💸 Budget-friendly destinations

47 countries where your money tends to go further, from our travel guides for 230 countries and territories – with an estimated daily budget for backpackers and mid-range travellers, and the best time to go.

How this list is made: it includes every country our country guides rate at the lowest price level ($), sorted by the estimated backpacker budget per day. Budgets are rough estimates in US dollars from RoamSun's country guides, not live prices – costs vary by season, city and travel style.

Asia 20 countries

BangladeshRivers, mangrove forests and the world's longest beachBackpacker: about $20–35/day · Mid-range: about $50–100/dayBest time: Nov–Feb – dry, cooler weather after the monsoon

IndiaPalaces, spice markets, Himalayan peaks and palm-lined beachesBackpacker: about $20–35/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Oct–Mar – cooler, dry weather across most of the country

NepalHimalayan treks, ancient temples and jungle safarisBackpacker: about $20–35/day · Mid-range: about $50–100/dayBest time: Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr – clear mountain views and good trekking

PakistanGiant peaks, Mughal cities and legendary hospitalityBackpacker: about $20–35/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Apr–Oct for the northern mountains; Nov–Mar for Lahore, Karachi and the south

LaosGolden temples, Mekong sunsets and lush mountainsBackpacker: about $25–35/day · Mid-range: about $50–100/dayBest time: Nov–Feb – dry, cooler weather

VietnamLimestone bays, lantern towns and amazing street foodBackpacker: about $25–35/day · Mid-range: about $60–110/dayBest time: Feb–Apr and Aug–Oct for a good balance across the whole country

CambodiaAngkor's temples, river cities and quiet island beachesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Nov–Mar – dry season with cooler temperatures

IndonesiaThousands of islands, volcanoes, temples and coral reefsBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $70–140/dayBest time: Apr–Oct – dry season in most of the country

IranPersian gardens, tiled mosques and desert citiesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Mar–May and Sep–Nov – mild weather and blooming gardens in spring

KyrgyzstanWild mountains, alpine lakes and nomad yurt campsBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–110/dayBest time: Jun–Sep – warm summers, open mountain passes and yurt camps

MyanmarGolden pagodas, temple plains and calm lakesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Nov–Feb – dry and cooler weather

PhilippinesOver 7,000 islands of beaches, reefs and rice terracesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: Dec–May – dry season with sunny beach weather

Sri LankaTea hills, ancient rock fortresses and golden beachesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: Dec–Mar for the south and west coasts and hills; May–Sep for the east coast

SyriaAncient cities, Crusader castles and old souqsBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $70–120/dayBest time: Mar–May and Sep–Nov – mild weather for sightseeing

TajikistanRoof-of-the-world peaks and turquoise mountain lakesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–110/dayBest time: Jun–Sep – mountain roads and passes are open

UzbekistanTurquoise domes and legendary Silk Road citiesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm and pleasant for sightseeing

AfghanistanTurquoise mosques, mountain valleys and the Silk RoadBackpacker: about $25–45/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – mild days in the valleys

ArmeniaAncient monasteries, mountain views and warm hospitalityBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – mild weather, green hills or autumn colours

GeorgiaCaucasus peaks, ancient wine and legendary feastsBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – mild weather, mountain hiking and grape harvest

ThailandGolden temples, island beaches and world-famous foodBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $80–150/dayBest time: Nov–Feb – cooler and drier across most of the country

Europe 10 countries

KosovoCafé culture, Ottoman old towns and dramatic mountain gorgesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–110/dayBest time: May–Sep – warm weather for hiking and outdoor cafés

MoldovaVast wine cellars, cave monasteries and rolling countrysideBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–110/dayBest time: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm weather and the autumn grape harvest

North MacedoniaLake Ohrid, Ottoman bazaars and mountain monasteriesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–110/dayBest time: May–Jun and Sep – warm weather; Jul–Aug for swimming in Lake Ohrid

UkraineGolden domes, Carpathian villages and rich food traditionsBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–110/dayBest time: May–Jun and Sep – warm, pleasant weather for city walks

AlbaniaRiviera beaches, Ottoman towns and wild mountainsBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: May–Jun and Sep – warm sea, sunny days and fewer crowds

BelarusFairytale castles, quiet forests and Soviet boulevardsBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: May–Sep – warm days for castles, lakes and forests

Bosnia and HerzegovinaOttoman bridges, emerald rivers and coffee cultureBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–120/dayBest time: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm weather without the summer heat

BulgariaBlack Sea beaches, mountain monasteries and old townsBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: May–Sep for beaches and hiking; Dec–Mar for skiing

RomaniaCastles, painted monasteries and wild Carpathian mountainsBackpacker: about $30–50/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – pleasant weather for cities and hiking

SerbiaLively nightlife, Orthodox monasteries and rolling green hillsBackpacker: about $30–50/day · Mid-range: about $70–120/dayBest time: May–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm weather without the summer heat

Africa 8 countries

EgyptPyramids, pharaohs' tombs and Red Sea reefsBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Oct–Apr – warm days and cooler nights

EthiopiaRock-hewn churches, high mountains and the birthplace of coffeeBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Oct–Mar – dry and green after the rains, with major festivals

MadagascarLemurs, baobab avenues and wild island landscapesBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: Apr–Nov – the dry season, with cooler days and easier roads

MalawiThe warm heart of Africa and its great freshwater lakeBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $70–140/dayBest time: May–Oct – dry season, best for wildlife and lake days

MaliMud mosques, Niger River towns and Sahel musicBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: Nov–Feb – the cooler, dry months

TogoPalm beaches, green hills and colourful marketsBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: Nov–Feb – the dry season

NigerSahara mountains, Tuareg culture and desert citiesBackpacker: about $25–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: Nov–Feb – the cooler, dry months

TunisiaRoman ruins, Saharan oases and Mediterranean beachesBackpacker: about $25–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–130/dayBest time: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct – warm, sunny and not too hot

North America 4 countries

GuatemalaMayan ruins, volcano lakes and colourful highland marketsBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Nov–Apr – dry season with sunny days in the highlands

NicaraguaLand of lakes and volcanoes with colonial towns and surfBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: Dec–Apr – dry season with sunny days

HondurasCaribbean reefs, Maya ruins and cloud-forest mountainsBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–140/dayBest time: Feb–Aug for the Bay Islands; Nov–Apr is driest inland

El SalvadorSurf beaches, volcanoes and the world's best pupusasBackpacker: about $35–55/day · Mid-range: about $80–150/dayBest time: Nov–Apr – dry season with sunny days; Mar–Oct brings the biggest surf

South America 5 countries

BoliviaSalt flats, Andean lakes and colourful highland marketsBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: May–Oct – dry season with clear skies; Jan–Mar for the Uyuni mirror effect

ParaguayJesuit ruins, river towns and South America's quiet heartBackpacker: about $25–40/day · Mid-range: about $60–120/dayBest time: May–Sep – cooler and drier weather

ColombiaCaribbean coast, coffee hills and colourful colonial townsBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–140/dayBest time: Dec–Mar and Jul–Aug – drier weather in most regions

EcuadorGalápagos wildlife, Andean volcanoes and Amazon rainforestBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $70–140/dayBest time: Jun–Sep for the Andes; Dec–May for warm, calm seas in the Galápagos

PeruMachu Picchu, Andean villages and world-class foodBackpacker: about $30–45/day · Mid-range: about $80–150/dayBest time: May–Sep – dry season in the Andes, best for trekking

Always check visa and entry rules with the official government source before you travel.