The 10 Cheapest Asian Cities to Visit

Traveling to Asia can seem expensive at first glance, with some flights costing twice as much as you’d pay to fly to Europe. But as with any travel destination, you can find great deals if you know where to look. Flights to Asia are actually 9% cheaper than this time last year, according to Kayak. For even bigger savings, Kayak’s travel trends expert Kayla Inserra DeLoache recommends travelers “plan their trip during the off-season this fall (October-November) and save up to 12% on flights compared to the peak season (May-July).”

Kayak has lent its expertise (and its database) to Travel + Leisure to provide a data-driven insight into the cheapest destinations in Asia to visit. To compile their list of the 10 most affordable cities in Asia, they considered searches made on Kayak between January and June 2024 for travel to Asia between June and December 2024. They combined the average round-trip economy airfare with the average overnight rate for a standard double room to determine the 10 most affordable Asian cities for travelers to visit right now.

Taipei City, Taiwan

Average total cost for a round-trip flight + one night hotel: $1,411

If Taiwan’s beef noodle soup and pineapple cake sound like your thing, now’s the time to book. According to Kayak, for travel between June and December 2024, Taipei City is the most affordable place to visit in Asia (based on flight and hotel prices).

You can find highly rated hotels for under $100 per night; many newer hotels travelers in Taipei on Reddit report that they were able to find nice but basic hotel rooms for $45 a night, as well as plenty of amazing street food like xiao long bao (steamed Chinese dumplings), bubble tea and mango shaved ice. many night markets are a great place to find cheap food and souvenirs.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Average total cost: $1,452

“Vietnam Airlines now offers direct flights from San Francisco to Saigon, which can be a great value,” said Ethan Crowley, a travel planner at Asia Office. The cost of booking this flight directly with Vietnamese Airlines The round-trip flight costs just $660, according to their flight schedule, and it is currently one of the only non-stop direct flights between Southeast Asia and North America. In addition to the affordable flights, Crowley says the food and accommodation are affordable. He considers Vietnam to be probably “the cheapest country for travelers” in all of Southeast Asia.

Jakarta, Indonesia

Average total cost: $1,478

The Indonesian island of Bali gets all the attention, but its neighbor, Java, is much more affordable. It's home to the country's sprawling capital, which offers every conceivable amenity, at low prices.

According to Jarrod Hobson, travel specialist at ATJ and a T+L A-List travel advisor, in terms of cost, “I would say Indonesia and Vietnam are the best values. Hotel prices seem to indicate that they are trying to attract more visitors post-Covid.”

Services like manicures, massages and haircuts also tend to be high quality but much cheaper than what you would find at home.

New Delhi, India

Average total cost: $1,490

There are several direct flights from major U.S. cities (New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., etc.) to New Delhi, making flying not only less intimidating, but also more affordable. Plus, you can find simple, but clean and pleasant hotel rooms for as little as $15 a night. As an additional travel tip, Hobson notes that it's “best to exchange money at hotels and not at the airport once you arrive at your destination.”

Bangkok, Thailand

Average total cost: $1,493

Once the affordable darling of Southeast Asia, BangkokBangkok's prices have increased with its popularity. However, Bangkok remains one of the most affordable countries in Asia, thanks in part to the many direct flights to Bangkok from the United States, as well as the many local flights that serve neighboring countries (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia) from Bangkok.

If you're willing to spend a little more, you can live in luxury without completely blowing your budget. Crowley said: “The Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok (one of the two original hotels in the famous hotel chain) offers excellent value for money compared to other similar accommodations around the world.”

Manila, Philippines

Average total cost: $1,495

The Philippines' coastal capital, Manila, came in at No. 6 on Kayak's accessibility rankings, largely due to affordable flight options. In October 2023, United Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to direct flight to Manila from the United States with a flight from San Francisco. Hotels in the city are also quite affordable, with many hotels offering rates for $20 or less per night.

Tokyo, Japan

Average total cost: $1,499

Japan tends to be more expensive than its neighboring Southeast Asian countries. That said, Tokyo is a large, sprawling city with plenty of accommodation options (including basic hotels for just over $25 a night) and two international airports with multiple flight options, which helps keep airfares down. If you can find a cheap flight and a cheap place to stay, you can count on the affordable, yet delicious, food available at convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Lawson. Plus, the Japanese yen currently offers a favorable exchange rate for American travelers.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Average total cost: $1,505

Kuala Lumpur, often abbreviated to “KL,” is the land of mamaks, tiny food stalls serving homemade local dishes, where you can experience fantastic local flavors at a low price. Favorite dishes include Hakka-style beef noodles and chili pannoodles topped with pork, egg and chilli. There are several connecting flights to Kuala Lumpur from the US, as well as many hotels that charge $20 a night or less.

Hanoi, Vietnam

Average total cost: $1,546

Vietnam is one of two countries to appear twice on this list, a fact that comes as no surprise to those familiar with traveling to Asian countries.

“(In Vietnam) you have a country with very cheap food, very good value hotels and good transportation. Accommodation, from budget to luxury, is much cheaper than in neighboring countries. Business class domestic flights in Vietnam are excellent value and also make the experience in the country’s crowded airports much more enjoyable; even economy flights are much cheaper than similar routes in the United States,” said Crowley, who added that “street food in Vietnam is among the cheapest in the region.”

Osaka, Japan

Average total cost: $1,567

Japanese cuisine is replicated all over the world, but the core of Japanese food culture is widely considered to be Osaka. The city shines when it comes to street food. Among the favorite dishes are: mitarashi dangogrilled sticky rice ball skewers covered in soy glaze; takoyaki, Fried meatballs stuffed with diced octopus, ginger and onion; and okonomiyakia savory pancake usually made with eggs, meat, seafood, and cabbage. Additionally, Osaka has two airports with plenty of flight options and can be reached from Tokyo in 2.5 hours high-speed train.