Do you want to discover new countries and destinations, but think you don’t have enough money for the trip? Well, think twice, and let’s learn about the cheapest places on earth to travel.
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Are you tired of seeing the same destinations over and over? It’s always the dream ones, the ones that you know you haven’t traveled to already because they’re expensive, and you work too much to spend all your savings on a week’s vacation. You just have to read a guide of costs for places like Japan or Hawaii to see how even the most basic accommodations are not exactly cheap. So here you have a guide with cheaper destinations with great value!
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The Cheapest Places on Earth to Travel in 2025
Let’s start this discussion with a question you might be asking yourself: Why is traveling in 2025 so difficult? When you compare prices with previous years, you realize that popular destinations that used to be regular expensive are becoming impossibly expensive for the majority of travelers. Well, there are many factors involved, and the current economy is not the only reason you’re searching for cheaper destinations.
Factors that have impelled budget traveling:
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Global economic uncertainty: Many countries are dealing with high inflation, so people are spending a lot more than they used to on basic necessities like food and lodging, leaving less money for fun and traveling.
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Environmental Awareness: More and more people are preferring a more conscious style of travel, opting for more local experiences and supporting local businesses instead of going all out on expenses and luxuries.
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Increased Access to Budget Tools: With the advancements in technology and how almost everyone has full internet access is easier to compare current prices and find better deals.
Difference between “Cheap Travel” and “Value Travel”
Before we start talking in detail about the destinations, let’s clarify this concept. Cheap travel means spending the least amount of money possible, usually without considering any other factor and oftentimes sacrificing comfort, convenience, and even safety. So you’ll be spending very little money, but you’ll also be sleeping incredibly uncomfortably, eating fast food, doing only free activities, etc.
On the other hand, value travel means getting the most quality and benefit for the money spent. So you’ll be spending money, but considering carefully when and why. It’s choosing clean and safe lodging, even if there are cheaper options, and prioritizing cultural experiences if you’re interested.
The Whole World on a Budget
Vietnam, the Gem of Southeast Asia
Let’s start strong in Asia, a beautiful country with incredible landscapes and cultures to explore, that is surprisingly quite cheap to visit. We’re talking around 60-100$ per day to travel comfortably, and much less if you go as a backpacker, which costs 20-30$, making it one of the cheapest destinations in Asia. Sounds good, right?
If you’re traveling on a budget, you probably will be evading the big cities like Hanoi, and instead, looking for less touristic and more authentic areas. Ninh Binh is a great example, just 2 hours away from Hanoi and more affordable. Da Lat, also known as the “City of Eternal Spring,” is another option, with cool mountain weather and scenic waterfalls. Here are some interesting activities to try in Vietnam:
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Take a Boat Tour at Trang An: A great way to see the scenic landscape in Ninh Binh, with temples in the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, and it’s only around 10$ for a company like Jungle Boss Tour
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Reach the Hang Mua Viewpoint: It takes a bit of an effort to reach the summit, but the views from there are worth it, and the cost is only around 4$ per person.
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Visit the Datania Waterfall and Alpine Coaster: This attraction is not for the faint of heart, as you’ll be riding a 2,400-meter alpine coaster through beautiful forest until the photogenic Datania Waterfall! Check the great reviews on Tripadvisor, the round trip is less than 6$ per person.
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Albania, a Mediterranean Destination
When we think of the Mediterranean Sea, we imagine Spain, Italy, and Greece more frequently than a destination like Albania. But think twice. If you look at the data and do the math (we’ve done it here for you), you’ll realize that you can be saving 30-60%! Let’s learn more about this cheap destination.
While a simple bed in a hostel will cost at least $25 in Greece and $30 in Italy, the very same bed is only $15 in Albania! Even if you travel to Italy on a budget, you’ll be spending $60-100 per day. In Albania, the same level of comfort is only $25-40!
Some activities that you can do in Albania!
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Explore Berat: We’ll start with the “City of a Thousand Windows”, one of the most beautiful places in Albania and a UNESCO-listed old town that you have to visit. There you can visit the Berat Castle and the Onufri Museum. Each site to enter is around $2-5, as you can read on Nomadic Matt’s Travel Site.
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Hike in the Theth National Park: Albania has a surprising natural side that it’s incredible to see. A great example of this is the Theth National Park, where you can enjoy the alpine scenery from Lock-in Tower and hike many trails for free.
