Most "cheapest countries" lists are opinions. This one is arithmetic: every country in our index is scored by the average mid-range, shoulder-season daily cost of the cities we track inside it: accommodation, food, local transport, activities and miscellaneous spending, per person, in USD. Flights and visas are deliberately excluded so the comparison stays apples-to-apples.
For each country we average the mid-range shoulder-season daily total of every indexed city it contains, then rank countries from lowest to highest cost. Countries with a single indexed city use that city as the baseline rather than presenting it as a national average. Exchange rates updated daily. Local cost baselines reviewed quarterly. Baselines are held in USD so rankings move with real prices, not day-to-day currency noise. The ranking is purely cost-based: it does not weight safety, visa difficulty or airfare, all of which can change the true cost of a trip more than a $5/day difference in this table.
Destination choice dominates every other budget decision. Moving from Switzerland to Nepal at the same travel style changes the daily figure by 7.7×, more than switching from mid-range to budget, more than travelling off-season, and more than any booking tactic. Pick the country first, then optimise style and season inside it.
| # | Country | Budget / day | Mid / day | Week (mid) | Month (budget) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nepal | $42 | $94 | $658 | $1260 |
| 2 | Cambodia | $47 | $108 | $756 | $1410 |
| 3 | Vietnam | $50 | $114 | $798 | $1500 |
| 4 | India | $53 | $118 | $826 | $1590 |
| 5 | Egypt | $52 | $120 | $840 | $1560 |
Weekly figures are seven days of mid-range spending; monthly figures assume budget-tier spending for 30 days and no long-stay rent discount. Booking a month-long apartment instead of nightly rooms typically pulls the monthly number down further, the cost-of-living pages show that split.
Ranked #1 at about $94/day mid-range in shoulder season: 66% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $42/day, which works out to $1260 for a month on the ground. Kathmandu is the only city in Nepal that we track, so treat its $94/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in NPR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Oct–Nov.
Ranked #2 at about $108/day mid-range in shoulder season: 61% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $47/day, which works out to $1410 for a month on the ground. Siem Reap is the only city in Cambodia that we track, so treat its $108/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in KHR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Nov–Feb.
Ranked #3 at about $114/day mid-range in shoulder season: 59% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $50/day, which works out to $1500 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $108 in Hanoi to $120 in Ho Chi Minh City, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in VND; the best price-and-weather window we track is Oct–Apr.
Ranked #4 at about $118/day mid-range in shoulder season: 58% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $53/day, which works out to $1590 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $108 in Delhi to $128 in Mumbai, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in INR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Oct–Mar.
Ranked #5 at about $120/day mid-range in shoulder season: 57% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $52/day, which works out to $1560 for a month on the ground. Cairo is the only city in Egypt that we track, so treat its $120/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EGP; the best price-and-weather window we track is Oct–Apr.
Ranked #6 at about $128/day mid-range in shoulder season: 54% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $58/day, which works out to $1740 for a month on the ground. Bali is the only city in Indonesia that we track, so treat its $128/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in IDR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Oct.
Ranked #7 at about $128/day mid-range in shoulder season: 54% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $58/day, which works out to $1740 for a month on the ground. Bogotá is the only city in Colombia that we track, so treat its $128/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in COP; the best price-and-weather window we track is Dec–Mar.
Ranked #8 at about $128/day mid-range in shoulder season: 54% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $58/day, which works out to $1740 for a month on the ground. Colombo is the only city in Sri Lanka that we track, so treat its $128/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in LKR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Dec–Mar.
Ranked #9 at about $130/day mid-range in shoulder season: 53% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $56/day, which works out to $1680 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $108 in Chiang Mai to $151 in Bangkok, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in THB; the best price-and-weather window we track is Nov–Feb.
Ranked #10 at about $151/day mid-range in shoulder season: 46% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $65/day, which works out to $1950 for a month on the ground. Manila is the only city in Philippines that we track, so treat its $151/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in PHP; the best price-and-weather window we track is Dec–Feb.
