a look at these highly-rated tours in Mexico: Trip to Chichen Itza with Cenote , Kayaking in Cabo San Lucas , and this Authentic Food Tour in Mexico City .

See More of Our Mexico Posts Here:

21 Best Things To Do in Puerto Vallarta Backpacking Mexico: Top 8 Reasons to Travel Mexico Mexico – The Best Digital Nomad Spot for North Americans 21 Best Things To Do in Cabo San Lucas 33 Best Places to Visit in Mexico 15 Best Beaches in Mexico

3. India

India is one of the most exhilarating travel destinations on earth, and if cheap countries to visit are what you seek, look no further than India.

Chaotic and tranquil. Pristine and dirty. Friendly and frustrating. India is the epitome of all the oxymoronic experiences that make travel so amazing.

While India is likely the most exciting and bewildering place to travel to, it’s also probably the cheapest country in the world to travel.

Thanks to the Indian Rupee currently trading at around 80 rupees to the dollar (which is 7 rupees more per dollar than you would have received last year), India is likely the best place to travel if you want to stretch your budget.

The last time we were in India, I purchased the cheapest (yet filling) meal I’ve ever had while travelling. Just 20 cents bought me a pile of puris (fluffy fried bread) and two different types of curries served to me from a street cart. The meal was delicious and completely filled me up… amazing.

While the cost of that meal was exceptionally low, we often ate all-you-can-eat thali meals for as little as $1.50 and drank fresh lime juice squeezed on the street for 15 cents a glass.

We had free accommodation in ashrams (it doesn’t get much cheaper than that) and when paying for our hotels, we had decent but basic double rooms for around $5 per night. You can splash out and get a very nice place for $20 per night.

Depending on what class of train and bus you take, getting around India can be done on a budget , with a train from Mumbai to Kolkata covering 1,968 km and taking over 30 hours costing around $10!

In my opinion, India is one of the best countries to visit in terms of experiences and cuisine, and it’s also one of the cheapest countries as well. Have a look at the best guesthouses, hotels and apartment rentals in India here .

There are endless things to do in India, don’t miss these affordable, highly-rated experiences: Trip to the Taj Mahal from Delhi , Camel Safari and Overnight in the Desert , and a Houseboat Cruise down the Backwaters of Kerala (which is one of the best things to do in Kerala , and still one of our most memorable moments in travel).

See More of Our India Posts Here:

Budget Backpacking Guide to India Guide to Transportation in India Top Tips For Preparing for a Trip to India

4. Colombia

After backpacking Colombia a few years ago, it quickly set itself amongst our favourite countries we’ve ever been to. With friendly people, incredibly pristine and lush jungles, stunning Spanish colonial cities and breathtaking beaches, Colombia is a traveller’s dream.

The Colombian peso saw a massive drop in recent years which unfortunately isn’t good for local economies and Colombians looking to travel, but it does give budget travellers an added incentive to visit this incredible country.

At the time of writing, the Colombian peso is sitting at around 4,600 pesos to the US dollar, which is 1,000 more pesos than you would have received last year.

This means that everything in Colombia is of great value for travellers. Whether you’re visiting with a dollar, pound, euro, yen or yuan, Colombia is a better deal now than it’s ever been.

We were eating delicious seafood meals on the beach for just a few dollars, beautiful Spanish-style guest houses only cost around $30 per night and you can enjoy scuba diving in the Caribbean here for as little as $24 per dive when buying a 10-dive package. Travelling in Colombia offers great value for money .

We stayed in some of the best hostels we’ve ever seen in Colombia, with rooftop pools, funky bars and luxurious rooms (one even had a jacuzzi in it). The cost of tours and experiences are also excellent in Colombia.

I highly recommend doing the 4-day Ciudad Perdida trek and a coffee tour in Salento (the latter is only $2). Don’t miss the beautiful city of Cartagena and the islands offshore, the cities of Medellin and Bogota , San Gil , and Barichara (to name a few).

Colombia is one of the cheapest countries to visit this year, and it offers excellent value for money. Have a look at the cost of accommodation here . Check out these affordable, highly-rated tours: Day Trip from Medellin to Guatape , Hiking to the Highest Waterfall , and Sailing Around the Rosario Islands . There are endless amazing things to do in Colombia .

See Also: 21 Things To Do in Cartagena

5. Cuba

If you’re looking for a cheap destination to visit in the Caribbean, then Cuba tops the list!

You can travel here on an all-inclusive, but if you choose to travel to Cuba independently, you’ll have a far richer experience and it’ll cost you less. For cheap countries, Cuba is one of your best bets.

With stunning beaches , a unique Caribbean and Spanish vibe , tasty cooking (contrary to belief), friendly people and incredible landscapes, Cuba is a diverse country that needs to be on your list.

