The cheapest cities in Asia for travellers

Asia covers the widest cost spectrum of any region we track — from Kathmandu well under $150/day mid-range to Tokyo and Singapore over $400. This list ranks the most affordable cities across South, Southeast and East Asia by mid-range shoulder-season daily cost.

  1. 01
    Kathmandu, Nepal

    Mid-range $94/day · Oct–Nov is the sweet spot. Temple smoke, prayer flags, Himalaya on the horizon.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $94/day
  2. 02
    Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Mid-range $108/day · Nov–Feb is the sweet spot. Wooden temples in misted hills.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $108/day
  3. 03
    Delhi, India

    Mid-range $108/day · Oct–Mar is the sweet spot. Layers of empires inside one chaotic, generous capital.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $108/day
  4. 04
    Hanoi, Vietnam

    Mid-range $108/day · Oct–Apr is the sweet spot. Lake-laced old quarters, motorbike rivers, phở at dawn.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $108/day
  5. 05
    Siem Reap, Cambodia

    Mid-range $108/day · Nov–Feb is the sweet spot. Forest-shrouded temples and sunrise silhouettes.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $108/day
  6. 06
    Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Mid-range $120/day · Dec–Mar is the sweet spot. Wires, scooters, French stone, espresso jolts.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $120/day
  7. 07
    Bali, Indonesia

    Mid-range $128/day · Apr–Oct is the sweet spot. Rice terraces, surf coasts, temple smoke at dusk.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $128/day
  8. 08
    Colombo, Sri Lanka

    Mid-range $128/day · Dec–Mar is the sweet spot. Colonial bones beside the Indian Ocean.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $128/day
  9. 09
    Mumbai, India

    Mid-range $128/day · Nov–Feb is the sweet spot. Tide-edge megacity of cinema, commerce, and bhel puri.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $128/day
  10. 10
    Bangkok, Thailand

    Mid-range $151/day · Nov–Feb is the sweet spot. Street food cathedrals and chrome-lit night markets.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $151/day
  11. 11
    Manila, Philippines

    Mid-range $151/day · Dec–Feb is the sweet spot. Spanish bones, American grid, Pacific energy.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $151/day
  12. 12
    Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mid-range $171/day · Dec–Feb is the sweet spot. Hawker stalls under a glass-and-steel skyline.

    Tier: Very cheap · Under $130/day mid-range
    $171/day
FAQ

Common questions

What is the cheapest country in Asia for travel?
Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam and India consistently produce the lowest daily costs in our model, with capital cities running well under $150/day mid-range in shoulder season.
Is Southeast Asia still cheap in 2025?
Yes. Even after multi-year inflation, mid-range daily costs across Hanoi, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Bali, and Siem Reap remain roughly one-third of comparable European cities.
How much does a month in cheap Asian cities cost?
Budget travellers can stay a month in cities like Chiang Mai or Hanoi for under $2,000 all-in, including long-stay accommodation, food, local transport and modest activities.