10 Cheap Countries To Visit From Australia That Won’t Break The Bank In 2024-2025

Have you been wanting to travel outside of Australia but are unsure which countries will suit your budget?

The good news is that there are many countries where the Australian dollar goes further, and you can enjoy state-of-the-art hotels, delicious foods, and fun recreational activities without breaking your bank.

Here are the 10 cheap countries to visit from Australia that are budget-friendly and won’t leave you bankrupt.

1. Bali, Indonesia

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Bali is popularly known as The Island of Gods.

This beautiful island located near the equator of the earth is endowed with the beauty of nature and has an optimal temperature all year round, making it one of the best places to visit.

This country is a great tourist centre for foreigners because of its incredible temples, evergreen forests, and unique culture. 

You can get well-furnished and hospitable accommodation at dirt cheap prices, you eat delicious cultural cuisines and engage in tons of recreational activities.

How to reach

All major city airports serve direct flights to Bali. This island is approximately 4,425 kilometers away from Australia (Melbourne) with an approximate flight time of 5.5 hours. Return Plane tickets start from $258 and the average per night spend is AU$60.

Cheapest time to travel

The months of February, May, August and September are the cheapest months to travel to this amazing island. 

Must visit attractions

Some of the must-visit places include

• Tanah Lot Temple
• Uluwatu Temple
• Tirta Empul
• Sacred Monkey Forest
• Tegalalang Rice Terraces
• Jatiluwih Rice Fields
• Beaches of Bali – Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur

In this tropical paradise, you can also visit the local spas for the relaxing Balinese massage (must do activity), water parks, and beaches with your friends or families, clubs, and restaurants too. 

If you want to have a thrilling adventure, you might consider taking a hike to climb the volcano on Mount Batur. Also, their yoga sessions are a must-try if you’re into yoga.

Generally, the Balinese people are very hospitable and friendly, so you might feel at home while enjoying your stay on the island.

2. Bangkok, Thailand

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You can hop on a flight to Thailand from any of the major cities in Australia. 

Bangkok is known for its great cradles of Buddhism and uniquely built temples that serve as hot tourist spots for foreigners. With a constant temperature of 30 °C, visiting its white sand beaches is a must for tourists.

How to reach

This island is approximately 5,788 kilometers away from Australia (Melbourne) with an approximate flight time of 9 hours. Plane tickets start from $262 and the average per night spend is AU$80.

Cheapest time to travel

The cheapest months to visit Singapore are March, May, October and November.

Must visit attractions

Some of the popular areas to visit around Thailand include:

• Chang Mai
• Phuket
• Khao Yai National Park
• Railay
• Ko Pha Ngan
• Sukhothai Historical Park

Aside from enjoying delicious Thai food at local restaurants at ridiculously cheap prices, visiting the temples in Bangkok should be at the top of your to-do list. 

You can pay a visit to the colorful Sri Mahamariamman temple, the intriguing wooden Pattaya temple, and the three great Wat Pho, Wat Arun, and Wat Mahathat temples. 

Many travellers head to the islands of Koh Samui or Phuket for more sightseeing and recreation. You will need to take another affordable flight from Bangkok to any of these places. Some airlines fly directly to these islands from Australia as well.

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3. Sri Lanka

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Sri Lanka is also known as Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

It is a beautiful island nation, located just south east of India.

If you are interested in history, culture, food, nature or adventure, then Sri Lanka will absolutely help to tick the boxes in quite an affordable way.

How to reach

It’s approximately 8,348 kilometers away from Australia (Melbourne) with an approximate flying time of 10 to 12 hours (direct). Return Flight tickets start from $590 and the average per night spend is AU$40 to $50. With flights available from all major Australian cities with direct and stop overs options.

Cheapest time to travel

It is cheaper to fly in the months of May and October to visit this beautiful island nation. Although keep in mind that these are usually rainy season so you may encounter heavy rainfall during these months.

Must visit attractions

Some of the most popular attractions to visit in Sri Lanka include:

• Sigiriya (Ancient rock fortress)
• Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa)
• Galle Fort
• Yala National Park
• Polonnaruwa
• Dambulla Cave Temple (Golden Temple of Dambulla)
• Adam’s Peak (Sri Pada)
• Nuwara Eliya
• Ella
• Mirissa

Sri Lanka is home to many UNESCO heritage sites and ancient monuments, architecture.

Sir Lanka is also known for its affordability with cheaper accommodation and dining options available for budget seekers.

4. Cambodia

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Cambodia has made it to our list of cheap countries to visit this year.

Cambodia offers bang for buck for budget travellers with dirt cheap accommodation, food, travel and attraction costs. Along with its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty and warm hospitality, it’s one of the must visit destinations.

