Asia is one of the best places for budget travellers. Inexpensive accommodation, food and local transport make this region one of the world’s most popular backpacker and cheap travel destinations.
Cheap Travel Destinations in Asia

One of the cheapest regions in Asia is the Indian subcontinent. India, Nepal and Sri Lanka continue to attract travellers on a shoestring budget.

Southeast Asia is also very popular with budget travellers and most Southeast Asian countries, excluding Singapore, are very cheap to travel around. Some of the most popular holiday destinations in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand’s beach resorts, are naturally more expensive than less-travelled areas in Laos, Cambodia or Myanmar, but most Southeast Asian countries offer something for all travel budgets from rock-bottom cheap to five-star luxury.

China can be an affordable travel destination especially outside the big cities. Japan and Korea are more expensive and unfortunately many budget travellers skip this part of Asia due to the higher costs of travelling.
How to Travel Cheaply Around Asia

Several low-cost airlines operate on the Indian subcontinent, and budget airlines connect most of Southeast Asia’s big cities. But the cheapest (and a more environmentally friendly) way to travel in Asia is by public transport. Local trains and buses in most Asian countries are very affordable.

The Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia are some of the world’s most popular backpacker destinations and there is no shortage of cheap hotels and guesthouses in these areas. The best way to find the cheapest accommodation in Asia is to look around on arrival. Many travellers book just the first night's accommodation in advance and then look for a cheap place to stay locally.

The biggest cost for most travellers is an international flight. Here are some tips for finding cheap airfares. Accommodation in Asia can be very cheap. There are beach huts in India for less than US$3 a night, and in many Southeast Asian countries US$10 is more than enough for a decent double room.

Local food can be incredibly inexpensive in Asia. An all-you-can-eat thali in India often costs less than a dollar and in Southeast Asia a great meal can be had for just a couple of US dollars (street food is one thing that is cheap even in Singapore). Southeast Asian street food is not just affordable but also delicious.

Many experienced travellers have a daily budget and stick to it as much as possible, but it is also important to budget some extra money for emergencies or for more expensive activities, such as diving.