Cheapest countries in South America
Which are some of the cheapest countries in South America to visit?
Forget Asia for a sec! If you didn’t already know, South America is literally one of the best continents that you could ever backpack around on planet earth.
Not only are there many breathtaking landscapes, mysterious cultures and unforgettable experiences to be had, but you’ll also find it quite inexpensive compared to others like Europe and North America.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a look at the overall cheapest countries in South America you can visit.
This includes our own recommendations based on our time traveling and living here, as well as listing everyday costs such as food, accommodation and tours.
Cheapest countries in South America to visit
Overall, the cheapest country in South America is Bolivia. Here you can easily live on $20 a day (and even less depending on what you need daily), and will also find transport and tours cheap too.
Is South America worth visiting?
100% yes! There’s a reason why we decided to make a blog about this particular continent of course…
South America is home to an incredible assortment of cultures and histories, with some of these civilisations being the oldest to have ever existed on earth.
There’s also many untouched tribes that still thrive within the deep jungle and wild mountains too, some of them which you can even meet.
Those with a thirst for adventure will also love this region. It’s home to many picturesque beaches and clear waters, and here you’ll be able to see many exotic species both in the sea and on land.
Other awesome regions to visit include its alpine lakes, arid deserts as well as sprawling canyons. The best of all is that this can be done on a budget.
After deciding which country to visit, be sure to read our guide on traveling to South America on a budget to get even more insight on how much things cost while here.
What is the most expensive country in South America and why?
The most expensive country you can currently visit in South America is Chile (which is closely followed by Venezuela – believe it or not).
This long-shaped country has by far the best-developed economy of any South American nation, which means people earn more here as well as there being more economic stability.
This unfortunately means (for budget travelers especially) that costs are higher too. Now this doesn’t need to mean that a visit here will break the bank.
The higher costs mostly affect the big cities like Santiago, however there are also many regions which can still be visited on the cheap (as long as you’re willing to do some extra digging and put the effort in). Also by picking up the local lingo you can save money along the way, see this Spanish phrase book for ideas on how to improve your conversation.
Can you travel South America cheaply?
In South America anything is possible, and travelling the continent cheap is also easy to do. Budget accommodation is fairly simple to find, and we use apps like Booking.com to organize search results and show the best value hostels and properties.
Food in South America is dirt cheap too, and you’ll find that even the chain restaurants are much cheaper than back home. Those who want to try more local food can go for the menu ejecutivos, which are a set local meal for as cheap as $1.50!
Everything else such as transport between destinations and tours are also cheap, and you’ll benefit most by booking them within the terminal or agency within the city.
Online tours through GetYourGuide and Viator also provide good tours too.
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Cheapest Countries in South America
Let’s dive in to this list of cheap and safe South American countries to visit:
Bolivia
Ranking in as the overall cheapest country in South America, we have Bolivia. This country was made for adventure enthusiasts, where you can find many exciting cities, beautiful landscapes and friendly locals in abundance.
It’s all extremely cheap too, which is a big reason why travellers often spend longer here than in its neighbouring countries (especially when coming north from Chile).
One of the best things to do in Bolivia is to head to the Uyuni Salt Flats. There are many tours offering multi-day trips, and we highly recommend this one.
As well as having all lodging and food provided, you’ll also visit more incredible landscapes such as green and red lakes, a desert as well as the geysers.
You can budget for $20 a day in Bolivia, which includes a dorm bed, three hearty meals as well as some leftovers for beers or an activity.
- 💰 Currency: Boliviano (BOB)
- 🛏️ Cost of dorm: $5-10
- 🍴Cost of meal: $1-3
- 🍺 Cost of beer: $0.50-2
- 🚠 Cost of average tour $10-20
Colombia
We would call Colombia a mid-tier country when it comes to prices and costs of travel. Whilst Colombia is more expensive than Bolivia, it’s certainly cheaper than countries such as Brazil and other countries located in the Southern Cone such as Chile.
Colombia is becoming increasingly popular due to its various interesting cities, as well as many stunning natural sites that include tropical Caribbean beaches and arid deserts.
Whilst in Colombia you simply must head to the Lost City, which is an ancient citadel which is found within the deep rainforest (close to Santa Marta).
