Southeast Asia is the perfect destination for backpackers on a budget. From affordable accommodation, cheap food, and low-priced transportation, it’s no wonder Southeast Asia is the most popular backpacker region. Here’s your Southeast Asia budget guide for travelling in 2024.
Spend your days relaxing by the beach, eating $2 noodles and renting snorkel gear for only a few more dollars. There’s plenty of free activities to enjoy to make your budget stretch further whilst backpacking.
So, you may be wondering how to budget for Southeast Asia and in this guide we’ll go through all the travel costs involved!
We share our personal travel costs, how much things generally cost in each country and a Southeast Asia backpacking budget for you to follow.
We’ll be writing this guide referring to US Dollars $, but feel free to convert any costs on a currency converter.
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How much to budget for a Southeast Asia Backpacking trip
We recommend having at least $1,100 per month for your Southeast Asia budget – which is about $36 a day. You’ll be able to save on costs if you’re travelling as a couple or with friends.
This budget starts the day you land in Southeast Asia to cover accommodation, food, activities, souvenirs and transport costs within the region. To meet this budget you’ll need to:
- Stay in low-budget accommodations, mostly hostels (or guest rooms if you’re not solo)
- Eat local food
- Taking night buses and trains over flights when possible
- Limit your alcohol
- More low-cost activities
Note – The cost of travelling is getting higher with living costs going up around the world. There’s always going to be someone saying they did their Southeast Asia trip cheaper, but if that person visited years ago, prices have 100% changed since then.
If you’d like to stay in a few nicer hotels or if you have a lot of activities planned (such as diving) you should estimate spending $1100-1500 per month in Southeast Asia.
Backpacking Southeast Asia Budget: Pre-Travel Expenses
When planning a budget for Southeast Asia, you might forget all the pre-travel expenses. These can add up! Start working out how much this area will cost you, so you can prepare to save enough money for travelling. These include:
- Return Flights $$$
- Travel Insurance $
- Vaccines $
- Travel Gear $
We use Skyscanner to check the prices of flights and then book directly with the airline avoiding any third-party websites.
Safetywing is a flexible backpacker insurance that covers us for any emergency medical bills when abroad. It’s $45 a month per person.
If you haven’t had any travel vaccinations yet, you should think about getting some before travelling. The most recommended vaccinations to get for backpacking in Southeast Asia are Cholera, Diphtheria, Polio, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis & Rabies.
You may be able to get some for free (some are free in the UK).
As for travel gear, you’ll need a backpack, a power bank, a universal travel adaptor, a water bottle and the right clothes! Make sure you have enough money saved for these items in your Southeast Asia backpacking budget. Have a look at our Southeast Asia packing list for more details!
Our Southeast Asia Backpacking Costs for Pre-Travel Expenses
- Vaccinations – $250 each
- Return flights – From the UK they are $500-$800 (we often buy them both one-way)
- Travel Insurance (with extra gadget cover) – $110 (3.5 months of travel)
- Travel Gear – We spent about $80 each on various travel items
- International Driving License – $7 each (in the UK)
In total, this cost around $1,000. This may seem like a scary start to your budget for Southeast Asia but it’s the areas of travelling that people don’t talk about as often.
Average Backpacking Budget in Southeast Asia
So with the average backpacking budget in Southeast Asia being at least $1,100 per month, there’s a few more reasons why this can vary. Each country in the region has slightly different travel costs.
Based on our own experience and speaking to others, these are the average daily travel costs when travelling in Southeast Asia on a budget. These estimates don’t include pre-travel costs for Southeast Asia.
- Thailand – $45
- Myanmar – $40
- Cambodia – $40
- Vietnam – $35
- Laos – $35
- Malaysia – $35
- Singapore – $60
- Indonesia – $40
- The Philippines – $50
This Southeast Asia budget is a guide for you to follow, you may spend more and you may spend less. Be prepared and have extra money in case you run out of money! Read our tips on how to save money for travel here!
This is assuming you’ll be taking buses instead of flying unless you’re travelling a long distance.
Add flying within Southeast Asia to your Budget:
You’ll have to fly to get to Indonesia and the Philippines. Here’s a few flight routes we’ve taken during our time in Southeast Asia. Krabi – Manila / Manila – Cebu / Cebu – Coron / El Nido – Manila / Kuala Lumpur – Bali.
These flights can cost anywhere from $30 – $100 and sometimes even more. It’s best to book in advance to get the best prices!
Add Visa’s to your Southeast Asia Budget:
Depending on which passport you hold, you may have to pay for visas to enter some countries in Southeast Asia.
Some visas can cost around $50 in Southeast Asia, so double-check before you visit that country. That’s almost 2 days of budget!
