India

India may be the cheapest place to visit, but only if you're willing to haggle and look for bargains. Keep in mind that cheap accommodations in the $3 range will be quite basic, and showering with buckets of warm water is common. The north will be difficult to discover affordable treasures, but the south, with its beautiful beaches, may prove more successful in terms of budget lodging.

The easiest approach to travel on a budget in India is to book everything yourself. This means that there will be no agents or internet booking services (save for some intercity trips). Check out 12Go Asia for more information). In Nepal, you can easily buy the same products in person for half the price quoted online if you walk into local guesthouses, restaurants, and tour businesses.

Price: $20/ day
Meals: $3 – $6/ day
Accommodation: $4 – $8 per night in a local guesthouse
Transportation: $1 – $3 for a full day of bus and train rides, or $8 – $30 for an intercity train ride (If you want to indulge without actually splurging, a domestic flight can sometimes cost as little as $30!)
SIM card with data: $3 for 1.5GB with 30-day validity