It’s still visited by the indigenous tribes that still flourish in these parts, and you can head with this organised trek which includes all meals as well as basic accommodation included along the trek.
You can budget for $25 a day in Colombia, which includes a dorm bed, three hearty meals as well as some leftovers for beers or an activity.
- 💰 Currency: Peso (COP)
- 🛏️ Cost of dorm: $10-15
- 🍴Cost of meal: $1-3
- 🍺 Cost of beer: $1-2
- 🚠 Cost of average tour $15-30
Paraguay
Paraguay is a really interesting country. It’s by far one of the least visited in the continent, however is home to a raw mix of wild cultures and historical sites.
Although food and transport is really cheap, accommodation can be a little more than in neighbouring Bolivia simply because there aren’t so many budget hostels operating throughout the country.
One of our favourite experiences from Paraguay has to be the mission churches that are found close to the city of Encarnación. You can visit them independently, although public transport can be hit or miss in this area.
Other awesome things to see include a multiple day tour to El Chaco, as well as seeing the giant dam of Itaipu.
You can budget for $20-25 a day in Paraguay, which includes a dorm bed, three hearty meals as well as some leftovers for beers or an activity.
- 💰 Currency: Guaraní (PYG)
- 🛏️ Cost of dorm: $5-10
- 🍴Cost of meal: $1-3
- 🍺 Cost of beer: $1-2
- 🚠 Cost of average tour $10-20
Peru
George’s all-time favourite – we for sure weren’t going to leave this one out. Peru is an incredible nation, which has both stunning landscapes as well as a deep history that can be explored through its numerous archaeological ruins all over the country.
Peru is generally quite cheap as well, with many budget hostels given its become quite popular for travellers to visit.
Machu Picchu will forever be a highlight for travellers heading to Peru, and we highly recommend heading with this overnight tour.
You’ll have all meals, accommodation as well as the entrance ticket included in the price. Even better is that you’ll have a professional guide teach you everything you need to know about the site too.
You can budget for $20-25 a day in Peru, which includes a dorm bed, three hearty meals as well as some leftovers for beers or an activity.
- 💰 Currency: Sol (PEN)
- 🛏️ Cost of dorm: $5-15
- 🍴Cost of meal: $1-4
- 🍺 Cost of beer: $1-3
- 🚠 Cost of average tour $10-25
For more information on the cost of travel in Peru see our dedicated that which explores the different costs that you’ll have when visiting Peru, and how to set the perfect budget.
Ecuador
Ecuador is a perfect country for first-time travellers heading to South America. Distances aren’t so big, and also you’ll find there’s something for everyone in this diverse nation.
This nation is one of the cheapest you can visit in South America, especially if you stick to hostels and eat at local restaurants. We covered this aspect in our guide on how expensive Ecuador is for backpackers and travelers, so be sure to check that out as well.
There is a tonne to see and do here, ranging from surfing along its Pacific beaches to hiking volcanoes and exploring the Amazon Rainforest.
One activity that stands out the most (and is memorable regardless of your particular interests) is the Pailón del Diablo.
This giant waterfall is located within the jungle, and with this tour you’ll have a really memorable experience where you’ll walk along the hanging bridges above the surrounding canopy.
You can budget for $20 a day in Ecuador, which is even easier to keep track of given they use dollars there. Here you’ll be staying in a dorm bed, eating three hearty meals as well as having some leftovers for beers or an activity.
- 💰 Currency: Dollar (USD)
- 🛏️ Cost of dorm: $5-10
- 🍴Cost of meal: $1-3
- 🍺 Cost of beer: $1-2
- 🚠 Cost of average tour $10-20
Cheapest Countries in South America
South America in our opinion is the ultimate continent to backpack.
From the various, mysterious cultures to pretty much every biome and landscape you can dream of, you’ll find it all here.
What’s even better is that a trip here won’t break the bank, although it’s worth noting that some countries will be more expensive than others.
In this guide we’ve explored 5 of the cheapest countries in South America you can possibly visit, including exactly why you should visit each one.
We’ve also outlined some costs for each to give you a better idea of how to plan your own budget. Read our backpacking South America guide for more tips.
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