Travel Tips Tips

Cheapest country to travel from Philippines - Get the most value for your money

Nicholas Chia

07.12.25

Read time 6 minutes

If you’re planning your next trip you’ll be wanting to get the most possible from your budget. Maybe you’re thinking of the cheapest country to travel to in Asia, or perhaps you’re looking for a dream trip to Europe, Australia or beyond.

Finding the best value travel destination is more than just looking at price. You’ll also need to think about value and affordability based on different factors, including pre-departure costs for visas or other paperwork, activity prices on arrival, and costs of daily life. We'll also introduce the Wise card, a handy travel companion to make seamless card payments when you're overseas.

In this guide we’ll be showing costs in PHP so you can make an informed decision about where you might like to go on your next trip. Flight information taken from Skyscanner. All other cost information in this guide is taken from Numbeo.com, which aggregates live feedback from users to give average costs.

Table of contents
Cheapest countries to travel in Asia Cheapest countries to travel outside of Southeast Asia Get more out of your overseas spending with the Wise card

Cheapest countries to travel in Asia

The cheapest countries to travel to is very subjective - in the end what you spend on your trip depends on the time of year, your preferred accommodation, food and activities, and how long you stay for example. However, picking popular destinations with low general living costs and an excellent range of price points for hotels and tours is a good way to compare your options.

Let’s start with some of the cheapest destinations you may consider from our closest neighbors in Southeast and East Asia. Generally travel within the region is far cheaper than heading off to further afield, plus you’ll often find great visa exemptions which mean there are no pre-travel costs or formalities to worry about for a short tourist trip. Here are some places to consider which rank among the cheapest countries to travel in Southeast and East Asia.

Vietnam


Flight	From 7,535 PHP, direct
3 course meal for 2 at a mid range restaurant²	1,564.25 PHP
Regular cappuccino	104.76 PHP
One way ticket on local transport	20.11 PHP

If you hold a passport from the Philippines you can enter Vietnam for up to 21 days visa free¹, making this a hassle free destination. Whether you’re looking for history and culture in Hanoi, gorgeous beaches in Danang, or the hustle and bustle of the city in Ho Chi Minh, you’ll find something you love, on a budget.

Vietnam is a relatively cheap place to visit, with low hotel costs and easy ways to eat very well on a budget. Follow the locals and fill up on street food to make your money go further.

Thailand


Flight	From 8,899 PHP, direct
3 course meal for 2 at a mid range restaurant⁴	1,807.31 PHP
Regular cappuccino	151.64 PHP
One way ticket on local transport	72.29 PHP

Filipinos can travel to Thailand for up to 60 days without needing a specific visa³, giving you plenty of time to explore this diverse country. You’ll be able to shop until you drop in Bangkok and then take local flights or land transport to explore other cities, beaches or islands, depending on your preferences.

Check out the temples, visit elephant sanctuaries, and eat as much delicious Thai food as you like while you travel on a budget. If you need to travel within Thailand look out for bus and train options which can be a practical and low cost way to get around, particularly if you pick overnight services.

Cambodia


Flight	From 13,313 PHP, direct
3 course meal for 2 at a mid range restaurant⁶	2,058.77 PHP
Regular cappuccino	148.69 PHP
One way ticket on local transport	26.47 PHP

You won’t usually need a visa for Cambodia if you have a passport from the Philippines⁵, allowing you to explore without additional costs and hassle before you travel. Flights are a little more expensive here compared to the costs we’ve looked at so far, but you can live well for a low budget on arrival with little worry.

Cambodia has lots to offer - take some time to explore Phnom Penh, and then visit the spectacular Siem Reap historical complex to see what Cambodia is all about.

Taiwan


Flight	From 4,920 PHP, direct
3 course meal for 2 at a mid range restaurant⁸	2,281.58 PHP
Regular cappuccino	224.90 PHP
One way ticket on local transport	47.53 PHP

Visit Taiwan visa free for 14 days⁷, and split your time between futuristic Taipei and the beautiful historic towns and peaceful countryside elsewhere in the country. Flights are direct and can be relatively cheap - and accommodation options include budget choices in many regions.

Taipei has excellent public transport connections, and beautiful parks you can wander in for free if the weather is good. Taiwan is also an excellent place to get outdoors hiking or biking - both cheap or free options - if that’s your thing.

