Travel costs · price level, US = 100

Cheapest Countries to Visit

Q: What is the cheapest country to visit?

Laos has the lowest price level of any country without a high-risk travel warning (22, US = 100), followed by Bhutan, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Nepal.

Where does your money go furthest? Countries ranked by their price level — how much the same basket of goods and services costs compared with the United States (US = 100). The cheapest safe destinations are Laos, Bhutan, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Nepal, where prices are roughly a quarter to a third of US levels.

Cheapest safe country: Laos

Safe countries at under 40% of US prices

118

Most expensive: Iceland

187

Countries compared

Top 10 cheapest countries to visit (no high-risk advisories)

Price level, US = 100 — lower is cheaper

Under 30
30–39
40–49
50–64
65–84
85+ (expensive)

All countries, cheapest first

Rank	Country	Price level	Compared with the US	Travel safety	Continent
1	Nigeria	13	87% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
2	Egypt	15	85% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
3	Afghanistan	19	81% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Asia
3	Burundi	19	81% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
5	Iran	20	80% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Asia
6	Laos	22	78% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
6	Syria	22	78% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Asia
8	Bhutan	23	77% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
8	India	23	77% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
8	Sierra Leone	23	77% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
11	Pakistan	24	76% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
12	Gambia	25	75% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
12	Myanmar	25	75% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Asia
12	Nepal	25	75% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
15	Bangladesh	26	74% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
15	Ethiopia	26	74% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
17	Rwanda	27	73% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
18	Azerbaijan	28	72% cheaper than the US	High risk	Europe
18	Tajikistan	28	72% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
18	Timor-Leste	28	72% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
18	Vietnam	28	72% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
22	Indonesia	29	71% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
22	Mauritania	29	71% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
22	Sri Lanka	29	71% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
22	Tanzania	29	71% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
22	Turkmenistan	29	71% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
22	Uzbekistan	29	71% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
28	Belarus	30	70% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Europe
28	Zambia	30	70% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Africa
30	Angola	31	69% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
30	Madagascar	31	69% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
30	Suriname	31	69% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
30	Thailand	31	69% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
30	Tunisia	31	69% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
30	Ukraine	31	69% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Europe
36	Malaysia	32	68% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
37	Algeria	33	67% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
37	Eswatini	33	67% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
37	Georgia	33	67% cheaper than the US	High risk	Europe
37	Guyana	33	67% cheaper than the US	High risk	Americas
37	Kazakhstan	33	67% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
37	Kyrgyzstan	33	67% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
37	Philippines	33	67% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
44	Benin	34	66% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
44	Cambodia	34	66% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
44	Cameroon	34	66% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
44	Guinea-Bissau	34	66% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
44	Kenya	34	66% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
44	Lesotho	34	66% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
44	Mali	34	66% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
44	Mongolia	34	66% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
44	Nicaragua	34	66% cheaper than the US	High risk	Americas
44	Togo	34	66% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
54	Brunei	35	65% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
54	Chad	35	65% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
54	Malawi	35	65% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
54	Paraguay	35	65% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
54	Republic of the Congo	35	65% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
54	Russia	35	65% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Europe
54	Uganda	35	65% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
61	Niger	36	64% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
61	Senegal	36	64% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Africa
63	Burkina Faso	37	63% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
63	Côte d'Ivoire	37	63% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
63	Gabon	37	63% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
63	Mozambique	37	63% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
63	North Macedonia	37	63% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
68	Armenia	38	62% cheaper than the US	High risk	Europe
68	Botswana	38	62% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
68	Colombia	38	62% cheaper than the US	High risk	Americas
68	Ghana	38	62% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
68	Guinea	38	62% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
68	Iraq	38	62% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Asia
68	Lebanon	38	62% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Asia
75	Dominican Republic	39	61% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
75	Libya	39	61% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
75	Mauritius	39	61% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
78	Bolivia	40	60% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
78	Bosnia and Herzegovina	40	60% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
78	Somalia	40	60% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
81	El Salvador	41	59% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
81	Equatorial Guinea	41	59% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
81	Fiji	41	59% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
81	Kosovo	41	59% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
81	Namibia	41	59% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
81	South Africa	41	59% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
81	Türkiye	41	59% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
88	Central African Republic	42	58% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
88	DR Congo	42	58% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
88	Jordan	42	58% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
88	Montenegro	42	58% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
88	Morocco	42	58% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
93	Bahrain	43	57% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
93	Ecuador	43	57% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
93	Guatemala	43	57% cheaper than the US	High risk	Americas
93	Moldova	43	57% cheaper than the US	High risk	Europe
97	Romania	44	56% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
98	Panama	45	55% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
98	Serbia	45	55% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
100	Albania	46	54% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
100	Argentina	46	54% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
100	Brazil	46	54% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
100	Bulgaria	46	54% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
100	Djibouti	46	54% cheaper than the US	High risk	Africa
100	Honduras	46	54% cheaper than the US	High risk	Americas
100	Liberia	46	54% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
107	China	47	53% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
107	Oman	47	53% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
107	Saudi Arabia	47	53% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
107	Zimbabwe	47	53% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
111	Cape Verde	48	52% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Africa
111	Chile	48	52% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
111	Dominica	48	52% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
114	Comoros	49	51% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
115	Maldives	51	49% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Asia
115	Peru	51	49% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
115	Saint Lucia	51	49% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
115	Trinidad and Tobago	51	49% cheaper than the US	High risk	Americas
119	Hungary	52	48% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
119	Poland	52	48% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
121	Belize	53	47% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
121	Croatia	53	47% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
121	Sudan	53	47% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Africa
124	Mexico	54	46% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
124	Seychelles	54	46% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Africa
126	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	55	45% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
127	Qatar	56	44% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
128	Grenada	57	43% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
128	Kuwait	57	43% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
128	Latvia	57	43% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
128	South Korea	57	43% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
132	Lithuania	58	42% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
132	Papua New Guinea	58	42% cheaper than the US	High risk	Oceania
132	Slovakia	58	42% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
135	Costa Rica	59	41% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
135	Czechia	59	41% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
137	Greece	60	40% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
137	Jamaica	60	40% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
137	Portugal	60	40% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
137	Singapore	60	40% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
141	Palestine	63	37% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
141	Samoa	63	37% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
141	Slovenia	63	37% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
141	United Arab Emirates	63	37% cheaper than the US	High risk	Asia
145	Sao Tome and Principe	64	36% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Africa
146	Cyprus	65	35% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
146	Japan	65	35% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Asia
146	Kiribati	65	35% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
146	Spain	65	35% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
150	Estonia	66	34% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
150	Malta	66	34% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
150	Uruguay	66	34% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
153	Andorra	68	32% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
154	Antigua and Barbuda	69	31% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
154	Italy	69	31% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
154	Saint Kitts and Nevis	69	31% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
157	Solomon Islands	75	25% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Oceania
157	Tonga	75	25% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
159	San Marino	76	24% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
160	France	77	23% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
161	Germany	80	20% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
162	Belgium	81	19% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
163	Austria	82	18% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
164	Canada	83	17% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
165	Netherlands	84	16% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
166	Finland	85	15% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
166	Ireland	85	15% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
166	Palau	85	15% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
169	Haiti	86	14% cheaper than the US	Avoid travel	Americas
169	New Zealand	86	14% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
171	Sweden	87	13% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
172	Tuvalu	89	11% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
172	United Kingdom	89	11% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
172	Vanuatu	89	11% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
175	Australia	91	9% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
175	Norway	91	9% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
177	Denmark	92	8% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Europe
178	Luxembourg	94	6% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
179	Marshall Islands	95	5% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
180	Bahamas	96	4% cheaper than the US	Some caution needed	Americas
180	Micronesia	96	4% cheaper than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
182	United States	100	same as the US	Safe to visit	Americas
183	Israel	101	1% dearer than the US	High risk	Asia
184	Nauru	103	3% dearer than the US	Safe to visit	Oceania
185	Barbados	110	10% dearer than the US	Safe to visit	Americas
186	Switzerland	112	12% dearer than the US	Safe to visit	Europe
187	Iceland	118	18% dearer than the US	Safe to visit	Europe