Ranked #11 at about $154/day mid-range in shoulder season: 45% below the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $67/day, which works out to $2010 for a month on the ground. Amman is the only city in Jordan that we track, so treat its $154/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in JOD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Mar–May.
Ranked #12 at about $171/day mid-range in shoulder season: 39% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $75/day, which works out to $2250 for a month on the ground. Bucharest is the only city in Romania that we track, so treat its $171/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in RON; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Oct.
Ranked #13 at about $171/day mid-range in shoulder season: 39% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $75/day, which works out to $2250 for a month on the ground. Buenos Aires is the only city in Argentina that we track, so treat its $171/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in ARS; the best price-and-weather window we track is Mar–May.
Ranked #14 at about $171/day mid-range in shoulder season: 39% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $75/day, which works out to $2250 for a month on the ground. Kuala Lumpur is the only city in Malaysia that we track, so treat its $171/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in MYR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Dec–Feb.
Ranked #15 at about $171/day mid-range in shoulder season: 39% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $75/day, which works out to $2250 for a month on the ground. Lima is the only city in Peru that we track, so treat its $171/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in PEN; the best price-and-weather window we track is Dec–Apr.
Ranked #16 at about $171/day mid-range in shoulder season: 39% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $75/day, which works out to $2250 for a month on the ground. Tbilisi is the only city in Georgia that we track, so treat its $171/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in GEL; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Jun.
Ranked #17 at about $194/day mid-range in shoulder season: 30% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $84/day, which works out to $2520 for a month on the ground. Budapest is the only city in Hungary that we track, so treat its $194/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in HUF; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Oct.
Ranked #18 at about $194/day mid-range in shoulder season: 30% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $84/day, which works out to $2520 for a month on the ground. Havana is the only city in Cuba that we track, so treat its $194/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in CUP; the best price-and-weather window we track is Nov–Apr.
Ranked #19 at about $194/day mid-range in shoulder season: 30% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $84/day, which works out to $2520 for a month on the ground. Istanbul is the only city in Turkey that we track, so treat its $194/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in TRY; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–May.
Ranked #20 at about $194/day mid-range in shoulder season: 30% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $84/day, which works out to $2520 for a month on the ground. Krakow is the only city in Poland that we track, so treat its $194/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in PLN; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Sep.
Ranked #21 at about $194/day mid-range in shoulder season: 30% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $84/day, which works out to $2520 for a month on the ground. Marrakech is the only city in Morocco that we track, so treat its $194/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in MAD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Mar–May.
Ranked #22 at about $236/day mid-range in shoulder season: 15% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $103/day, which works out to $3090 for a month on the ground. Cape Town is the only city in South Africa that we track, so treat its $236/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in ZAR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Nov–Mar.
Ranked #23 at about $236/day mid-range in shoulder season: 15% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $103/day, which works out to $3090 for a month on the ground. Nairobi is the only city in Kenya that we track, so treat its $236/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in KES; the best price-and-weather window we track is Jun–Oct.
Ranked #24 at about $236/day mid-range in shoulder season: 15% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $103/day, which works out to $3090 for a month on the ground. Prague is the only city in Czech Republic that we track, so treat its $236/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in CZK; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Oct.
Ranked #25 at about $236/day mid-range in shoulder season: 15% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $103/day, which works out to $3090 for a month on the ground. San José is the only city in Costa Rica that we track, so treat its $236/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in USD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Dec–Apr.
Ranked #26 at about $236/day mid-range in shoulder season: 15% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $103/day, which works out to $3090 for a month on the ground. Santiago is the only city in Chile that we track, so treat its $236/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in CLP; the best price-and-weather window we track is Sep–Nov.
Ranked #27 at about $236/day mid-range in shoulder season: 15% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $103/day, which works out to $3090 for a month on the ground. Taipei is the only city in Taiwan that we track, so treat its $236/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in TWD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Oct–Dec.