Southeast Asia Budget: Country Breakdown
So the average Southeast Asia backpacker’s budget is around $1,100 per month. But, different countries have different prices. Here’s a breakdown of the average Southeast Asia backpacking costs for countries on the backpacker route.
Countries in Southeast Asia – Brunei, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
We are not including Timor-Leste and Brunei in this backpacking budget guide, however, we estimate $40 a day if you’re planning a visit.
Thailand – Budget in Southeast Asia
We’ve visited Thailand the most out of the Southeast Asia countries and spent a long time in the Thai Islands, staying on incredible islands filled with nature.
Thailand is one of the most popular backpacker destinations in the world and for good reason. The country is incredible, from the turquoise water to its incredible Thai cuisine, it’s hard not to fall in love with Thailand when you visit. Here’s our 1 month Thailand itinerary.
The Thai Islands are more expensive than the North of Thailand, simply because they’re more popular. Accommodation on Koh Phi Phi was the highest we saw in Thailand, even for hostels!
💰 Average Budget in Thailand – $45 a day
Here’s a rough breakdown of travel costs in Thailand:
- Basic room or hostel dorm: $8-14
- Local Food: $2-4
- Western Meal: $5-8
- Activities: $5
- Ferries: $25
- Long bus journeys: $15
- PADI Open Water Diver: $280 (or $60 for a day of diving)
👉 Book transport here on 12.Go!
Myanmar – Budget in Southeast Asia
Note – There is currently a civil war happening in Myanmar. Your home country may advise not to travel here at the moment.
Myanmar is a beautiful country filled with the most breathtaking temples. The country isn’t big on toursim, so it still feels off the beaten track.
Although Myanmar is not on the main backpacker trail, it’s still a budget-friendly destination to visit Southeast Asia on a budget.
The first upfront cost of visiting Myanmar is the $50 visa entry. It’s one of the most expensive visas to get in the Southeast Asia region. However, the costs once you’re in the country aren’t too different from Thailand.
💰 Average Budget in Myanmar – $40 a day
Here’s a rough breakdown of travel costs in Myanmar:
- Basic room or hostel dorm: $5-13
- Local Food: $1-3
- Western Meal: $7
- Activities: $8
- Long bus journeys: $10
- Temple price: Mostly free
- Mandalay sightseeing tour: $75
- Myanmar Visa: $50
Cambodia – Budget in Southeast Asia
Cambodia is an underrated country with impressive beaches, viewpoints and temples. The most popular reason to visit is to see the famous Angkor Wat Complex. Give your 1 or 2 weeks in Cambodia to see the highlights.
Overall, the costs in Cambodia may be slightly more expensive than Thailand and Vietnam due to using US Dollars as its main currency. You may receive change in Cambodian Riel but notes are only in US Dollars.
The most expensive part of your Cambodia trip will be a ticket to Angkor Wat Complex. It’s totally worth it though as the temples are incredible. Pre-book Angkor Wat tickets here!
💰 Average Budget in Cambodia – $40 a day
Here’s a rough breakdown of travel costs in Cambodia:
- Basic room or hostel dorm: $7-10
- Local Food: $2-4
- Western Meal: $8
- Activities: $8
- Long bus journeys: $13
- Angkor Wat Complex: from $37
👉 Book transport here on 12.Go!
Vietnam – Budget in Southeast Asia
Vietnam is the best country to travel on a budget in Southeast Asia. From cheap night buses to $3 hostels and $1 street food, your money will stretch far when travelling the country.
We spent a month catching night buses from the North to the South of Vietnam and it was the cheapest country we travelled to! We stayed in a mix of hostels and private rooms as a couple and ate a lot of good food!
One of the must-do things in Vietnam is a Ha Long Bay cruise! We found a cheaper alternative from Cat Ba Island but only did a day trip around the beautiful islands.
💰 Average Budget in Vietnam – $35 a day
Here’s a rough breakdown of travel costs in Vietnam:
- Basic room or hostel dorm: $5-10
- Local Food: $1-3
- Western Meal: $6
- Activities: $5
- Long bus journeys: $10
- Ha Long Bay Cruise Overnight: from $90 – $200
💤 Book your hotels here
🛌 Check out hostels here
Laos – Budget in Southeast Asia
Laos is another underrated gem in Southeast Asia and is perfect for those travelling on a budget. The country is filled with luscious mountains, forests and incredible waterfalls.
It’s slightly cheaper than Vietnam, which makes it one of the cheapest places to travel in Southeast Asia on a budget.
The main currency is Laotian Kip, but US Dollars and Thai Baht are accepted throughout Laos. It’s worth having US Dollars before you arrive in the country!
