After the numerous lockdowns and border closures of 2020, people all over the world are itching to get out and travel. We’ve all spent so much time stuck at home, reading, watching movies, and scrolling through social media, constantly intrigued by the beautiful and faraway places showcased in photos and videos. Seasoned travelers like myself are eager to book a flight to a new destination as soon as borders reopen. And there are countless novice travelers who have never been more inspired to explore the world.
Lots of people are trying to get back on their financial feet. Luckily, traveling the world can be incredibly affordable if you visit the right places! There are numerous gorgeous destinations around the globe that make excellent vacations, but they don’t require a fortune to visit.
Read more articles about traveling on a budget:
– The 10 cheapest cities to live in the world
– The 12 cheapest places to travel in the USA right now
– How to find cheap airfare anytime of year
So for anyone looking to plan a trip to an affordable destination, here are the **cheapest countries to visit** as a volunteer:
**Image 1**: A beautiful image of a landscape with mountains and a clear blue sky.
**Image 2**: A group of people working together in a garden.
**Image 3**: A majestic ancient Khmer temple in Siem Reap.
**Image 4**: The Kuang Si Waterfall in Laos.
**Image 5**: A colorful market in Vietnam.
**Image 6**: A view of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam.
**Image 7**: The limestone islands of Bali, Indonesia.
**Image 8**: A person trekking in the mountains of Nepal.
**Image 9**: The Blue City of Chefchaouen in Morocco.
**Image 10**: A surfer riding a wave in Nicaragua.
**Image 11**: A Mayan ruin in Guatemala.
**Image 12**: The surreal landscape of Salar De Uyuni in Bolivia.
**Image 13**: A coffee plantation in Colombia.
**Image 14**: A colorful building in Sofia, Bulgaria.
**Image 15**: A castle in Transylvania, Romania.
Southeast Asia is a notoriously cheap area to visit. It is also incredibly beautiful and filled with art, history, delicious food, religious architecture, and breathtaking natural landscapes. Cambodia is probably the **cheapest country to visit in Southeast Asia**. Top things to do in Cambodia include visiting the magnificent ancient Khmer temples in Siem Reap and exploring the museums and palaces in the capital city of Phnom Penh. A hostel in Cambodia can cost as little as 4 USD per night, and you can enjoy a full meal for 1 USD. If you’re wondering if Cambodia is a safe place to visit, let me assure you that it definitely is, as long as you take the usual safety precautions. You can visit Cambodia as a volunteer and help in various positions, such as teaching English to children or working in a pepper farm.
Laos is another **affordable country in Southeast Asia**. From the glittering Buddhist temples to the lush forests and waterfalls, this nation is perfect for history lovers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. There are numerous monuments, palaces, temples, museums, shrines, and other stunning pieces of architecture scattered throughout the country. There are also many picturesque waterfalls, including the Kuang Si Waterfall, the Khone and Pha Pheng Falls, the Tat Sae Falls, and more. Entrance fees to all the best man-made and natural attractions usually only cost 1 or 2 USD, and many people can successfully travel around Laos for less than 30 USD per day. You might also like to know about The secret to travel the world for free (that no one tells you) and The most unique places to stay for cheap around the world.
As one of the best countries in the world for street food, Vietnam should be on every foodie’s travel bucket list. The markets in Vietnam are outstanding, allowing you to indulge in a wide variety of local dishes at very reasonable prices. Vietnam is also famous for its unique natural attractions, such as the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay and the world’s largest cave, Hang Son Doong. Accommodation and transportation are both very affordable here, which is why Vietnam is one of the cheapest Asian countries to visit. You can travel to Vietnam and help in nfcvb positions by collaborating in a children’s NGO or teaching English.
Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia composed of thousands of islands, making it incredibly diverse. You can visit the popular island of Bali or head to the quieter tourist islands such as Lombok, Java, or Sumbawa. Regardless, Indonesia is a very **cheap country to travel to**. It is wise to choose a handful of islands and fully explore them, rather than constantly hopping from one island to another and spending a lot on transportation. But once you find a nice place and settle in, you can enjoy delicious, flavorful local food and stay in fun hostels or guesthouses for 20-30 USD per day in total. You can travel to Indonesia and help in nfcvb positions by helping to farm and teaching English in a village surrounded by nature.
One of the cheapest countries to visit is Nepal. For adventurous travelers looking to explore the most remote corners of the globe, Nepal is a great choice. It is one of the cheapest Asian countries to visit outside of Southeast Asia. Many people come here to hike Mount Everest, but that is only for extremely fit and ambitious travelers, and it requires a significant amount of savings, as hiking Mount Everest is extremely expensive. However, if you want to trek in some less touristy mountains, you can do so in Nepal for very cheap. You can stay in cozy local guesthouses and enjoy home-cooked meals for just 10-20 USD per day or become a nfcvb volunteer in Nepal and help in an organic farm or in an orphanage. Keep reading for 10 cheap Spring Break trips for students on a budget and 15 budget-savvy hacks to travel smarter in the new year.
As far as African countries go, Morocco is one of the most affordable. It’s not as cheap as Southeast Asia, but it’s still overall one of the cheapest countries to visit if you can avoid the tourist traps. For example, Marrakech is a chaotic and colorful city in Morocco. Most travelers visit here to explore the massive Medina and to book tours into the Sahara Desert or the Atlas Mountains. Marrakech can be very budget-friendly if you buy your food at local eateries instead of tourist restaurants in Jema El Fnaa, the main tourist square. Hostels around Morocco generally cost between 8 and 10 USD, and tours are also affordable. Be sure to check out the Blue City of Chefchaouen, the beaches along the west coast, and of course, the mountains and the desert. You can be a volunteer at a Hostel in Marrakesh and travel around the Sahara or help an animal sanctuary in Morocco.