For Americans, it’s possible to travel to Cuba if you travel under one of the allowed categories. Support For The Cuban People is what most people choose to travel under. But, it’s still a confusing process for our American friends.

You’ll need to build an itinerary containing activities that meet the criteria for Support For The Cuban People category.

We spent a month backpacking Cuba and it was a highlight of all our travel experiences. Meeting the Cuban people, dancing in the streets, lazing on virtually empty beaches, partying in Havana and hiking to tobacco farms were our most memorable moments.

Cuba has two currencies: the CUC and the CUP.

In general, you’ll use CUC (which is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar) for your accommodation, food at tourist restaurants, cocktails & beer, activities & excursions, car & scooter rentals, and the Viazul bus.

CUP is used for smaller items such as fruit and vegetables from local vendors, the local bus and some peso food shops.

1 USD = 1 CUC

1 USD = 25 CUP

Staying in casa particulares (guesthouses) with the local families is what Cuba is all about. This is the best way to meet people and enjoy an authentic experience.

Casas will cost $20 – $30 per night for two people, with discounts for 1 person (and oftentimes it includes breakfast), while hotels cost around $25 per night up to $180+. You can find casas and hotels on Booking.com .

The cost of food in the restaurants in Cuba really depends on which city you’re in, and which restaurant you are at. But in general, expect to spend between $5 – $10 for a filling meal.

We recommend dining at least 1 night at your casa as they cook some amazing traditional food! Cocktails are about $2 – $3 at a bar. Now, if you were to eat “peso food”, you would spend about $1 for a small meal.

Activities can be fairly cheap in Cuba as well, with chilling out on beaches and wandering around the stunning and bustling streets costing you nothing.

Museum visits, caving, horseback riding and other tours will cost between $5 – $30. The cost of travel in Cuba is incredibly fair, making it one of the cheapest places to travel.

6. Bulgaria

Bulgaria is one of the cheapest countries we’ve been to in Europe , and actually, we live here now. With gorgeous old towns, phenomenal wine, lovely coastline and super friendly and ailak (relaxed) people, Bulgaria is also one of our favourites in the region.

While the country has offered great value to travellers for decades, as with many places in the world right now (Europe in particular), prices of accommodation, transportation and food have gone up over the past year or so. Currently, $1 USD = 1.80 LEV.

When we visited Bulgaria in 2016 we were blown away by the incredible value we got for our dollars. On one occasion, we sat in a restaurant bar for over 5 hours. We ate a massive platter of meat, veggies and bread and drank copious amounts of wine.

When the bill finally came, we thought there was a mistake, or we were misreading it in our double vision. That night we paid under $30 for that bill and we still don’t know how it was that affordable.

The great deals continued as we travelled around Bulgaria, with lovely hostel rooms in 200-year-old buildings costing just $20 per night and bottles of wine at restaurants rarely breaking the $10 mark.

These days, while restaurant costs and accommodation have definitely gone up, traditional, local food is still quite affordable.

If you want to visit Europe, experience history, meet really cool people and taste some of the world’s best wine while not breaking the bank, Bulgaria should be on your travel wish list this year.

Bulgaria is still one of the cheapest European countries and the best places to visit this year. Click here to see the costs of hotels and apartments, and have a look at these top tours: Sofia Communism Walking Tour , Rila Monastery and Boyana Church , and Sunny Beach Catamaran Cruise .

7. South Africa

One of the most adventure-packed and naturally blessed countries on earth, this list wouldn’t be complete without our favourite country in Africa (so far). South Africa offers visitors too much to see in any trip under 6 months.

With a rugged and stunning coastline, incredible wildlife, extremely friendly people, tasty Indi-afro fusion food, solid amenities, and great prices, you really can’t beat SA.

We believe that this country on the south tip of the continent is the perfect beginner’s stepping stone into the more chaotic and adventurous travel of other countries in the region. South Africa is relatively easy to travel to, especially if you rent your own car , which we did for 5 weeks. (Highly recommended! Check out Discover Cars for deals ).

Part of what makes South Africa so budget-friendly this year is the currency. Last year, the conversion was $1 USD = 14.6 rand. This year, it’s gone up by 3 rand and you’ll now receive around 17.6 rand for 1 dollar.

When we were last there twelve years ago, we received just 6.7 rand to the dollar, but everything was still of great value. We paid $40 per night for lovely double rooms (called “Backpackers”), around $7 per meal and just $10 to enter some amazing national parks.

These days, you’ll still find hotels and accommodations available from $20 per night! Click here to search for affordable places to stay. Your budget for South Africa can be as high or as low as you wish.

Take into consideration the current discount based on the currency devaluation and these all become incredibly affordable in 2023, even considering the rate of inflation. Due to South Africa’s volatile political situation (plus some corruption here and there), the currency remains weak, making it one of the cheaper places to visit.