Cheapest countries to travel outside of Southeast Asia

Getting out of Asia will come with a higher cost for flights, and in many cases day to day life will cost more as well. However, if you’re looking for a once in a lifetime trip you’ll be able to find places which fit the bill, even on a budget. Keep an eye out for deals on flight prices, and look for places where there are low or no costs for the types of activities you enjoy to make your money stretch further. Here are a few ideas.

Australia


Flight	From 19,198 PHP, 1+ stops
3 course meal for 2 at a mid range restaurant¹⁰	5,002.31 PHP
Regular cappuccino	205.39 PHP
One way ticket on local transport	190.89 PHP

Australia is a dream destination for many people, offering endless options to explore everything from bustling cities to pristine beaches, fascinating cultural and historic sites and more. If you hold a Filipino passport you’ll need to apply for a visa before you travel, but if you’re awarded a tourist visa you could have 3 - 12 months to explore the country⁹.

While visiting Australia won’t be the cheapest possible option available, we’ve included it here as the flight prices are often quite reasonable for a destination outside of Asia - and if you enjoy outdoor activities there’s loads to do for free once you arrive.

India


Flight	From 19,508, 1+ stops
3 course meal for 2 at a mid range restaurant¹²	1,325.77 PHP
Regular cappuccino	130.53 PHP
One way ticket on local transport	23.53 PHP

You do need to apply for an eVisa for India as a Filipino, but through to mid-2026, the Indian government is offering this service free of charge¹¹, making this a great time to go. Flight costs are reasonable and you’ll have an enormous choice of places to go, all with pretty low prices for food, hotels and activities once you arrive.

Choose from a beach break in Goa, bustling Mumbai, the backwaters of Kerala, or a huge range of historical and natural sights throughout the country. Depending on your plans you may choose to join tours or take the services of a local guide to get the most of your visit - but even this can be done in a budget friendly manner if you choose to.

Spain


Flight	34,574 PHP, 1+ stops
3 course meal for 2 at a mid range restaurant¹⁴	4,055.82 PHP
Regular cappuccino	190.37 PHP
One way ticket on local transport	101.40 PHP

If you’re thinking of a trip to Europe you’ll need a visa - in many cases, including for trips to Spain, a Schengen Visa¹³. You can apply in your local Spanish Embassy, with processing times of about 10 days. We’ve selected Spain as a great place to go in Europe for its fabulous food, beautiful beaches and countryside and friendly people.

Spain has bustling cities and is also home to wonderful outdoor opportunities, which you can enjoy much of the year thanks to the warm climate. Hop on your bike to explore the countryside, get hiking, or go for a dip in the sea, depending on your preferences.

Nepal


Flight	From 26,005 PHP, 1+ stops
3 course meal for 2 at a mid range restaurant¹⁶	1,078.09 PHP
Regular cappuccino	101.86 PHP
One way ticket on local transport	12.44 PHP

Our last pick is the dreamy country of Nepal - perhaps not an obvious choice, but one which captures the imagination of many people. You can get a visa on arrival for Nepal if you hold a Filipino passport¹⁵, which means there’s very little to do prior to travel, and once you arrive costs are pretty low. As Nepal is popular with many budget travellers there are also low cost accommodation options throughout.

When you think of Nepal you probably think of trekking - and the good news is that there are some routes you can do relatively cheaply, which give an excellent flavour for the country. Skip Everest and try a different route instead, to make the most of your money.

Want to save even more? Get more out of your overseas spending with the Wise card

The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including USD, SGD, GBP, and JPY so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up PHP to get started.

A physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 369.60 PHP. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as 2 free ATM withdrawals to the value of 12,000 PHP each month, before low fees start.

While abroad, you can choose to spend directly in PHP and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.57%.

Save while you spend, and make overseas spending seamless with a Wise card.

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Sources:

Vietnam Embassy, Philippines

Numbeo - costs in Hanoi

Thai official visa website

Numbeo - costs in Bangkok

Cambodia eVisa website

Numbeo - costs in Phnom Penh

Taiwan government visa information

Numbeo - costs in Taipei

Australia visa information

Numbeo - costs in Sydney

India evisa website

Numbeo - costs in Delhi

Spain visa website, Philippines

Numbeo - costs in Madrid

Nepal visa on arrival

Numbeo - costs in Kathmandu

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