In this article, we will look at the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia. You can skip our industry discussion as well as companies operating in this industry by skipping to 5 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Asia.
Overview of the Asian Tourism Sector
Travel was one of the most prominent industries in the Asia-Pacific region before the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a United National World Travel Organization report, international arrivals in Asia went from 208 million to 360 million visitors between 2010 and 2019. However, recovery after the halt in international travel was the slowest in the Asia Pacific region. According to estimates by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, China, including Macau and Hong Kong, received around 260 million international visitors in 2019. A majority of the countries in Asia opened their borders to international tourists by the end of 2022, bringing the region’s tourist arrivals in Q4 of 2022 to 50% of Q4 in 2019.
Tourist arrivals in the Maldives quickly recovered to pre-pandemic levels, whereas the rate of arrivals in India and Fiji recovered gradually throughout 2022. However, China’s borders did not open completely until 2023, reducing the number of travelers to Asia. China’s outbound tourists also held a key spot in Asia’s tourism spending, making 155 million trips and spending $255 billion in 2019. South Asia recovered the fastest in the region, bouncing back at a 93% rate as compared to other regions in the continent. Although Asia is on the path to recovery, geopolitical tensions such as the NATO-Russia tensions, the Ukraine war, and strained relationships between the US and China impede its progress. You can also look at 20 Fastest Growing Economies in Asia in 2024.
Key Figures in Promoting Travel and Hospitality
Several travel tech companies in the region have played their part in facilitating travel to Asia and the Pacific and pushing it on the path of a speedy recovery. India’s MakeMyTrip Limited (NASDAQ:MMYT) reported that the company saw a 45% increase in searches in 2023 as compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Similarly, about 25% more people in 2023 took more than three trips as opposed to 2019. On March 7, Thailand Business News reported that Agoda Inc. and Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) are revolutionizing the travel and hospitality industry. On April 8, Skift reported that Agoda Inc. also signed an agreement with Goa Tourism to promote accessible tourism in the city. Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is a subsidiary of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG) that caters to users in the Asia-Pacific region. Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, General Manager for Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) in Southeast Asia, India, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, said that the company recovered to its pre-pandemic booking rates in 2022, even exceeding them by 23% in 2023 in India.
On April 11, Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) reported that the company pledged $1 million to celebrate the first-ever US-Japan Tourism Year and make travel accessible to people around the world. The money will be used to fund a “multi-year rural tourism exchange program” between the two countries. The program aims to pave the way for economic opportunities to boost tourism in the rural areas of both countries. Around 15-20 Japanese tourism and hospitality professionals will visit the USA through the program, collaborating with their American peers and devising best practices for rural tourism.
Now that we have looked at the tourism industry in Asia and the key players facilitating it, let us look at the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia. You can also look at 30 Cheapest Places To Visit In The World and the 25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Africa.
25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Asia
Our Methodology
To compile a list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia, we followed a consensus approach. We generated a list of the cheapest Asian cities for tourists after consulting ten online travel expert sources. In order to narrow down our list to 25 cheapest Asian cities, we considered the round-trip package rates for each city as the primary metric. We individually searched for the cheapest round-trip package for each city on Kayak, and arranged our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia in descending order of their round-trip cost.
Please note that the round-trip package includes airfare (with a minimum of one and maximum of two layovers), and a 3-star accommodation for one week (5 nights). The departure destination of each flight is set to John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, USA. The package is based on the travel cost of one adult traveler, and meals are not included in it. We have only considered packages that have a rating of 7 and above. The rates for each package represent the time this article was written, as of 2024. It is important to note that these rates are subject to change at different times of the year. These numbers thus present a moderate calculation of the cost of travel to each of these Asian cities.
25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Asia
25. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,929
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, ranks 25th on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia, with a round-trip cost of $1,929 for one adult traveler as of 2024. The city’s De Hotel offers the most affordable housing three-star with a 7.7/10 rating.
24. Cebu, Philippines
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,865
Cebu City is the port capital of the Cebu province, known for the many islands it comprises. Apart from its awe-inspiring beaches, the city retains the essence of its Spanish colonial past from the 16th century. It ranks 24th on our list.
23. Hong Kong, China
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,856
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. It is a cosmopolitan city with towering skyscrapers and contemporary constructions. The cost of one round-trip to the city is around $1,856 for one adult traveler as of 2024.