Ranked #28 at about $236/day mid-range in shoulder season: 15% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $103/day, which works out to $3090 for a month on the ground. Zanzibar is the only city in Tanzania that we track, so treat its $236/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in TZS; the best price-and-weather window we track is Jun–Oct.
Ranked #29 at about $257/day mid-range in shoulder season: 8% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $112/day, which works out to $3360 for a month on the ground. Athens is the only city in Greece that we track, so treat its $257/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Jun.
Ranked #30 at about $257/day mid-range in shoulder season: 8% under the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $112/day, which works out to $3360 for a month on the ground. Rio de Janeiro is the only city in Brazil that we track, so treat its $257/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in BRL; the best price-and-weather window we track is Dec–Mar.
Ranked #31 at about $289/day mid-range in shoulder season: 4% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $127/day, which works out to $3810 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $236 in Mexico City to $342 in Cancún, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in MXN; the best price-and-weather window we track is Mar–May.
Ranked #32 at about $290/day mid-range in shoulder season: 4% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $127/day, which works out to $3810 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $279 in Porto to $300 in Lisbon, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Sep.
Ranked #33 at about $300/day mid-range in shoulder season: 8% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $132/day, which works out to $3960 for a month on the ground. Panama City is the only city in Panama that we track, so treat its $300/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in USD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Dec–Apr.
Ranked #34 at about $300/day mid-range in shoulder season: 8% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $132/day, which works out to $3960 for a month on the ground. Seoul is the only city in South Korea that we track, so treat its $300/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in KRW; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Jun.
Ranked #35 at about $322/day mid-range in shoulder season: 15% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $140/day, which works out to $4200 for a month on the ground. Berlin is the only city in Germany that we track, so treat its $322/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Sep.
Ranked #36 at about $342/day mid-range in shoulder season: 23% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $150/day, which works out to $4500 for a month on the ground. Dubrovnik is the only city in Croatia that we track, so treat its $342/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Jun.
Ranked #37 at about $354/day mid-range in shoulder season: 27% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $155/day, which works out to $4650 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $342 in Madrid to $365 in Barcelona, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Jun.
Ranked #38 at about $365/day mid-range in shoulder season: 31% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $159/day, which works out to $4770 for a month on the ground. Brussels is the only city in Belgium that we track, so treat its $365/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Sep.
Ranked #39 at about $385/day mid-range in shoulder season: 38% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $169/day, which works out to $5070 for a month on the ground. Hong Kong is the only city in China that we track, so treat its $385/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in HKD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Oct–Dec.
Ranked #40 at about $397/day mid-range in shoulder season: 42% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $173/day, which works out to $5190 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $385 in Florence to $408 in Rome, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–May.
Ranked #41 at about $397/day mid-range in shoulder season: 42% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $173/day, which works out to $5190 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $385 in Kyoto to $408 in Tokyo, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in JPY; the best price-and-weather window we track is Mar–Apr.
Ranked #42 at about $408/day mid-range in shoulder season: 46% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $177/day, which works out to $5310 for a month on the ground. Amsterdam is the only city in Netherlands that we track, so treat its $408/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Jun.
Ranked #43 at about $408/day mid-range in shoulder season: 46% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $177/day, which works out to $5310 for a month on the ground. Dublin is the only city in Ireland that we track, so treat its $408/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Sep.
Ranked #44 at about $408/day mid-range in shoulder season: 46% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $177/day, which works out to $5310 for a month on the ground. Helsinki is the only city in Finland that we track, so treat its $408/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Jun–Aug.
Ranked #45 at about $408/day mid-range in shoulder season: 46% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $177/day, which works out to $5310 for a month on the ground. Vienna is the only city in Austria that we track, so treat its $408/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Oct.
Ranked #46 at about $428/day mid-range in shoulder season: 53% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $187/day, which works out to $5610 for a month on the ground. Auckland is the only city in New Zealand that we track, so treat its $428/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in NZD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Nov–Mar.
