15 Affordable Countries That Are Worth the Trip From Seattle

Living in Seattle can distort your idea of what things are supposed to cost. A decent dinner adds up quickly, hotels are rarely cheap, and even a weekend getaway can somehow turn into a serious expense. International travel sounds even worse until you realize that, in some parts of the world, getting there may be the most expensive part of the trip.

For travelers leaving the Pacific Northwest, countries across Southeast Asia, Central America, South America, and parts of Europe can offer surprisingly good value once you land. That does not mean every hotel costs $20 or that you can wander around with pocket change forever. Popular resorts, private tours, and peak travel seasons can get expensive anywhere. But if you travel reasonably, these 15 countries can make your vacation budget stretch a whole lot further.

1. Laos

Laos is the kind of place where the long flight from Seattle can cost considerably more than your actual days on the ground. Traveler-reported spending averages about $22 per person per day, although your total depends heavily on how you travel. Guesthouses, local food, and transportation can all be inexpensive. Luang Prabang delivers temples and the turquoise pools of Kuang Si Falls, while Vang Vieng surrounds travelers with limestone mountains, caves, and the Nam Song River.

2. Cambodia

Cambodia can still be explored fairly cheaply if you stick with local restaurants, guesthouses, and shared transportation. The big exception is sightseeing around Angkor, although even that is reasonable compared with many world-famous attractions. The official one-day Angkor Archaeological Park pass costs $37, while three-day and seven-day options cost $62 and $72. Beyond Angkor, Phnom Penh, the southern islands, and smaller towns give travelers plenty of ways to experience the country without spending resort-level money.

3. Thailand

Thailand is not uniformly cheap anymore, especially around Phuket, Koh Samui, and other heavily visited resort areas. Head north, however, and your money can go much further. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai offer temples, mountains, markets, and inexpensive local food, while Bangkok can still be done reasonably if you stay away from luxury hotels. Backpackers can often travel for roughly $30 to $45 per day, while island resorts and private excursions can push that number much higher.

4. Indonesia

Indonesia is enormous, so quoting one price for the entire country is a little ridiculous. Traveler-reported spending averages around $65 per person per day, but budget travelers can get by on considerably less. Bali’s most popular beach areas have become noticeably more expensive, while Java, Sumatra, Lombok, and other islands can offer better value. The trick is not moving constantly. Flights, ferries, and transfers between islands can eat into your budget faster than the food and lodging.

5. Vietnam

Vietnam packs a ridiculous amount into a relatively affordable trip. There is Ha Long Bay in the north, the mountain roads around Ha Giang, enormous caves near Phong Nha, the old streets of Hội An, and the river-and-limestone scenery around Ninh Bình. Budget travelers can often keep costs around $25 per day, while a more typical independent trip runs higher. Local food and transportation remain inexpensive. If you want to explore several regions, Vietnam’s tourism authority says March through May generally offers the best weather across the country as a whole.

6. India

India may offer more travel variety per dollar than almost anywhere on this list. A backpacker using guesthouses, local restaurants, and trains can travel on a modest budget, while travelers who want private drivers and luxury hotels can spend many times more. The choices are just as broad: the Taj Mahal in Agra, Amber Palace near Jaipur, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Varanasi on the Ganges, beaches in Goa, and the Himalayan north barely scratch the surface.

7. Morocco

Morocco gives you a completely different travel experience just across the Strait of Gibraltar from Europe, often for considerably less money. Budget travelers can sometimes stay around $35 to $50 per day, while a more typical vacation costs more once hotels, attractions, and transportation enter the picture. Marrakech and Fez bring the maze-like medinas. The Atlas Mountains offer hiking. Head farther south and organized trips can take you toward the Sahara, although multi-day desert tours are one of the expenses that can quickly change your daily budget.

8. Romania

Romania is not as dirt-cheap as some old backpacking guides make it sound, but it remains a comparatively good-value European destination. The Carpathian Mountains cut through the country, while Brașov, Sibiu, and Sighișoara deliver the cobblestones and medieval architecture people tend to picture when they think of Transylvania. Then there is Dracula. Bram Stoker’s famous count is fictional, Stoker never visited Romania, and Bran Castle was not literally Dracula’s home. That has not stopped the castle from becoming one of the country’s most famous tourist stops.

9. Georgia

If the Cascades are your happy place, Georgia’s mountain regions should get your attention. The Caucasus tower over remote valleys and villages, especially in Svaneti and around Kazbegi. Tbilisi brings a completely different experience with old neighborhoods, restaurants, wine bars, and distinctive architecture. Traveler-reported spending remains fairly modest, and local food and transportation can be especially inexpensive. High in Svaneti, the village community of Ushguli forms part of UNESCO-listed Upper Svaneti beneath some of Georgia’s highest peaks.

10. Albania

Albania used to be one of Europe’s best-kept travel secrets. The secret is pretty much gone. Places along the Albanian Riviera have become increasingly popular, and summer prices can reflect that. It is still possible to travel reasonably, especially during spring or fall and away from the hottest coastal destinations. Beyond the beaches, Albania has rugged mountains, Ottoman-era towns such as Berat and Gjirokastër, archaeological sites, and a capital that feels very different from the resort coast.

11. Mexico

Mexico is close enough to Seattle to feel like an obvious international getaway, but there is no sensible way to give the whole country one daily price. A trip through inland cities can be dramatically cheaper than a resort stay in Los Cabos, Cancún, or Tulum. Travelers can build a trip around Mexico City’s museums and food, colonial cities, Maya and Aztec archaeological sites, Pacific surf towns, Caribbean beaches, mountains, deserts, and rainforest. Skip the luxury-resort version of Mexico and your money can go surprisingly far.

12. Guatemala

Guatemala gives travelers a lot of scenery for a relatively modest budget. Antigua sits beneath volcanoes and preserves one of Central America’s most famous colonial centers. Lake Atitlán is surrounded by mountains, volcanoes, and small communities, while Tikal contains the monumental remains of one of the ancient Maya world’s most important cities. Backpackers can travel quite cheaply, although private transfers and organized volcano hikes will raise the bill. Even then, it can remain much less expensive than many mainstream international destinations.

13. Nicaragua

Nicaragua can still be inexpensive, especially for travelers comfortable with simple hotels, local food, and public transportation. Granada and León bring colorful Spanish colonial architecture, while Ometepe Island rises from Lake Nicaragua beneath the Concepción and Maderas volcanoes. The Pacific coast has become popular with surfers, and prices vary considerably depending on how close you get to resort territory. The old claim that nobody will spend more than $60 a day is too neat, but budget travel here is still very possible.

14. Colombia

Colombia has enough variety to fill several different vacations. Bogotá sits high in the Andes, Medellín has reinvented itself as one of the country’s most visited cities, and Cartagena brings Caribbean heat and colonial architecture. Travelers can also head into coffee country or toward Tayrona National Park on the northern coast. Local restaurants and simple lodging can keep costs reasonable, while Cartagena and other heavily visited areas tend to cost more. One correction worth making from the original: it is Colombia, not Columbia.

15. Bolivia

Bolivia is still one of the strongest budget destinations in South America. Traveler-reported spending averages around $38 per person per day, although tours into remote areas can push costs higher. The main attractions are not exactly subtle. Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, Lake Titicaca sits high in the Andes along the border with Peru, and La Paz spreads across a dramatic mountain basin at more than 11,000 feet above sea level. It is an affordable trip, but give yourself some time to adjust to the altitude.