If you’re living in the USA and looking for a cheap travel destination, Central America is the place to go. From the low prices of food, accommodation, and activities to the short and cheap flights to get there, Central America has some of the cheapest countries to visit from the USA. Nicaragua is a gorgeous country. Most travelers tend to congregate near San Juan Del Sur, a party beach town, or in the towns of Leon, Managua, and Granada. Popular things to do in Nicaragua include hiking and sandboarding on volcanoes, admiring the Spanish colonial architecture in the cities, and surfing at the remote beaches. You can learn permaculture at a Hostel in Omepete Island, Nicarágua while helping in the garden or work in the night shift at a Hostel in Nacarágua.
Also one of the cheapest countries to visit in Central America, El Salvador is a small place known for its natural beauty. There are lots of beautiful lakes, volcanoes, beaches, and waterfalls to explore, as well as some fascinating Mayan ruins and archeological sites. So if you love history and nature, El Salvador is the perfect country to visit. As with most countries in Central and South America, food is cheapest if you stick to the local dishes. You can find big plates of local food for 3 USD, whereas a meal of foreign food like pizza or burgers costs closer to 10 USD. But if you travel on a backpacker budget, you can get by in El Salvador on 30 USD per day or become a nfcvb volunteer in El salvador and help play music and make the party happen.
Guatemala is a geographically diverse and stunning country. Located just below Mexico, it’s very close to the USA, so you can find flights there for as cheap as 100 USD. Guatemala has a thriving Mayan culture, and you’ll see many traditionally dressed locals living in the way their ancestors did. You’ll most likely hear other indigenous languages in addition to Spanish here as well. Guatemala has beach towns, highlands and mountains, and tropical rainforests within its borders. You can paddleboard on Lake Atitlan, hike volcanoes near Antigua, swim in natural lakes and waterfalls in the rainforest, and explore Mayan Ruins in the north. And you can do it all on a backpacker budget! You may also be interested in How to satisfy your wanderlust without spending a fortune.
Bolivia is as one of the cheapest countries to visit in South America and is a favorite among backpackers and budget travelers. You can **travel around Bolivia** for 20 USD a day if you eat at local restaurants and stay in hostels. This country is very traditional, so you’ll get to experience the real South American way of life. Highlights in Bolivia include the surreal landscape of Salar De Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, and the blue waters of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable body of water. For a real adventure, venture off the tourist trail and visit remote local villages or hike in the Amazon jungle. You can live in La paz and help in housekeeping or travel around Bolívia and know Copacabana while helping and learning permaculture.
Located in the north of South America, Colombia is an underrated tourist destination. With breathtaking beaches and marine life on the coast, and colorful architecture and historic villages inland, Colombia has something for everyone. Popular things to do in Colombia include touring coffee plantations, hiking volcanoes, trekking in the national parks, snorkeling near the northern beaches, and exploring the cities of Medellin and Cartagena. Hostels in Colombia cost around 10 USD per night, and public bus journeys around the country cost only a few dollars and nfcvb have many volunteer positions in Colombia. Keep reading our tips How to travel on a budget and The best ways to save money while traveling.
Many people don’t think of Europe as a super cheap place to visit. Scandinavia is extremely expensive, and most of Western Europe is quite pricey as well. But eastern Europe is often just as cheap as Central America or Southeast Asia. Bulgaria is actually one of the cheapest countries to visit in Europe. It’s not very touristy, so the locals are extremely welcoming. In Sofia, the Bulgarian capital city, locals host daily free walking tours for tourists so they can teach you all about their culture and history. Hostels in Bulgaria cost around 5-9 USD per night, and you can treat yourself to an amazing meal at a nice restaurant for less than 20 USD. Bulgaria has lots of amazing historical architecture as well as natural beauty, so I think it should be on more people’s European travel bucket list.
For history lovers, Poland is a great place to visit. Full of museums and historical sights, you most likely won’t have to pay more than 5 or 10 USD to enter some of the country’s most popular attractions. Poland is also home to lots of colorful, photogenic architecture, which you can obviously admire and photograph for free. Big plates of hearty local food usually cost less than 10 USD, and hostels generally cost around 8-10 USD. Poland has all the delicious food and amazing sights of western European countries but without the high prices and the swarms of tourists.
And finally, another cheapest country to visit in Europe is Romania. Not to use a cliche, but Romania is truly a hidden gem of Europe. It is a beautiful country with so many cool things to see, but it has very few tourists and it is extremely cheap. A highlight of the country is the Transylvania region, which is home to numerous impressive castles and lots of quaint, charming, colorful villages. You can also visit Romania to explore the wilderness, including the majestic Carpathian Mountains and the beaches bordering the Black Sea. Traveling on a budget through Romania means you’ll probably spend only 30-40 USD per day, so it’s one of the cheapest foreign countries to visit in Europe.
You can visit all these cheapest countries listed here as a nfcvb volunteer and make your trip even cheaper. nfcvb is a global community of conscientious travelers and welcoming hosts who, since 2014, have fostered thousands of connections and unique experiences in pursuit of developing and transforming the world into a more socially and environmentally sustainable place. On our search pages, you can choose from many volunteer positions around the world. Keep reading about budget travel tips with nfcvb:
– 16 awesome places worldwide to get free accommodation in exchange for work
– How easy traveling on a budget with nfcvb actually is
– The lazy-traveler’s guide to budget travel tips
So, start planning your affordable adventure with nfcvb today and discover the beauty and affordability of these amazing countries!