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Discover Ksamil and the Albanian Riviera: Or you can go to the seaside of Albania, with pristine beaches and turquoise waters. And the best of all, beaches are free!
Argentina
Countries in crisis are great for visitors. This might seem counterintuitive, but right now Argentina is one of the cheapest countries to travel in the world. You might wonder why a country that’s facing inflation is a good destination. Well, the answer is that you can get more Argentinian pesos for your dollars and euros than ever before. It also means that accommodations and activities cost less for you.
To visualize this more easily, the cost per day for a regular traveler who likes nice hotels, good restaurants, and excursions is around $60-90. Of course, this can go cheaper if you are more strategic with your budget.
Activities for the budget travelers in Argentina:
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Explore Buenos Aires’ Cultural Gems: Buenos Aires is a city full of wonders, and just walking around is completely free. In areas like Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo, you can see antique fairs and live tango performances, especially if you go on a Sunday. There are also free walking tours, with companies like Free Tours Buenos Aires.
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Visit Iconic Natural Wonders: In Argentina, you’ll find one of the world’s most breathtaking waterfalls, the Iguazu Falls. The cost is not exactly the cheapest, being around $20-25 per person, but the experience is worth it. There’s also the Tierra del Fuego National Park, part of the Patagonia region, where you can hike and kayak next to the glaciers.
Photo by Derek Oyen on Unsplash
Morocco, a Surprising Country in Africa
Another continent, another great destination for your budget travel in 2025! Africa has a lot of cheap destinations, especially when you compare it with Europe and North America, so let’s focus for a moment on this country that also borders the Mediterranean Sea.
Just like the case with Albania, here we have another destination with incredible beaches, historic places to visit, and delicious food, all incredibly affordable. When you compare it, it’s even a bit cheaper, especially on accommodations and food.
Budget activities with great value in Morocco:
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Free Walking tours in Major Cities: Walking around the cities is a nice way to spend your vacation and get to know more of the country, but if you want an experience with more value, try the free walking tours. With these, the local guides can share their insight into the city, full of history and personal anecdotes you’ll love hearing. And even if the tours are free, tipping, around $5, is customary.
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Visit the Atlas Mountains: You can do a self-guided trek to the Atlas Mountains, especially around Imlil. To save more money, if you don’t have much luggage with you, you can share a taxi with other travelers.
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Sahara Desert Tour: Don’t forget that Morocco is right on top of the biggest desert in the world, so let’s explore it. For a unique experience, you can join a 3-day, 2-night tour for around $100-150. The experience includes camel rides, meals, and accommodation, so it’s a great value for your money. Check other options with Sahara Desert Tour.
Photo by Carlos Leret on Unsplash
FAQs and Tips for Traveling Cheaply around the world
Budget Flights
This is probably the most expensive part of traveling across the world, because no matter how much you save on cheap accommodations and food, the plane tickets for long flights are expensive. You can still save a lot of money if you travel light, book with plenty of time, and are flexible with airports and dates. Using search engines like Skyscanner and Google Flights can also help you catch the best deals.
Uncommon Stays to Save Money
Let’s think outside the box for a moment, and stay far from the regular hotels and Airbnbs. There are a lot of places where you can stay completely for free with meals included, in exchange for some hours of work a day. This is usually volunteer work at hostels, farms, and even monasteries. It is a great option to save money, have a very authentic experience, meet locals and travelers, and stay for longer than a regular vacation.
Is it ethical to travel where your currency dominates?
A complex question, that’s for sure, but no, it’s not inherently unethical, and you can make sure it isn’t with some simple tips. First of all, if you’re going to spend money, do it on local businesses, like small guesthouses and family restaurants. Learn the basics of language and customs, so you can be a respectful traveler. On the same note, do not support exploitation, avoid unethical wildlife tourism and child labor, for example.
How do I avoid scams without avoiding people?
Start by conducting research on the common scams for the country you’re visiting, and use official or recommended services. Remember that you can be all smiles and the nicest person while still maintaining boundaries.
Are budget destinations budget because they’re underdeveloped?
While some might be, that’s not the case for all of them. Let’s check the four examples we gave in this post. Vietnam does have a good infrastructure, and it’s actually developing and growing quite quickly. It is cheaper than most Western countries, but that is because the cost of living is also lower. Argentina is cheaper because of the currency situation and economic factors, but it’s a pretty well-developed country. On the other hand, we have a country like Albania, which is cheap partly because it’s still developing and has less tourism, but traveling there does help the local economy to grow.