【Overseas Travel】Are countries with a low cost of living recommended? Introducing destinations with reduced travel expenses compared to Japan

How about choosing your overseas travel destination based on the “cost of living” and enjoying resorts and gourmet experiences in countries where you can travel relatively inexpensively?

International travel tends to carry the impression of high airfare, but the expenses don’t stop at transportation. Accommodation, food, daily necessities... these living costs vary significantly from country to country.

If you travel to a country with a higher cost of living than Japan, you’ll end up needing more than your usual living expenses. On the other hand, in countries with a lower cost of living, you can stay with less money.

So, which countries with low cost of living are ideal for easy overseas travel? Details are provided below, so be sure to check them out.

*Based on each country's cost of living as of 2024, which may rise or fall sharply in the future.

Overseas Travel: Countries with low cost of living are recommended

Overseas travel can be expensive due to high airfare. If you want to keep the total budget, including local expenses, low, it’s best to choose a country with a lower cost of living than Japan. First, let’s compare the cost of living in Japan with that of other countries and look for places where prices are lower.

In recent years, the cost of living in Japan has continued to rise. However, global prices have also been increasing at the same time. Therefore, it’s not necessarily true that “since prices in Japan are going up, traveling abroad is cheaper right now!”

In particular, G7 countries (UK, USA, Canada, Germany, Italy, France) have seen significant price increases, making them more expensive than Japan. When the yen’s exchange rate drops compared to commonly used currencies (like the euro), costs tend to go up as well.

Conversely, in countries where the yen holds strong value, prices are lower, and travel costs tend to be more affordable.

Big Mac Index

When comparing global cost of living, one standard reference is the price of a “Big Mac.” Since the recipe and ingredients are standardized worldwide, countries with higher costs of living have higher prices.

According to this Big Mac Index, Japan ranks 44th–45th, with a price of around 450 yen. For reference, Switzerland is ranked 1st at 1,207 yen—nearly three times as much. The Eurozone, which includes many popular tourist destinations, averages 827 yen, making it the 5th highest in the world, far above Japan.

Of course, there are countries where the overall cost of living is cheaper than Japan, but Big Macs are more expensive—so you can’t judge everything by this one index. Still, it’s a useful reference if you’re looking to keep travel costs down.

Save with Direct Flight + Hotel Package Bookings

When planning an overseas trip, using skyticket’s direct packages, which bundle flights and hotel reservations, allows for easy one-time booking. This can often be more convenient and affordable than booking separately. It’s a great way to save on travel costs.

You can search for flights to tourist destinations and find hotels in the surrounding areas. Be sure to compare options.

【Overseas Travel】Country with low cost of living ① Vietnam

Vietnam is located to the southwest of Japan and shares land borders with China to the north and Laos and Cambodia to the west. It has cities spread along the north-south axis, with Hanoi in the north and Ho Chi Minh City in the south being the main tourist hubs.

As of 2024, Vietnam’s cost of living is about one-half to one-third that of Japan. While a Big Mac costs about the same as in Japan (around 450 yen), the prices of daily goods are cheaper, and it’s rare for overall expenses to be high.

For example, a 500ml bottle of mineral water costs around 65 yen at most. Even dining at a slightly upscale place averages around 1,000 to 2,000 yen. For a 2–3 night trip, a budget of around 100,000 yen is generally sufficient for round-trip travel and stay.

Focusing on one city is a smart move

As mentioned earlier, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are both great as travel bases, but they’re far apart. If you try to visit both cities, transportation costs will add up. However, if you focus on thoroughly exploring just one city, you can significantly reduce these costs.

Vietnam is a country with a rich and appealing food culture. Use the money saved on travel for indulgences like fine dining or spa treatments to plan a more fulfilling trip.

【Overseas Travel】Country with low cost of living ② Indonesia

The next country with a low cost of living is also located in Southeast Asia—Indonesia, a nation made up of countless islands.

With many resort areas like Bali that cater to tourists, Indonesia is full of charm where you can relax and forget your everyday life. The Big Mac Index is 359 yen, nearly 100 yen cheaper than Japan, and the overall cost of living is about one-third of Japan’s. It is one of the countries with the lowest cost of living globally, not just compared to Japan.

Unless it's an imported item, daily necessities are cheaper than in Japan. Meals also average around 1,000 yen. However, Japanese food tends to be quite expensive compared to local restaurants, so be mindful of that.

A 1.5-liter bottle of mineral water is 62 yen (7,000 rupiah), 1kg of rice is about 133 yen (15,000 rupiah), and a single banana is 88 yen (10,000 rupiah)—showing just how low the prices are. However, dairy products seem to be similar in price to those in Japan and may feel a bit costly.

Be Careful When Converting Yen to Rupiah!

When exchanging yen for Indonesia’s currency, the rupiah, be cautious because of the large difference in digit placement.

