Introduction
The life of a digital nomad offers unparalleled freedom, but it creates a recurring challenge: How do you meet up with friends, family, or remote colleagues without blowing your budget on flights?
When you and your travel companion are starting from two different nomadic bases (say, Bali and Chiang Mai) you can't rely on standard search engines. You need to find a central, cost-effective meeting point that minimizes the travel cost for both of you.
Southeast Asia is the global capital of budget travel, offering the perfect solution. We've used the 2025 OAG LCC Megahub data to pinpoint the best airports for maximum budget flight options combined with a low cost of living, bringing you the 7 best destinations for affordable, efficient meetups.
The secret to finding the savings: why Southeast Asia’s LCC hubs win
Southeast Asia’s budget flight network is intense. Carriers like AirAsia, Scoot, and VietJet aggressively compete on price, turning key airports into hyper-efficient, low-cost hubs.
To find the best deal, you need to search like a pro. Forget traditional flight comparison sites; they often can't handle dual-origin searches. You need a tool like Betweengs, which instantly compares flights from both of your cities to the following LCC Megahubs, ensuring you capture the most competitive two-way price.
The 7 essential Southeast Asian LCC destinations
These destinations are confirmed as the strongest LCC hubs in the region and provide the ultimate blend of low flight costs and high travel value—perfect for meeting your nomadic or remote friends.
1. Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Malaysia
Things to do
- Enjoy excellent co-working spaces
- Explore the iconic Petronas twin towers
- Feast on world-class Malaysian and Indian street food
Ready to test it? Check flight prices from your two origins on Betweengs.
2. Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK), Thailand
Things to do
- Spend a few days exploring Bangkok's temples and street food scene
- Enjoy the city's robust network of coffee shops and remote work facilities
3. Singapore Changi (SIN), Singapore
Things to do
- Enjoy the stunning Gardens by the Bay
- Network in world-class facilities
- Use the city’s perfect public transport
4. Manila Ninoy Aquino (MNL), Philippines
Things to do
- Explore the historic walled city of Intramuros
- Use Manila as a low-cost springboard to the stunning beaches of Palawan
5. Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai (DPS), Indonesia
Things to do
- Excellent co-working cafes
- Stunning scenery
- The chance to enjoy surfing or yoga with your visitor
6. Ho Chi Minh City Tan Son Nhat (SGN), Vietnam
Things to do
- Dive into the thrilling street life and food of SGN
- Take a cheap, quick flight up to the coffee plantations in the central highlands for a more relaxed setting
7. Secondary LCC Hub: Chiang Mai (CNX), Thailand
Things to do
- Known for its excellent co-working community
- Low cost of living
- Beautiful temples and relaxed pace
- It’s the perfect spot for a productive, yet affordable, friend meetup
Nomad pro-tip: the secret weapon is broad flexible date searching
The most expensive travel days globally are Friday and Sunday. As a digital nomad, you have the flexibility to avoid them entirely, and you absolutely should.
The secret weapon of the savvy remote traveler is broad flexible date searching. Instead of manually checking flights around a specific weekend, use a broad search window (e.g., the entire month) to let your tool find the absolute cheapest combination of dates.
Sometimes, a Tuesday-to-Tuesday trip is hundreds of dollars cheaper than a Saturday-to-Saturday one. By prioritizing the cheapest flight rather than the most convenient day, you can maximize your savings. That money saved on flights is money spent on your meetup experience.
Use Betweengs’ flexible date search option. A small change in your travel window might mean the difference between a cheap flight and an expensive one: that’s money saved that can be spent on a delicious meal or a weekend trip together.
Ready to stop working out logistics and start meeting?
The cheapest flights and most affordable meeting points are waiting. Stop the manual searches and the frustrating tab-juggling.
Skip the high-cost hubs and find your perfect budget-friendly destination with Betweengs right now.