Ranked #47 at about $428/day mid-range in shoulder season: 53% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $187/day, which works out to $5610 for a month on the ground. Tel Aviv is the only city in Israel that we track, so treat its $428/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in ILS; the best price-and-weather window we track is Mar–May.
Ranked #48 at about $471/day mid-range in shoulder season: 69% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $207/day, which works out to $6210 for a month on the ground. Copenhagen is the only city in Denmark that we track, so treat its $471/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in DKK; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Sep.
Ranked #49 at about $471/day mid-range in shoulder season: 69% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $207/day, which works out to $6210 for a month on the ground. Dubai is the only city in United Arab Emirates that we track, so treat its $471/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in AED; the best price-and-weather window we track is Nov–Mar.
Ranked #50 at about $471/day mid-range in shoulder season: 69% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $207/day, which works out to $6210 for a month on the ground. Singapore is the only city in Singapore that we track, so treat its $471/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in SGD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Feb–Apr.
Ranked #51 at about $471/day mid-range in shoulder season: 69% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $207/day, which works out to $6210 for a month on the ground. Stockholm is the only city in Sweden that we track, so treat its $471/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in SEK; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Sep.
Ranked #52 at about $471/day mid-range in shoulder season: 69% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $207/day, which works out to $6210 for a month on the ground. Toronto is the only city in Canada that we track, so treat its $471/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in CAD; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Oct.
Ranked #53 at about $493/day mid-range in shoulder season: 77% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $216/day, which works out to $6480 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $471 in Melbourne to $514 in Sydney, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in AUD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Mar–May.
Ranked #54 at about $514/day mid-range in shoulder season: 84% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $224/day, which works out to $6720 for a month on the ground. Paris is the only city in France that we track, so treat its $514/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in EUR; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Jun.
Ranked #55 at about $556/day mid-range in shoulder season: 99% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $245/day, which works out to $7350 for a month on the ground. London is the only city in United Kingdom that we track, so treat its $556/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in GBP; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Sep.
Ranked #56 at about $556/day mid-range in shoulder season: 99% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $245/day, which works out to $7350 for a month on the ground. Reykjavik is the only city in Iceland that we track, so treat its $556/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in ISK; the best price-and-weather window we track is Jun–Aug.
Ranked #57 at about $728/day mid-range in shoulder season: 161% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $318/day, which works out to $9540 for a month on the ground. Inside the country, daily costs run from $728 in New York to $728 in San Francisco, so where you base yourself matters as much as when you go. Pay in USD; the best price-and-weather window we track is Apr–Jun.
Ranked #58 at about $728/day mid-range in shoulder season: 161% above the global median (~$279/day). Budget travellers get by on roughly $318/day, which works out to $9540 for a month on the ground. Zurich is the only city in Switzerland that we track, so treat its $728/day figure as the country baseline rather than a national average. Pay in CHF; the best price-and-weather window we track is May–Sep.
Country rankings hide a regional pattern: once you know which region you are flying to, the affordable options within it cluster tightly. If your flight budget locks the region, use this table to find the cheapest entry point inside it rather than chasing a country ten time zones away.
| Region | Cities | Avg mid / day | Cheapest city |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Asia | 4 | $115 | Kathmandu |
| North Africa | 2 | $157 | Cairo |
| Southeast Asia | 9 | $168 | Chiang Mai |
| Central Asia | 1 | $171 | Tbilisi |
| South America | 5 | $193 | Bogotá |
| Caribbean | 1 | $194 | Havana |
| Eastern Europe | 4 | $199 | Bucharest |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 3 | $236 | Cape Town |
| Central America | 4 | $279 | Mexico City |
| Middle East | 4 | $312 | Amman |
| Southern Europe | 8 | $335 | Athens |
| East Asia | 5 | $343 | Taipei |
| Western Europe | 8 | $464 | Berlin |
| Oceania | 3 | $471 | Auckland |
| Northern Europe | 4 | $477 | Helsinki |
| North America | 3 | $642 | Toronto |