How to reach

Cambodia is approximately 6,975 kilometers away from Australia (Melbourne) with an approximate flight time of 8 to 9 hours. Plane tickets start from $434 and the average per night spend is AU$40 to $60.

Cheapest time to travel

The cheapest months to visit Cambodia are April, May, September and October. These are considered cheap as it is rainy season in the country with moderate to heavy rainfall.

Must visit attractions

Here are some popular attractions to visit in Cambodia:

• Angkor Wat
• Phnom Penh
• Siem Reap
• Sihanoukville
• Battambang
• Kampot and Kep
• Tonle Sap Lake
• Preah Vihear Temple

Visit temples like Angkor Wat, museums, and historical sites and if you are into visiting natural landscapes then you can visit Cambodia’s pristine beaches, tropical islands and scenic countryside.

You can enjoy activities like hiking, swimming, snorkeling, and wildlife spotting without breaking the bank.

You will be mesmerised by the food like the Khmer curry, fish amok, and noodle soups at very reasonable prices.

5. Nadi, Fiji

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Fiji is popular for its majestic palm trees, therapeutic hot springs, sandy beaches, and Mud pools.

A visit to this tropical paradise can be made possible if you plan your budget right. The good thing about Fiji is that the weather is close to perfect with temperature not dropping below 20 °C even through cold months.

How to reach

This island is approximately 3,159 kilometers away from Australia (Sydney) with an approximate flight time of 4 hours and 30 minutes. Return air tickets start from $455 and the average per night spend is AU$150.

Cheapest time to travel

The cheapest months to visit Nadi, Fiji, are March, August, October and November.

Must visit attractions

Some of the best attractions to visit in Fiji includes:

• Wailoaloa Beach
• Blue Lagoon Cruise
• Sabeto Hot Springs
• Navua River
• Kula Wild Adventure Park and Kila Eco Adventure Park
• Denarau Island

Sunbathing on the Wailoaloa beach and relaxing at the Sabeto Hot springs are places to go for recreation; visiting the local restaurants and trying out their national cuisines are also must-try. Also don’t forget to try their national drink, Kava.

6. Vietnam

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Everything from transportation to dining is very much affordable in Vietnam as it is one of the cheapest countries in the world to visit. 

It is a local paradise that consists of rural villages and cities which draws in a lot of tourists on a tight budget due to the economical-friendly nature of the country.

How to reach

This backpacker’s paradise is approximately 6,900 kilometers away from Australia (Melbourne) with an approximate flight time of 9 hours and 7 minutes. Return airfares start from $329 and the average per night spend is AU$40.

Cheapest time to travel

The cheapest months to visit Vietnam are March, April, August and September.  

Must visit attractions

Unique landmarks such as

• Ho Chi Minh City
• Hanoi
• Phong Nha Ke,
• Hoi An Ancient Town,
• Bang National Park,
• Cu Chi Tunnel,
• The Marble Mountains, and
• Ha Long Bay

Also, don’t forget to visit their beaches, and local restaurants to try their traditional cuisine and many more.

As a traveller, you can do a complete North (Hanoi, Sa Pa, Ninh Binh), Central (Da Nang, Hoi An) South (Ho Chi Minh,Phu Quoc) trip. 

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7. Philippines

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The Philippines has gained international popularity for its magnificent beaches and coastlines, great diving spots, and unique terrestrial landmarks with over 7,000 islands to see.

The Philippines is also a place where the Australian dollar goes far; you can have a taste of cheap street food for as low as $2 and sophisticated restaurant meals at $10 only, not to forget the ridiculously cheap accommodations of just $10 per night for a single room. This tropical island also has a lot of great monuments with a lot of excavation sites.

How to reach

Many direct flights are available for traveller form all major Australian airports to cities like Manilla and Cebu.

The Philippines is approximately 6,130 kilometers away from Australia (Melbourne) with an approximate flight time of 8 hours. Return airfares start from $282 and the average per night spend is AU$60.

Cheapest time to travel

The cheapest months to visit the Philippines are April, July, August and September.  

Must visit attractions

Some of the best things to do in Phillipines include:

• Manila 
• White Beach, Boracay
• Coral Garden
• Fort Santiago,
• National Museum of the Philippines,
• Rizal park,
• Krus ni Magellan
• Batad Rice Terraces, Banaue
• Corregidor Island

Diving in the saline waters of the oceans and sunbathing at the popular beaches are just some of the recreational activities to enjoy in the Philippines.

Visiting the tropical islands within the Philippines is also a great spot for viewing astonishing landmarks, so you might want to give that a try as well.

8. Malaysia

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This is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Southeast Asia: with its awesome ancient archeological landmarks, modern cities, white sand beaches, and great hiking spots such as Mount Kinabalu, you just can’t get enough of Malaysia.

