In this article, we present the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia. Skip ahead to “The 5 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Asia” for a discussion of this industry and the companies operating in it.
Overview of Asia’s Tourism Sector
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, travel was one of the most important industries in the Asia-Pacific region. According to a report by the World Travel Organization, the number of international tourists to Asia increased from 208 million to 360 million between 2010 and 2019. However, the 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 about 260 million international tourists in 2019. Most Asian countries will open their borders to international tourists by the end of 2022, and the region’s tourist numbers in the fourth quarter of 2022 will reach 50% of those in the fourth quarter of 2019.
Tourist numbers to the Maldives recovered quickly to pre-pandemic levels, while those to India and Fiji recovered gradually throughout 2022. However, China’s borders will not fully open until 2023, causing traveller numbers to Asia to decline. Chinese outbound travellers also play a key role in tourism spending in Asia, with 155 million trips and $255 billion in spending in 2019. South Asia recovered the fastest in the region, recovering at a rate of 93% compared to the rest of the continent. Asia is on the path to recovery, but geopolitical tensions such as NATO-Russia tensions, the Ukraine war and US-China tensions are impeding its progress. Here we also look at the 20 fastest growing economies in Asia in 2024.
A key figure in promoting travel and hospitality
Several travel technology companies in the region have played their part in facilitating travel to Asia Pacific and putting it on the path to a speedy recovery. India’s MakeMyTrip Limited (NASDAQ: MMYT) reported a 45% increase in searches in 2023 compared to 2019, pre-pandemic. Similarly, about 25% more people took three or more trips in 2023 compared 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. has signed an agreement with the Goa Tourism Board to promote accessible tourism in the city. Headquartered in Singapore, Agoda is a subsidiary of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG) that caters to users across the Asia Pacific region. Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, general manager for Southeast Asia, India, Taiwan and Hong Kong at Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB), said the company expects to recover to pre-pandemic booking rates in 2022 and exceed them by 23% in India in 2023.
Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) announced on April 11 that it will donate $1 million to celebrate the first-ever U.S.-Japan Tourism Year and to help people around the world enjoy travel. The funds will go toward a “multi-year rural tourism exchange program” between the two countries, which aims to pave the way for economic opportunities to promote rural tourism in both countries. Through the program, approximately 15-20 Japanese tourism and hospitality professionals will visit the U.S. to collaborate with their U.S. counterparts and develop best practices for rural tourism.
Now that we’ve looked at Asia’s tourism industry and the key players that drive it, let’s take a look at the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia. Also check out the 30 Cheapest Destinations in the World and the 25 Cheapest Destinations in Africa.
The 25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Asia
Our Methodology
In creating this list of the 25 cheapest cities to travel to in Asia, we took a consensus approach. After consulting 10 online travel experts, we came up with a list of the cheapest Asian cities for tourists. To narrow down the list to the cheapest 25 cities, the main criterion was the round-trip package price for each city. We searched Kayak separately for the cheapest round-trip package for each city and then ranked the list of the 25 cheapest cities to travel to in Asia in descending order of round-trip price.
The round-trip packages include airfare (with a minimum of one and a maximum of two layovers) and one week (five nights) of accommodation in a three-star hotel. Each flight departs from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, USA. The packages are based on the cost of travel for one adult and do not include meals. We only considered packages with a rating of 7 or higher. The prices for each package are accurate as of 2024, when this article was written. Please note that these prices are subject to change at different times of the year. Therefore, these figures represent a moderate calculation of the cost of travel to each of these Asian cities.
The 25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Asia
25. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Round trip fare for one adult: $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 as of 2024. The city’s De Hotel offers the most affordable 3-star hotel, with a rating of 7.7/10.
24. Cebu, Philippines
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,865
Cebu City is a port city in the province of Cebu and is made up of many islands. Apart from breathtaking beaches, the city also retains traces of its 16th-century Spanish colonial past. It is ranked 24th on our list.
23. Hong Kong, China
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,856
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. It is an international city with skyscrapers and modern architecture. As of 2024, a round-trip trip to Hong Kong costs approximately $1,856 per adult.
