5 years ago

Cheapest Countries to Visit – 5 Picks, 5 Continents

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The five cheapest countries to visit - from five different continents! Australia and Antarctica not included, for obvious reasons.

Let’s be honest here. Not everybody has a lot of cash lying around to visit where they’d like. That shouldn’t discourage you from traveling – not at all. Even going to the cheapest countries to visit their natural landmarks and architectural wonders will help broaden your perspective.

We’ve decided to help out our fellow budget travelers with a few suggestions. Obviously, the world is a large place and it’s important to see as much of it as you can.

As such, we’ve researched which are the cheapest countries to visit on each continent. Australia and Antarctica are two special cases, so you can guess why we won’t include them here.

A little disclaimer: if you find a country that’s even more inexpensive for backpackers – make sure to tell us in the comments! In the meantime, let’s get this started.

#1 North America – Cuba

While Cuba is an island, it’s still considered a part of the North American continent. But let’s not bore you with geographical facts.

When you land in Cuba, it all feels like you’ve been transported back in time about 50 years. Classic American cars make their way through the streets, just like in old-timey movies!

Because of its economic problems, tourism plays a great role in Cuba. You can easily spend one month in Cuba and still not have enough of the place. That also means you can pretty much find lots of affordable casa particular to sleep in and places to visit.

Just be careful not to carry all your eggs in one basket, so to speak. No matter how little money you carry around, it will get stolen if you travel alone, at night, in dangerous areas, etc.

Try to fit in with the locals and don’t look too “touristy.” Oh, and as always, here’s how you can travel Cuba on a budget.

#2 Europe – Bulgaria

Capital cities are usually much more expensive than the rest of the country. Fortunately, it won’t make much of a difference in Bulgaria.
We have no idea why people don’t take a trip to this place more often. It’s one of the cheapest countries to visit and it has a very particular Balkan beauty you won’t find easily.

In any case, you can take a tour of the capital called the free Sofia tour. It takes you through all the most important sites in the city – and it’s completely free!

For those looking to spend as little as possible on their trip, such a tour is a godsend. Be sure to check out how to explore Sofia for less than $25, as well!

#3 Asia – Nepal

If we made a list of the cheapest countries to visit without regard to different continents, Asian ones would’ve made our top 5. That’s great news for budget travelers! Still, today we’ve focused in on the best of Nepal.

Here we have the home of Mt. Everest, the opportunity to rock climb, and some of the most colorful cities, such as Kathmandu. The capital is filled with various temples and monasteries.

Not only that, but at temples like Swayambhunath you can see holy monkeys who live in certain parts of it! Just remember not to feed them; you might lose a finger in the process.

Anyway, remember one thing while you’re visiting the city: there are no fixed prices for anything. You can haggle yourself into a better price – if you’re a good negotiator.

Even if you’re not, you’re still bound to get a good deal. Nepal is just welcoming like that. If you want to get a clearer picture of the place, check out our complete Kathmandu city guide, as well!

#4 Africa – Egypt

Tourism in Egypt has had a lot to suffer after the 2011 political protests. On the other hand, that also means it’s now one of the cheapest countries to visit in Africa.

They’ve also devalued their currency in 2016 so you can find some sweet deals on anything you can imagine. Guided tours to the Pyramids, camel rides, diving and snorkeling – the works.

For example, we had a great time in Sharm El Sheikh back in 2011 when we started our journey around the world. Try it out for yourself.

Just remember to not accept anything seemingly “for free” – such as being photographed on top of a camel. Scammers sometimes force you to pay a larger price just to get down! Then again, you can find all sorts of scams everywhere else in the world.

#5 South America – Ecuador

Some people would like to go to one end of the world or the other – but did you ever think about meeting up in the middle?

You can visit both a monument and a museum dedicated to the equator in the capital of Quito. It’s called “la mitad del mundo” – you guessed it, Spanish for middle of the world.

But what we really want to know if it’s inexpensive to travel. Well, part of what makes Ecuador one of the cheapest countries to visit is the really low price of gas.

The result is that cab fares and bus rides are really affordable. You’ll be able to cover a larger area without having to tire yourself (and your wallet) out.
Not only that, but food items are also found on the cheap. You can basically head to the market with a few dollars, and buy fresh fruit and veggies to last you a few days. The street food is great, as well.

If you want to save even more, here’s how to visit Quito on less than $25 a day.

Cheapest Countries to Visit – Anything We Missed?

You might remember that we invited you to suggest cheaper countries than those we proposed here. We’re always up for a challenge!

Leave your suggestions in the comments. Tell us why you would include it on the list. Is it the inexpensive accommodation? The possibility to buy food in bulk for “a dime a dozen”?

Or, maybe it’s because of the low-cost entrance fees at museums, parks, temples, etc. Most likely it’s going to be a combination of those. Whatever the reason, post your ideas here – we’d love to read about them ☺

P.S.  – Almost forgot. Do tell us if you’ve visited any of these countries as well!