To save even more money in South Africa, consider renting accommodation with a kitchen so you can cook your own meals. You’ll find grocery stores such as Pick n’ Pay and Spar in all the major cities. We actually picked up a cooler (esky/cool box) so we could bring a picnic along on road trips.

Grab a friend, split the cost of a rental car, stay in fun guesthouses and enjoy all of the adventurous activities on offer in South Africa. Here are a few top activities you’ll want to budget for your trip: Hiking up Lion’s Head at Sunset , Garden Route and Addo National Park , and this Zipline Canopy Tour .

8. Turkey

There was a devastating earthquake earlier in the year that hit Syria and the southeastern part of Turkey around Gaziantep, and while that area is recovering, the rest of the country is still open and safe for tourism.

Possibly the most liberal of the countries in the region, Turkey attracts visitors with one of the most exciting and beautiful cities on earth, Istanbul.

Plus, this country offers a blissfully alluring Mediterranean coastline, amazingly friendly people (especially in the east) and an intoxicating Islamic culture and architecture.

If you’re looking for cheap places to travel, the value for money in Turkey has always been great, but these days, with the current economic crisis in Turkey, everything is cheaper for travellers.

The Lira continues to crash, and sadly, the Turkish economy is struggling. At the time of writing, $1 USD equals close to 20 Turkish Lira. Compare that to last year when the lira was around 14 to the dollar.

Every time we visit Turkey we are amazed by the value for money found here. You can eat delicious meals of traditional Turkish food for $7. Portions here are often so massive that you could share a meal and that cost.

Tasty kebabs are just a couple of dollars on the street and you can get lovely guest house rooms here for under $20 per night (it costs more in the major cities). Have a look at hotels and guesthouses available in Istanbul for under $50 per night, <a href="https://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?label=gog235jc-1DCAIo5AFCAnRySAlYA2gXiAEBmAEJuAEHyAEM2AED6AEB-AECiAIBqAIDuALb7rmhBsACAdICJDdiNjk3NDAzLTZiODgtNDFmZS05MmFkLWE4ODU5MjZmNTMwM9gCBOACAQ&sid=1dff6cf4ccc60e2f391d1aa0300a8169&aid=353338&ss=Istanbul&ssne=Istanbul&ssne_untouched=Istanbul&lang=en-gb&src=searchresults&dest_id=-755070&dest_type=city&checkin=2023-06-14&checkout=2023-06-15&group_adults=2&no_rooms=1&group_children=0&sb_travel_purpose=leisure&nflt=pri%3D1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here .

One of the activities in Turkey that are pricier is taking a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia , but it’s absolutely worth the money! Other exciting excursions such as whitewater rafting in Antalya or cruising down the Bosphorus River are very affordable.

If you’re on a tighter budget, the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque in Istanbul are free to enter. You can also consider joining a free walking tour of the city.

Turkey offers excellent value for money and by visiting now, taking local tours, staying at local accommodations, and eating at smaller, family-run restaurants, you’ll be directly helping the local people during this financial crisis.

9. Thailand

We have to include the Land of Smiles on this list of cheap travel destinations for 2023. Thailand has always been one of our favourite countries in the world and the budget backpacker that still resides deep inside our souls rejoices every time we return.

There are numerous places to visit in Thailand — whether you want National Parks, jungles, cities or islands, there’s a place in Thailand for you.

The Thai Baht, although it has seen some dips and spikes, doesn’t make the country especially cheaper than it has been in the past few years, but that doesn’t matter. Thailand simply offers some of the best value for money you can find anywhere.

Having said that, following the boom of remote work, and the fact that the country was basically closed to tourism for almost two years, prices seem to have increased a bit in Thailand. It’s still more affordable than in places like the USA and Canada, you just might need to search a bit harder to find great bargains.

You can still find lovely guest houses and beach huts right on the sand for as little as $15 – $20 per night, spicy and mouth-watering Thai dishes for under $2 a plate, and scuba diving for under $20 a dive. All of this makes Thailand a constant competitor as one of the cheapest countries to visit in the world.

When we first visited in 2008 we were amazed to find budget rooms (albeit extremely basic) for under $10 and when we returned in 2017 on a higher budget, we couldn’t believe the luxury, 2 bedroom private pool villa we were able to afford for just $1,500 per month ($50/night).

Have a look at these accommodations in Bangkok which cost between $10 – $50 per night. For tours, you can find great value in Thailand as well. Don’t miss a visit to the Chiang Rai white temples , a boat trip to Maya Bay and Bamboo Island , and a trip to the Floating Market and Railway Market in Bangkok .

Your biggest expense when travelling in Thailand (depending on where you’re coming from) will likely be your flight, but once there you can enjoy an incredibly low cost of living and the warmth of the local people who have made this place famous.