22. Kathmandu, Nepal
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,729
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. The city is rich in cultural and religious influences and sits in the middle of the Himalayan mountains. With a round trip price of $1,729, it ranks 22nd on our list. BeeHive Hostel offers the most affordable 3-star accommodation in the city, with a rating of 7.3/10 on Kayak.
21. Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,662
Dushanbe is the capital of Tajikistan and sits on the Varzob River. Rudaki Park and the National Museum of Tajikistan, which displays archaeological finds from the region, are popular tourist attractions in the city.
20. Taipei, Taiwan
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,630
Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, ranks 20th on our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia, with a round-trip cost per adult of $1,630 in 2024. I Play Inn is the city’s most affordable 3-star hotel, boasting a 7.8/10 rating on Kayak.
19. Almaty, Kazakhstan
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,577
Almaty is Kazakhstan’s former capital and largest city, situated at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountain range. The city is primarily known for the Russian Orthodox Zenkov Cathedral, which dates back to Tsarist times and dominates the city’s skyline.
18. Dhaka, Bangladesh
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,562
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and lies on the banks of the Buriganga River. It was the capital of Bengal during the Mughal Empire and retains much of its rich history through its old architecture and buildings. It ranks 18th on our list.
17. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,545
Chiang Mai is one of Thailand’s most popular cities, located in the mountainous region of northern Thailand. Ancient Buddhist temples such as Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, and Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan are among the most visited tourist sites in the city.
16. Nha Trang, Vietnam
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,509
Nha Trang is a Vietnamese city known for the islands of Hon Mun and Hon Tam. This coastal resort city is located in southern Vietnam and is famous among tourists for its seafood restaurants, offshore diving sites, islands and water sports.
15. Hanoi, Vietnam
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,492
Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. As of 2024, the round trip cost for one adult is $1,492, ranking it 15th on our list. Hostel Turbo in the city offers the most affordable 3-star hotel in the city.
14. Phuket, Thailand
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,466
Phuket is an island city surrounded by mountains and rainforests in the Andaman Sea. It boasts captivating views of Thailand’s most famous beaches and offers visitors spas, seafood restaurants, water sports and luxurious seaside resorts.
13. Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,461
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and is ranked 13th in our list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia. As of 2024, the round trip cost for one adult is $1,461. Rohat-Milovod, rated 8.3/10, offers the most affordable 3-star hotel in the city.
12. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,421
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest financial center and capital, and its most popular tourist destinations are the Chu Tri Tunnel, War Remnants Museum, and Reunification Palace.
11. Bangkok, Thailand
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,410
Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, known for its religious monuments and bustling city life. The city has a variety of attractions, including the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew Temple, Wat Arun Temple, Bangkok Sky Dining Buffet, and numerous cruises and nighttime attractions.
10. Jakarta, Indonesia
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,401
Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, ranks 10th on the list with a round trip cost of $1,401 for one adult as of 2024. The country’s unique blend of cultures, cuisines, languages and customs, which are derived from European, Indian, Javanese, Malay, Arab and Chinese cultures, make it a popular tourist destination.
9. Yerevan, Armenia
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,299
Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, is dotted with Soviet-era architecture and monuments, with the city’s Matenadaran Library, Republic Square and Vernissage being some of the city’s top tourist attractions.
8. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,271
Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia and is best known for the Petronas Twin Towers that dominate the city’s skyline. It is known for its bustling street life, architecture, cruises, excursions and treks that delve into the inner reaches of the city.
7. Goa, India
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,240
Goa is located in the western part of India and its coastline faces the Arabian Sea. As of 2024, the city makes it onto our list with a round trip cost of $1,240 for an adult. Candolim Beach, Dudhsagar Waterfalls, and Bom Jesus Church are some of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.
6. Lahore, Pakistan
Round trip fare for one adult: $1,237
Lahore is the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province and is known for the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, and Wagah, the border with India. The city ranks 6th in the list of the 25 cheapest cities to visit in Asia with a round trip cost of $1,237 for an adult as of 2024.
Click to keep reading to find out the 5 cheapest cities to visit in Asia.
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Disclosures: None. The article 25 Cheapest Cities to Visit in Asia originally appeared on Insider Monkey.
