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Best Cities for Backpackers 2026

Top cities for budget backpackers ranked by daily cost. Cheap hostels, street food, and affordable transport — the best destinations to stretch your money.

Updated June 2026

Rawalpindi, Pakistan tops our 2026 ranking of the best cities for backpackers. Browse the full list of 100 destinations below.

$12/day

Rawalpindi

Pakistan

$15/day

Delhi

India

$15/day

Hyderabad

India

$15/day

Bengaluru

India

$15/day

Ahmedabad

India

$15/day

Jaipur

India

$15/day

Lucknow

India

$15/day

Visakhapatnam

India

$15/day

Aleppo

Syria

#10

$15/day

Varanasi

India

#11

$15/day

Hampi

India

#12

$15/day

Homs

Syria

#13

$15/day

Indore

India

#14

$15/day

Jhelum

Pakistan

#15

$15/day

Jodhpur

India

#16

$15/day

Lahore

Pakistan

#17

$15/day

Magelang

Indonesia

#18

$20/day

India

#19

$20/day

Philippines

#20

$20/day

Central Visayas

Philippines

#21

$20/day

Surat

India

#22

$20/day

Kolkata

India

#23

$20/day

Addis Ababa

Ethiopia

#24

$20/day

Lombok

Indonesia

#25

$20/day

Agra

India

#26

$20/day

Damascus

Syria

#27

$20/day

Goiânia

Brazil

#28

$20/day

Bohol

Philippines

#29

$20/day

Bogor

Indonesia

#30

$20/day

Kathmandu

Nepal

#31

$20/day

Cebu

Philippines

#32

$20/day

Davao Oriental

Φιλιππίνες

#33

$20/day

Pokhara

Nepal

#34

$20/day

Guilin

China

#35

$20/day

Puerto Princesa

Philippines

#36

$20/day

Santa Clara

Cuba

#37

$20/day

Sapa

Vietnam

#38

$20/day

Maha Sarakham

Thailand

#39

$20/day

Waisai

Indonesia

#40

$20/day

Banyuwangi

Indonesia

#41

$20/day

Dandeli

India

#42

$20/day

Fortaleza

Brazil

#43

$20/day

Islamabad

Pakistan

#44

$20/day

Kasauli

India

#45

$20/day

New Delhi

India

#46

$20/day

Phnom Penh

Cambodia

#47

$20/day

Phu Quoc

Vietnam

#48

$20/day

Probolinggo

Indonesia

#49

$20/day

Tabanan

Indonesia

#50

$20/day

Yogyakarta

Indonesia

#51

$25/day

Mumbai

India

#52

$25/day

Jakarta

Indonesia

#53

$25/day

Cairo

Egypt

#54

$25/day

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

#55

$25/day

Hanoi

Vietnam

#56

$25/day

Bogota

Colombia

#57

$25/day

Taizhou

China

#58

$25/day

Bali

Indonesia

#59

$25/day

Baku

Azerbaijan

#60

$25/day

Manila

Philippines

#61

$25/day

kuala lumpur

malaysia

#62

$25/day

Porto Alegre

Brazil

#63

$25/day

Tbilisi

Georgia

#64

$25/day

Mendoza

Argentina

#65

$25/day

Da Nang

Vietnam

#66

$25/day

Arequipa

Peru

#67

$25/day

Cebu City

Philippines

#68

$25/day

Marrakesh

Marokko

#69

$25/day

Marrakesh

Morocco

#70

$25/day

Colombo

Sri Lanka

#71

$25/day

Lhasa

China

#72

$25/day

Krabi

Thailand

#73

$25/day

Iquitos

Peru

#74

$25/day

Iloilo

Philippines

#75

$25/day

Nha Trang

Vietnam

#76

$25/day

Erzurum

Turkey

#77

$25/day

Hue

Vietnam

#78

$25/day

Jiangyou

China

#79

$25/day

Košice

Slovakia

#80

$25/day

Siem Reap

Cambodia

#81

$25/day

Niš

Serbia

#82

$25/day

Cienfuegos

Cuba

#83

$25/day

Chiang Mai

Thailand

#84

$25/day

Langkawi

Malaysia

#85

$25/day

Tagaytay

Philippines

#86

$25/day

El Nido

Philippines

#87

$25/day

Viñales

Cuba

#88

$25/day

Hunedoara

Romania

#89

$25/day

Balabac

Philippines

#90

$25/day

Bansko

Bulgaria

#91

$25/day

Boracay

Philippines

#92

$25/day

Essaouira

Morocco

#93

$25/day

Kuching

Malaysia

#94

$25/day

Labuan Bajo

Indonesia

#95

$25/day

Malta

Brazil

#96

$25/day

Medellín

Colombia

#97

$25/day

Ollantaytambo

Peru

#98

$25/day

Parapat

Indonesia

#99

$25/day

Sa Pa

Vietnam

#100

$25/day

Tulcea

Romania

Frequently asked questions

What is the best city for backpackers in the world?

Rawalpindi, Pakistan is the best city for backpackers in the world in 2026, based on City Buddy's data across hundreds of destinations. See the full ranking below.

What are the top 10 backpackers in the world (2026)?

1. Rawalpindi, Pakistan; 2. Delhi, India; 3. Hyderabad, India; 4. Bengaluru, India; 5. Ahmedabad, India; 6. Jaipur, India; 7. Lucknow, India; 8. Visakhapatnam, India; 9. Aleppo, Syria; 10. Varanasi, India.