Drink a Beer for a Buck: 5 Countries With the Cheapest Suds

Long gone are your college days when you traveled to the nearest fraternity house for a cheap drink.
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After a long day of travel, chances are you'll want a drink; chances are also that you'll be low on cash.

If beer drinking is a priority for you on your travels (and really, who could blame you if it is?), there are certain countries in the world that offer better value than others. Long gone are your college days when you traveled to the nearest fraternity house for a cheap drink. How about traveling to, say, Vietnam instead?

While war-torn Ukraine may not be your first choice of destination at the moment, a typical beer at a restaurant costs about 98 cents, making it the cheapest in the world, according to some sources. Yet its neighboring Eastern and Central European countries also offer plenty of cheap-beer competition.

Ultimately, both Eastern European and Southeast Asian countries rank well on our list of cheapest countries for beer, which is fortunate for you, traveler, given they're also mostly full of up-and-coming travel hotspots.

There are places beer lovers should avoid, though. In Norway, the average beer at a restaurant costs the equivalent of $11.33 (ouch). And in many traditionally Muslim countries in the Middle East and North Africa, when alcohol isn't outright banned, beer prices creep toward $10.

Want to know where you should go to maximize your beer-for-money ratio? We've got you covered.

The prices cited here are the average prices for a beer out at a restaurant, so yes, that means you most likely can find it even cheaper in grocery stores. The following countries were chosen both for the price and availability of their brews.

Myanmar (Burma)
Myanmar, also referred to as Burma, has garnered major attention in the years since opening its borders to tourists just a couple of years ago. Myanmar is teeming with beautiful temples and incredible cuisine, and its beers deserve some attention, too. A pint here will run you $1.Photo Credit: © Flickr / Eric JordanClick Here to see More Countries With the Cheapest Beers
Madagascar
Speaking of islands, beer in Madagascar is also just $1. The ruggedly beautiful country off the eastern coast of Africa is a haven for wildlife lovers, and apparently beer lovers, too.Photo Credit: © Flickr / Chris
Cambodia
Cambodia is yet another Southeast Asian country with both low beer prices ($1) and incredible attractions, most notably the stunning, spectacular Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap (think Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider). The country is sandwiched between Thailand and Vietnam, which makes it a logical — and popular — stop on tours of Southeast Asia.Photo Credit: © Flickr / wonderwonderwordClick Here to see More Countries With the Cheapest Beers
Vietnam
Average price for a pint of beer at a restaurant here? Just 94 cents, although prices dip even lower if you buy from a street stall or supermarket. Not to mention, the Vietnamese won’t judge if you overindulge; in fact, locals here love to chant “one, two, three!” before chugging pints.Photo Credit: © Flickr / lulun & kame
Philippines
Beautiful beaches? Picturesque rice paddies? Insanely cheap beer? Check, check, and check. While the Philippines’ gorgeous island scenery and major cities attracted over 2 million international tourists last year, its beer is worth mentioning, too: just 92 cents at your average restaurant. (Although we think grabbing a pint on a beach is a better idea.)Click Here to see More Countries With the Cheapest BeersPhoto Credit: © Flickr / GEP

-Noelle Mateer, The Daily Meal

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