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Places Like Bali but Cheaper: 8 Quieter Islands, with Daily Costs

Bali's crowds and traffic are the price of its fame. These eight islands and coasts give you the turquoise water, temples and village life without them. Each is named against the famous place it replaces, with its gateway, the last leg in, the best months and what a day really costs.

Photo: YUS JULIADI, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Text added by Trip Under.

One honest caveat: Trip Under only lists underrated places, so we keep no Bali prices to set these against. What we show is what each costs per person per day once you are there. Check Bali prices for your dates and compare. Flights to each gateway are not included.

All eight at a glance

The eight, cheapest first

1. Quy Nhon, Vietnam: ₹1,800 a day

Instead of: Nha Trang. Best months: Feb–Apr. Five days on the ground: about ₹9,000 mid-range, ₹6,300 on a shoestring.

A real Vietnamese beach city with a 12th-century Cham temple in the middle of town and turquoise coves you can scooter to for ₹100 entry. The town beach is free; the famous coves, Ky Co and Eo Gio, are across the bridge on the Nhon Ly peninsula, easiest by rented scooter. Gate fees there changed twice in 2026, so check at the gate.

Last leg in: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) → Phu Cat (UIH) → Quy Nhon (1 h 5 m + 45 m, about ₹3,200 one way). See the Quy Nhon plan →

2. Kampot & Kep, Cambodia: ₹2,400 a day

Instead of: Sihanoukville & Koh Rong. Best months: Jan–Feb, Dec. Five days on the ground: about ₹12,000 mid-range, ₹6,800 on a shoestring.

A sleepy French-era river town under a misty mountain, pepper farms in the hills, and a seaside crab market twenty-five kilometres down the road. Base yourself in Kampot by the river and day-trip to Kep for crab with fresh green pepper at the market, and a boat to Rabbit Island. Come down Bokor mountain in daylight.

Last leg in: Phnom Penh (KTI) → Phnom Penh city → Kampot (3-4 h, about ₹860 one way). See the Kampot & Kep plan →

3. Siquijor, Philippines: ₹3,500 a day

Instead of: Panglao, Bohol. Best months: Feb–May. Five days on the ground: about ₹17,500 mid-range, ₹10,000 on a shoestring.

A one-loop island of turquoise waterfall pools, quiet sunset beaches and a 19th-century stone church, an hour by fast ferry from Dumaguete. One coast road of about 72 km goes round the whole island. Rent a scooter only if you hold a licence and have ridden before; otherwise hire a tricycle.

Last leg in: Dumaguete (DGT) → Siquijor Port, OceanJet (40–60 min, about ₹630 one way). See the Siquijor plan →

4. Koh Mook, Thailand: ₹3,500 a day

Instead of: Phi Phi. Best months: Jan–Mar, Dec. Five days on the ground: about ₹17,500 mid-range, ₹10,000 on a shoestring.

Swim 80 metres through a pitch-black sea tunnel and come out in a hidden lagoon beach ringed by cliffs. Swim through a dark sea tunnel into the Emerald Cave lagoon. The cave is closed every year from 1 June to 30 September and trips run only at the right tide.

Last leg in: Trang (TST) town or station → Khuan Tung Ku pier → Koh Mook (1 h 30 m-3 h, about ₹1,280 one way). See the Koh Mook plan →

5. Sumba, Indonesia: ₹4,000 a day

Instead of: Bali. Best months: May–Sep. Five days on the ground: about ₹20,000 mid-range, ₹14,000 on a shoestring.

Turquoise lagoons, rolling savanna and villages of towering thatched roofs where the Marapu faith still sets the calendar, an hour's flight from Bali. Public transport barely exists: rent a motorbike or hire a car and driver. The clan villages are living Marapu communities, so cover shoulders and knees and ask before photographing anyone.

Last leg in: Bali (DPS) → Tambolaka (TMC), West Sumba (1 h-1 h 30 m, about ₹5,500 one way). See the Sumba plan →

6. Camiguin, Philippines: ₹4,500 a day

Instead of: Boracay. Best months: Mar–May. Five days on the ground: about ₹22,500 mid-range, ₹10,000 on a shoestring.

A small volcanic island where a white sandbar sits under an active volcano, the springs are cold and hot on the same day, and a whole cemetery lies under the sea. White Island sandbar, a marine sanctuary, waterfalls and a cold and a hot spring on one small island. Fly from Cebu or come via Bohol: the Cagayan de Oro route crosses mainland Mindanao, where UK advice is against all but essential travel.

Last leg in: Cebu (CEB) → Camiguin (CGM), Cebgo direct (1 h, about ₹2,700 one way). See the Camiguin plan →

7. Siargao, Philippines: ₹4,500 a day

Instead of: Boracay. Best months: Feb–Apr. Five days on the ground: about ₹22,500 mid-range, ₹11,000 on a shoestring.

Better waves, a fraction of the resort crowds. Surf Cloud 9 if you can, or learn on the gentler Jacking Horse break. There are only a few ATMs and they run out of cash, so carry backup pesos.

Last leg in: Manila to Sayak Airport (IAO), Siargao (1h40m, about ₹4,500 one way). See the Siargao plan →

8. Flores (Labuan Bajo & Komodo), Indonesia: ₹5,500 a day

Instead of: Bali. Best months: Apr–Oct. Five days on the ground: about ₹27,500 mid-range, ₹12,500 on a shoestring.

Dragons, pink sand, and none of Bali's traffic. Komodo dragons on Rinca and Komodo, Padar's viewpoint and Pink Beach, by boat from Labuan Bajo. Park fees change often and now use an online permit, so check the current fee before you go.

Last leg in: Denpasar (Bali) to Labuan Bajo (LBJ) (1h10m, about ₹4,800 one way). See the Flores (Labuan Bajo & Komodo) plan →

What five days costs in the cheapest one

When to go

The seasons do not line up, which is useful: Kampot & Kep is best Jan–Feb, Dec, Quy Nhon Feb–Apr, and Sumba May–Sep, so one of them is always in season. Sea conditions are what usually spoil a trip: ferries and island boats are cancelled when weather warnings go up, so keep a spare day before an onward flight.

Five ways to keep it cheap

1. Carry local cash. On every one of these islands, boats, gate fees, small guesthouses and food stalls want cash. Siargao has only a few ATMs and they run dry.
2. Book the last leg separately. The Bali to Labuan Bajo flight is cheaper booked on its own.
3. Split per-vehicle prices. A private longtail at Koh Mook or a taxi from Phnom Penh to Kampot is priced for the vehicle; shared between three or four, it costs little more than the bus.
4. Go just outside peak season. Siquijor's rainy months bring cheaper rooms and fewer people.
5. Only ride if you are licensed. A scooter is the cheapest way round most of these islands, but riding without a valid licence can void your travel insurance.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and how we priced this

• Daily costs, routes, fares, fees and seasons: each place's Trip Under page (linked above), built on our cost method. Prices are stored in rupees and shown in your currency at fixed rates.
• Travel advice: UK FCDO pages for Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia, as cited on each place page (checked September to October 2026).
• Flights to each gateway are not included. Check live fares, and the entry rules for your passport, before you book.

Keep reading

Costs come from Trip Under's place data and our cost model (see methodology). They are indicative ballparks for budget travel and move with season and demand. Check live bus, train and room prices before you book. Trip Under is reader-planned, not an agency, and takes no commission on any booking.