The most popular and the cheapest city to travel to Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur. 

How to reach

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is approximately 6,435 kilometers away from Australia (Melbourne) with an approximate flight time of 8 hours. Return Plane tickets start from $261 and the average per night spend is AU$55.

Cheapest time to travel

June, July, August and October are the cheapest months to travel to Malaysia. 

Must visit attractions

You can visit popular tourist spots in Malaysia like:

• Batu caves
• KL tower
• Petronas twin towers
• Petaling street flea market
• Langkawi sky bridge
• Mount Kinabalu, Sabah
• Pinang Peranakan Mansion

Going to the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur, which is mostly frequented by foreigners and tourists, is another great sight to see. With a well-planned tour guide, you can see the whole of Kuala Lumpur in just 2 days.

Don’t forget to try the world-famous Roti Canai, Nasi Lemak, Satay, Hokkien Mee Noodles while in Kuala Lumpur. 

Island hopping from Kuala Lumpur is also getting popular among foreign tourists. Some of the popular islands including Tioman Island, Redang Island,Pangkor Island, Penang Island and Sipadan Island. 

9. Kyoto, Japan

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Visiting Japan can come as a two-way street in terms of cost; the accommodation might be a bit pricey, but the food is on the cheap side which makes up for it.

Anime lovers, hold on tight as it might be a dream coming true for you all. Apart from that, if you love Japanese culture and art then it’s a big win as well. 

Japan is also nicknamed “The Samurai Blue” because the color of their playing kits has always been blue since the 1930s.

How to reach

Japan is approximately 6,848 kilometers away from Australia (Melbourne) with an approximate flight time of 9 hours and 47 minutes. Return Plane tickets start from $458 and the average per night spend is AU$100.

Cheapest time to travel

February, May, June and September are the cheapest months to travel to Kyoto, Japan. 

Must visit attractions

Some of the other popular places to visit in Japan include:

• Tokyo
• Osaka
• Nara
• Mt Fuji
• Hiroshima
• Yakushima
• Izu Peninsula

Aside from seeing the beautiful cherry blossoms and boarding the infamous bullet trains, trying out futuristic technological developments like Automatic vending machines, and virtual reality games, and visiting Anime and Manga studios.

Japan is also known for its unique cultural appreciation such as Calligraphy, embroidery weaving, traditional arts, flower arranging, tea ceremonies and so much more, so you might want to try out the traditional side of the samurai blue.

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10. New Delhi, India

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Another country where the Australian dollar goes far, making it an ideal destination for those on a strict budget. The cost of living in New Delhi, India should not be more than $400 per month, so visiting this country is already a guarantee that your bank won’t break. 

To get all the thrill and fun-filled experience in this country, the best visiting time is from October to March. This is because the weather during that time is best appreciated and most welcoming.

How to reach

India is approximately 7,809 kilometers away from Australia (Melbourne) with an approximate flight time of 12 hours and 50 minutes. Return Plane tickets start from $746 and the average per night spend is AU$60.

Cheapest time to travel

January, March, June and July are the cheapest months to travel to New Delhi, India. 

Must visit attractions

Some of the best places to visit Indai Include:

• Taj Mahal, Agra
• Golden Temple, Amritsar
• Goa
• Mumbai
• Ganga River, Varanasi
• Ladakh
• Dharamsala
• Darjeeling

While in Delhi, you can visit tons of local markets, old architecture like Red Fort, Qutub Minar or just catch up on local spicy food. Make sure not to get the Delhi Belly though (Famous term for getting sick after eating local food). 

Many traveller also do the golden triangle from New Delhi that includes the city Delhi itself, then visiting Agra for Taj Mahal and then going to the pink city of Jaipur

If you want to go away from the hustle and bustle of these larger cities, then you can also do activities such as Hiking in the Himalayas, doing Yoga in the City of Rishikesh, and sightseeing in the lake city of Udaipur.

Plenty to see and do there for less. 

Bonus Countries

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Apart from the above listed countries, there are few more budget friendly countries that you can travel from Australia. These are:

• Laos
• Nepal
• Turkey
• Morroco
• Albania

Final Thoughts

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Deciding on which country to visit solely depends on your budget, and what you would love to experience. 

Since many of these countries offer a wide array of exciting adventures to explore and so many cultures things to experience, picking one to go to might be a bit difficult.

But we hope this guide helps you make a decision on which one to visit. (or may be all)

In case, you want to make bookings for your holidays to these cheap countries, than you can check Skyscanner website.

Well, that’s all you need to know about the cheapest countries to visit from Australia. Let us know which country you would like to visit in the comment section below.

Frequently Asked Questions by Travellers in Australia

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