For example, 100 yen becomes about 10,000 rupiah, and exchanging 10,000 yen would give you approximately 10,000,000 rupiah. These large numbers can make it hard to notice if you’re given too little. It’s helpful to remember that the value increases “by nearly 100 times.”

Estimated Budget: Around 150,000 to 200,000 Yen

For a 2-night, 3-day or 3-night, 4-day stay, the estimated budget is around 150,000 to 200,000 yen. For reference, taxi fares start at around 130 yen, buses cost 20 to 30 yen, and subway fares are less than 200 yen—so local transportation costs are quite affordable.

Indonesia is a country made up of many islands, so if you plan to hop between islands during your stay, the costs will increase accordingly. If you decide in advance which islands you want to visit, local transportation within a single island can be done very cheaply.

Travel costs vary greatly depending on the season, stopovers, and whether or not you take a direct flight. Be sure to check and plan your budget accordingly!

【Overseas Travel】Country with low cost of living ③ Thailand

Next in line among low-cost countries recommended for overseas travel is the Kingdom of Thailand, another Asian country. Thailand is a popular destination for Japanese tourists within Southeast Asia. Many Japanese live there, and you can enjoy authentic Thai cuisine like green curry—a major attraction.

Although Thailand is relatively expensive compared to other parts of Asia, its cost of living is still about two-thirds that of Japan. In recent decades, inflation and a weakening yen have pushed prices up slightly. Even so, one meal generally costs only a few hundred yen, and even at a nice restaurant, the average cost is between 2,000 and 3,000 yen.

Daily necessities are slightly cheaper than in Japan. A 350ml bottle of water costs around 40 yen. A 5kg bag of rice is about 825 yen. Compared to Vietnam and Indonesia mentioned earlier, Thailand is relatively more expensive, but prices are still significantly lower than in Japan. However, Japanese products in Thailand can be quite costly, so keep that in mind.

For a 3-night, 4-day trip, the budget is estimated at around 80,000 to 100,000 yen. Depending on the grade of the hotel, accommodation expenses may end up being relatively high within your total budget.

How much can you save on transportation costs?

One of the most noticeable things when visiting Thailand is the low cost of transportation. Buses cost between 30 and 100 yen, and trains are around 60 to 200 yen. Taxis start at 165 yen, which is significantly cheaper compared to Japan. If you plan to visit major tourist attractions like temples and historical World Heritage Sites, you’ll find that transportation costs can be kept much lower than they would be for similar travel within Japan.

One of Thailand’s iconic modes of transport is the tuk-tuk taxi. Compared to other transportation options, it’s relatively expensive. While it’s a fun experience you may want to try, it costs around 500 yen—something to keep in mind.

【Overseas Travel】Country with low cost of living ④ Turkey

Among overseas destinations, trips to Europe generally require the highest budgets. Compared to Asian countries, airfare is naturally more expensive, and due to the weakened yen, expenses in the Eurozone tend to be even higher. If you want to keep costs low, Europe can be a difficult choice.

However, “Turkey,” which borders Europe and Asia, is a country where travel expenses can be kept relatively low, despite its distance from Japan.

Turkey belongs to a completely different cultural sphere from Japan, blending European and Asian influences and rich in World Heritage Sites. With grand mosques and cathedrals, you can enjoy sights vastly different from those in Japan. If you can enjoy a taste of Europe without the high costs of Western Europe, why not take advantage of that?

Turkey’s Big Mac Index is 586 yen, which is more expensive than Japan. However, overall prices are still relatively low and not drastically different from those in Japan.

Accommodation costs are similar to Japan, But…

For a 3-night, 4-day trip to Turkey, the estimated budget is around 200,000 to 250,000 yen. Since Turkey is farther away than most Asian countries, airfare will be more expensive, and hotel prices are roughly the same as in Japan. However, transportation within the country is cheaper than in Japan. Compared to other European countries, this difference is even more apparent.

Everyday items like bottled water (500ml) cost around 30 to 50 yen, and meals are about 3,000 to 5,000 yen per day. When compared to countries like Germany, where daily food expenses can reach 8,000 yen, Turkey offers much more affordable travel within Europe.

◎ Summary of countries with low cost of living

We’ve introduced overseas countries where the cost of living is lower than in Japan, making for more affordable stays.

Although there are many countries with lower prices than Japan, not all are equally recommended due to concerns like safety or limited tourist attractions. However, the countries featured here all offer reduced living costs compared to Japan and Europe, whether you're seeking resorts or cultural exploration. These are destinations where you can enjoy international travel more easily and affordably.

We hope this helps you choose your next travel destination. Be sure to refer back to this article when planning your trip!

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【Overseas Travel】Are countries with a low cost of living recommended? Introducing destinations with reduced travel expenses compared to Japan