22. Kathmandu, Nepal
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,729
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. The city is rich in culture and religious influence, and is located in the middle of the Himalayan mountains. It ranks 22nd on our list with a round-trip cost of $1,729. The BeeHive Hostel offers the most affordable three-star accommodation in the city, and is rated 7.3/10 on Kayak.
21. Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,662
Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan and is located on the Varzob River. The Rudaki Park and the National Museum of Tajikistan are popular tourist destinations in the city, with the latter displaying the region’s archaeological finds.
20. Taipei, Taiwan
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,630
The Taiwanese capital of Taipei ranks 20th on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia with a round-trip cost of $1,630 for an adult traveler in 2024. I Play Inn offers the city’s most affordable three-star accommodation, boasts a rating of 7.8/10 on Kayak.
19. Almaty, Kazakhstan
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,577
Almaty is Kazakhstan’s former capital and largest metropolitan city, located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains. The city is predominantly known for the Zenkov Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church that dates back to the time of the Tsars and dominates the city’s skyline.
18. Dhaka, Bangladesh
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,562
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh, located by the Buriganga River. Previously the capital of Bengal in the Mughal era, Dhaka retains much of its rich history through age-old constructions and buildings. It ranks 18th on our list.
17. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,545
Chiang Mai is one of the most popular cities in Thailand, located in the mountainous north of the country. The age-old Buddhist temples of Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, and Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan are among the most visited tourist destinations in the city.
16. Nha Trang, Vietnam
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,509
Nha Trang is a Vietnamese city known for the islands of Hòn Mun and Hòn Tằm. This coastal resort city is located in the south of the country, and is famous among tourists for its seafood restaurants, offshore diving sites, islands, and water sports.
15. Hanoi, Vietnam
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,492
Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It ranks 15th on our list with a round-trip cost of $1,492 for one adult traveler as of 2024. The city’s Hostel Turbo offers the most affordable three-star housing in the city.
14. Phuket, Thailand
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,466
Phuket is an island city located in the Andaman Sea, lined with mountains and rainforests. It boasts mesmerizing sights of some of the most famous Thai beaches, and offers spas, seafood restaurants, water sports, and luxury seaside resorts to its tourists.
13. Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,461
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and ranks 13th on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia, with a round-trip cost of $1,461 for one adult traveler as of 2024. With a rating of 8.3/10, Rohat Mirobod offers the most affordable three-star housing in the city.
12. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,421
Ho Chi Minh City is the largest financial and metropolitan city in Vietnam. The city’s Chu Chi Tunnels, War Remnants Museum, and Independence Palace rank among the most popular tourist destinations.
11. Bangkok, Thailand
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,410
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand known for its religious constructions and buzzing street life. The city offers a blend of attractions to its visitors, including the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew Temple, Wat Arun Temple, Bangkok Sky Dining Buffet, and a number of cruises and night-time attractions.
10. Jakarta, Indonesia
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,401
Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, ranks tenth on our list with a round-trip cost of $1,401 for one adult traveler as of 2024. The country’s unique blend of culture, cuisine, language, and customs are derived from European, Indian, Javanese, Malay, Arab, and Chinese, making it a popular tourist destination.
9. Yerevan, Armenia
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,299
The Armenian capital of Yerevan is dotted with architecture and constructions from the Soviet era. The city’s Matenadaran library, Republic Square, and the Vernissage rank among the top tourist destinations in the city.
8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,271
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia, known most commonly for the Petronas Twin Towers that dominate its skyline. It is known for its bustling street life, architectural buildings, cruises, excursions, and treks into the city’s depths.
7. Goa, India
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,240
Goa is located in western India, and its coastlines touch the Arabian Sea. It ranks on our list with a round-trip cost of $1,240 for one adult traveler as of 2024. The Candolim Beach, Dudhsagar Falls, and Basilica of Bom Jesus rank among some of the most popular tourist spots in the city.
6. Lahore, Pakistan
Round-trip Cost for One Adult Traveler: $1,237
Lahore is the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, and is known for its Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, and Wagah Border with India. The city ranks sixth on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia with a round-trip cost of $1,237 for one adult traveler as of 2024.
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Disclosure: None. 25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Asia is originally published on Insider Monkey.