Data: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0) — GDP per capita in current US$ (NY.GDP.PCAP.CD) divided by GDP per capita at PPP (NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD); travel safety: US State Department and UK FCDO.

How we measure how cheap a country is

The price level compares what money buys in each country with the United States: it is GDP per person at market exchange rates divided by GDP per person at purchasing-power parity. A value of 30 means a typical basket of goods and services costs about 30% of what it would in the US. Hotels, transport and restaurant prices for tourists usually follow the same pattern, although resorts and capital cities can be pricier than the national average.

Cheapest countries in Asia

Laos — price level 22
Bhutan — price level 23
Nepal — price level 25
Bangladesh — price level 26
Tajikistan — price level 28

Cheapest countries in Africa

Sierra Leone — price level 23
Gambia — price level 25
Tanzania — price level 29
Zambia — price level 30
Angola — price level 31

Cheapest countries in Americas

Suriname — price level 31
Paraguay — price level 35
Dominican Republic — price level 39
Bolivia — price level 40
El Salvador — price level 41

Cheapest countries in Europe

North Macedonia — price level 37
Bosnia and Herzegovina — price level 40
Kosovo — price level 41
Montenegro — price level 42
Romania — price level 44

Cheapest countries in Oceania

Fiji — price level 41
Samoa — price level 63
Kiribati — price level 65
Solomon Islands — price level 75
Tonga — price level 75

The most expensive countries

Iceland (118), Switzerland (112), Barbados (110), Nauru (103), Israel (101), United States (100), Micronesia (96) and Bahamas (96) have the highest price levels — often higher than the United States.

Cheap, but check the travel advice

Some of the cheapest countries in the data — such as Nigeria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Burundi, Iran and Syria — are high risk or under “do not travel” advisories. They are left out of the top 10; see the safest countries to visit.

Related rankings

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest country to visit?

Laos has the lowest price level of any country without a high-risk travel warning (22, US = 100), followed by Bhutan, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Nepal.

What is the cheapest country to visit in Europe?

North Macedonia (price level 37), followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Montenegro.

What is the cheapest country to visit in Asia?

Laos (price level 22), followed by Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

What is the most expensive country to visit?

Iceland, with a price level of 118 — followed by Switzerland, Barbados, Nauru and Israel.

How is the price level calculated?

GDP per capita at market exchange rates divided by GDP per capita at purchasing-power parity (World Bank, 2025). The United States is 100.