7 Countries Where You Can Travel Comfortably for Under $30 a Day

In case you haven’t noticed, everything from groceries to rent is getting more expensive. At times like these, it’s good to remember there are places where you can book a hotel room for the price of a movie ticket and a full meal for the cost of a cup of coffee. In fact, once you get past paying for the airfare, you can actually save money by traveling to certain countries for extended periods of time.

Here’s a rundown of how to get by in some of the world’s most affordable countries for less than $30 a day, including lodging, food, and activities.

Laos

While Vietnam and Thailand get plenty of attention, Laos is often overlooked. Perhaps it’s because the nation is landlocked in an area known for its beautiful coastlines, but those who visit will be rewarded with mountains, Buddhist monasteries, beautiful rivers, and a lower cost of living.

When I visited Luang Prabang, I was able to stay at places like Phai Guesthouse for under $20 a night. The city is full of French colonial architecture and bakeries with delicious treats for less than $4. If you really want to save, buy your meals from roadside vendors, who sell foods like noodle soup and sticky rice for around $1.

Nepal

I visited Nepal when I was traveling through northern India. The capital, Kathmandu, tends to have some of the most affordable lodging options, like Thamel Eco Resort, where rooms are often under $20 a night on its partner booking sites. But if you want to see the Himalayas, you’ll want to hop on a bus to Pokhara, a city west of the capital. The journey costs about $10 per person via an air-conditioned bus.

One of the most memorable things I ate in Nepal was the momos (dumplings), which set me back less than $1 for a plate of around seven.

Indonesia

When I visited Indonesia, I stayed on the island of Bali, which, while relatively affordable, is still more expensive than many of the country’s other islands. Sumatra and Java have wonderfully low prices, and on Lombok, an island to the east of Bali, you can stay in a three-star hotel like the Hotel Puri Saron Senggigi for around $19 a night.

If you don’t mind simple meals of rice, meat, and eggs, you can grab local dishes like nasi goreng for about $2.

Thailand

Thailand may no longer be the budget travelers’ paradise it once was, but you can still find affordable accommodations and eats all over the country. For some of the best rates, head north to the cool mountains, rather than south to the islands. For example, in the northern city of Chiang Mai, you can book a private room in a guesthouse for under $20 a night.

A nice meal in a restaurant typically costs about $8, while street food is often around $2 a meal.

Vietnam

Vietnam continually ranks high among travelers looking for a deal. But beyond being affordable, the country is beautiful, with more than 2,000 miles of coastline. In the city of Hạ Long, which sits on Hạ Long Bay, visitors have easy access to snorkeling and climbing on the jutting limestone islands.

There are heaps of hotels, hostels, and homestays in Hạ Long for around $15 a night. After a day of exploring, you can fuel up with a tasty banh mi sandwich for about $1 or a bowl of pho for roughly $3.

Philippines

It’s a haul to get to the Philippines, but once you’re there, you’ll enjoy a relatively low cost of living. Even islands like Siargao, known for its surf culture, have rooms for $30 or less.

After a day of riding the waves, you can find a plate loaded with local fare like chicken adobo for a few bucks. If you’re craving a Western comfort dish, expect to pay around $10 for a bowl of house-made pasta from La Carinderia, for example.

India

I spent more than a month in India and enjoyed the perks of affordable lodging and tasty, cheap eats. A private room in a central hotel in New Delhi will cost you around $19 a night (as in the case of one of my all-time favorite properties, Hotel Hari Piorko). A meal on the street will run you about $3, as will a train trip on a lower-tier car.