Bali isn’t the bargain it was when travelers faxed guesthouses for a bungalow on Kuta Beach. A latte now rivals Melbourne prices, and that “cheap” scooter ride to Ubud?—it’s surge-priced. If your wallet is sighing, consider these ten destinations where $25–$40 a day still buys a room, three local meals and a splash of fun money. No TikTok filter required.
1. Da Nang, Vietnam — beach + banh mi for $30/day
Long, squeaky-clean My Khe Beach, bowls of mi quang under $2 and GrabBike rides for pocket change. Rent a scooter and you can binge temples in Hue by lunch and be back for sunset craft beer at 7 Bridge Brewery.
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand — jungle city from $28/day
Guesthouse rooms in the Old City start around $12. Add $1 khao soi, $0.25 songthaew rides and a monthly coworking pass under $120 and you’ll see why digital nomads treat Chiang Mai like a free refill.
3. Pokhara, Nepal — lakeside Everest views for $25/day
The Annapurna Range looms across Phewa Tal, yet tea-house beds go for $6. Paddleboard at dawn, then inhale a momo mountain set for $1.50. Bonus: zero humidity fringe-free hair days.
4. Oaxaca City, Mexico — mole & mezcal at $35/day
Street-food tlayudas ($3), dorms in a 19th-century casa ($11) and free art openings most weekends. Swap Bali bowls for smoky mezcal tastings and you’ll forget you ever chased an açaí hashtag.
5. Tbilisi, Georgia — wine on tap for $32/day
Ride the Soviet-era funicular, soak in sulfur baths and sip qvevri wine poured from petrol-style pumps—no, really—at $0.80 a glass. Hostel beds hover around $9; khachapuri will ruin you for pizza forever.
6. Cartagena, Colombia — Caribbean heat at $38/day
Skip overpriced walled-city hotels and stay in Getsemaní for $15 dorms, $2 arepas and $0.60 bus rides to Playa Blanca. Sunset over the ramparts is still free, plus the street salsa feels like a bonus track.
7. La Paz, Bolivia — altitude savings at $27/day
At 3,600 m the air is thin and so are the prices. Cable-car commutes cost $0.35, a market almuerzo (soup + stew + juice) rings in at $1. Upgrade to a valley-view room for… $5 extra.
8. Sofia, Bulgaria — Europe lite at $33/day
Cappuccino under €1? Yep. Free walking tour, Roman ruins in the metro station and a day-trip to seven glacial lakes for €15. Summer hostels often toss in breakfast and a Cyrillic crash course for good measure.
9. Lviv, Ukraine — coffee capital for $29/day
Chocolate museums, jazz bars and UNESCO architecture at post-Soviet prices. A flat white costs less than bottled water in Bali. Catch the Philharmonic for $3 if you packed a blazer.
10. Hoi An, Vietnam — lantern magic on $26/day
Yes, another Vietnamese gem: riverside homestays for $10, tailoring starting at $25 and a sunrise bicycle ride to An Bang Beach so gentle it feels like a spa treatment. Order cao lầu noodles; nobody knows why they’re smoky—just eat.
Bottom line: Bali is beautiful, but it’s no longer the planet’s bargain poster child. Swap one or two of these cities into your itinerary and stretch that “island budget” like stretchy Bintang singlets in high season. Which locale gets your vote? Drop it below—bonus points if you’ve found something cheaper than a Balinese coconut.