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

We all like a great travel deal. Perhaps you’re looking for the cheapest place to travel to from Malaysia for a few days, a short hop from home. Or maybe you’re feeling more adventurous and want the best spot in the Americas, or the cheapest European country to travel to from Malaysia. This guide is for you.

It’s not just the topline costs we’ll consider when we walk through our picks of the cheapest country to travel to from Malaysia. There are also variables like the exchange rate and the range of different accommodation options and activities which can influence whether or not a destination is of great value in the end.

In this guide we’ll touch on some costs in MYR to kick start your research - and also highlight the Wise card as another great way to make your money go further when you’re overseas.

Cheapest countries in Asia

Let’s kick off our guide to cheap places to travel to from Malaysia close to home. Sticking in our region means you’ll often be able to cut flight costs while still getting a relaxing - or invigorating - break somewhere new.

Indonesia

Indonesia has so much to offer, from a bustling city break in Jakarta, to the beaches of Bali, diving in Sulawesi, history and culture in Jogja and more. Relatively low costs of living, a great range of price points in terms of accommodation, and short, cheap and easy flights make this an excellent place to consider.

Costs vary widely based on destination - to illustrate we’ve captured some average prices for Jakarta and Bali as 2 of the most popular places to head. Check out our travel guide to Indonesia for more information.

Flight information taken from Google Search. All other cost information in this guide is taken from Numbeo.com, which aggregates live feedback from users to give average costs.

Thailand

Thailand is another understandably popular - but, often, cheap - cheap country to travel to from Malaysia. You could head to walk with elephants in Chiang Mai, chill on a beach on any of the impressive islands, immerse yourself in culture and history - or just enjoy the makan.

Again, Thailand has the advantage of an excellent range of types of accommodation, including many hostels and cheaper places, as it’s a country well established on the backpacker circuit.

While some of the most touristy spots and cities may be a bit more costly than more remote areas, it’s still possible to have a great break on a budget. We’ve picked out Bangkok and Chiang Mai for some cost examples. Find out more about restrictions and requirements for travelling to Thailand with our handy guide.

Korea

If you love all things Korean, why not consider a visit there? It may not be the obvious place to feature on a list of cheap places to travel from Malaysia, but thanks to a good exchange rate, it could present strong value for money compared to previous years.

We’ve picked Seoul for our cost examples here - a must if you’re a first time visitor, with plenty to do, good accommodation options, and strong infrastructure. Click here to check out some handy tips when visiting Korea.

Japan

With its unique history and culture, Japan holds huge appeal, and offers both historical and modern delights, as well as great food and plenty to do on your break. It’s not cheap - but with a favourable exchange rate you could find a visit there looks pretty cheap compared to past years.

We’ve featured Tokyo for our pricing comparisons - smaller cities may be slightly cheaper, although some areas, such as the ski resorts, still come with a pretty hefty price tag. See what else you can expect when travelling to Japan.

Cheapest countries in Europe

If you’re really looking for a budget trip, Europe won’t be on your radar. But if you’re determined to head to the EU, some of the cheapest European countries to travel to from Malaysia may be a bit off the beaten path, but do hold a lot of appeal for the intrepid traveller.

Romania

Romania’s capital Bucharest has some pretty arresting architecture, and makes for an interesting visit in itself - but if you’re heading all the way there, be sure to feature a visit to Transylvania as well. Go to Dracula’s castle, hike in the mountains, and look out for bears in the woods, for a perfect Eastern European adventure.

Poland

Poland might appeal to anyone interested in history, with everything from castles and old towns, though to museums and memorials of the Second World War. It’s also an excellent place for walking and getting into nature, making it a solid allrounder no matter what you’re after.

Czech Republic (Czechia)

There are few places that beat Prague if you’re looking for instagrammable mediaeval grandeur - with enough to keep you busy for a few days easily. Be aware that Prague - as a super popular destination - can also be pretty pricey, though. However, that’s not all Czechia has to offer. You can also head off to resort towns or even discover the home of pilsner beer, depending on where your interest lies.

Bring along the Wise card to save on foreign currency transactions and a credit card for free lounge access - see are our top picks here

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Cheapest countries in the Americas

If something further afield is on the cards for you, you can still snag a great value trip. Destinations in Central and Southern America can be considerably cheaper than North America, making them well worth considering if you’re packing your bags for a longer trip. Here are a few to consider.

Mexico

While some of Mexico isn’t a good bet on the basis of safety, there are still destinations which make great value places if you’re looking for beaches, fun, food and drink. For our pricing information, we’ve taken Cancun which is very well set up for tourist visitors, and considered pretty safe with normal common sense precautions. It’s not the very cheapest destination in Mexico - so do shop around, bearing in mind the latest travel advice, before you book.

Colombia

Colombia doesn’t have the greatest reputation on safety, but is actually one of the safest places to head in South America right now. Bogota is a vibrant city which has amazing food, a unique culture and all the passion you expect from Latin America, with relatively low costs which mean you can have a whole lot of experience for a lower price tag. As with any travel, check the latest advice before you book.

Peru

For our final stop on our tour of the cheapest countries to visit from Malaysia, we’re in Peru. Whether you’re interested in ancient history and the Incas, wildlife and the Amazon, beautiful beaches or simply a new experience which is unique to the area, this is a great bet. Fairly low costs and good accommodation choices mean that once you arrive, you can find cheaper options to make your budget stretch while still having a packed itinerary.

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

Do even more with your money when you travel, by avoiding unnecessary and high foreign transaction fees with the Wise card. Open your Wise account with nothing more than your phone and your normal ID document, to top up in ringgit and spend overseas with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees from just 0.33%.

While most Malaysian banks add a foreign transaction fee of up to 3% every time you spend or withdraw overseas, Wise doesn’t use foreign transaction fees. It’s free to spend a currency you hold in your account, and if you don’t have the currency you need, you can either switch your MYR to the currency you need right away in the Wise account, or let the card do the conversion for you when you spend or withdraw. With the Wise card you can hold and exchange 40+ currencies and use it in over 150+ countries - the perfect partner to put in your pocket before you head off for your great value foreign trip.

Need cash? Wise can help there too. Use your Wise card to make 2 free withdrawals up to the equivalent of 1,000 MYR per month, before low transparent fees begin.

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