When travelling on a budget in Laos, you’ll most likely be taking buses and river ferries! They do take a while to get around – especially if you’re entering from Thailand or Vietnam, but it’s much cheaper than flying.
💰 Average Budget in Laos – $35 a day
Here’s a rough breakdown of travel costs in Laos:
- Basic room or hostel dorm: $5-10
- Local Food: $1-3
- Western Meal: $5
- Activities: $5
- Long bus journeys: $16
- Laos Visa: $50
👉 Book transport here on 12.Go!
Malaysia – Budget in Southeast Asia
The country of Malaysia is split up between the mainland, the islands and Borneo. It’s joined by Singapore on one side and Thailand on the other, making it the perfect country to travel through on a budget without flying.
Malaysia is one of our favourite countries in Southeast Asia as the country is so varied! You can explore the hustle of Kuala Lumpur, sip tea in the Cameron Highlands and relax on white sand beaches in Langkawi.
The budget for travelling around Borneo will be slightly different to the mainland of Malaysia. You’ll just have to increase the prices slightly as you’ll have to fly to get there.
💰 Average Budget in Malaysia – $35 a day
Here’s a rough breakdown of travel costs in Malaysia:
- Basic room or hostel dorm: $7-10
- Local Food: $1-4
- Western Meal: $6
- Activities: $6
- Long bus journeys: $12
Check out our 2 week Malaysia itinerary!
Singapore – Budget in Southeast Asia
Singapore is the most expensive country in Southeast Asia but that doesn’t mean you can’t travel there on a budget. The most famous attraction in Singapore is free and there are cheap hawker centres all around the city.
Gardens by the Bay is a bucket list destination and they don’t charge for entry to walk around. However, there is an entry fee for the cloud forest and walking bridge – Find tickets here.
Hawker centres are inside food halls with various vendors selling cheap local food!
The main thing that’s hard to avoid in Singapore is the higher price of accommodation. Unless you have free accommodation (house-sitting or couch-surfing), you’ll be spending at least $20 a night for a bed.
💰 Average Budget in Singapore – $60 a day
Here’s a rough breakdown of travel costs in Singapore:
- Basic room or hostel dorm: $20-30
- Local Food: $3-7
- Western Meal: $10
- Activities: $15
- Transport: $2
👉 Book transport here on 12.Go!
Indonesia – Budget in Southeast Asia
Although Indonesia is a huge country, most travellers only visit Bali. We have yet to explore the rest of the beautiful islands but we did fall in love with the Indonesian cuisine.
The Gili Islands are some of the most relaxing and fun islands we’ve ever visited! The local food is cheap and the accommodation is well-priced, considering how popular Bali is to visit.
Whether you stick to exploring Bali in 3 weeks or adventure around the country, Indonesia is an affordable country to visit and you’ll have no problem sticking to your Southeast Asia budget (unless you party too much)!
💰 Average Budget in Indonesia – $40 a day
Here’s a rough breakdown of travel costs in Indonesia:
- Basic room or hostel dorm: $7-10
- Local Food: $2-3
- Western Meal: $8
- Activities: $5
- Transport: $5
- Ferries: $20
💤 Book your hotels here
🛌 Check out hostels here
The Philippines – Budget in Southeast Asia
With more than 7,600 islands in the Philippines, it’s safe to say the Philippines is a big country to explore.
The main expense of travelling in the Philippines is the flight prices. Some long ferries can take you from Manila to Cebu or Coron, however they do take a lot longer. They’re an option if you’re travelling Southeast Asia on a budget.
Our tip for sticking to a budget is to pick two to three regions to travel to in the Philippines so that you can minimize on flights. For example, fly into Cebu, from there fly to El Nido and then fly to Manila before leaving the country on another flight.
Another reason for upping the budget for the Philippines is the island hopping tours will generally cost around $20 and they’re a main attraction for visiting El Nido and Coron.
Check out our 3 weeks in the Philippines itinerary!
💰 Average Budget in the Philippines – $50 a day
Here’s a rough breakdown of travel costs in the Philippines:
- Basic room or hostel dorm: $8-12
- Local Food: $2-3
- Western Meal: $8
- Activities: $20
- Ferries: $25
👉 Book transport here on 12.Go!
How the length of your trip changes your Southeast Asia Budget
If you’re travelling Southeast Asia for 1 month, you’ll spend a higher price overall as you’ll still need to pay for the same pre-travel costs.
It’s also likely that when travelling for a shorter period, you want to spend more on activities as you won’t be able to do them in a few weeks compared to someone staying longer.
When travelling for more than a month, we tend to stick to a tighter budget so we’re not splurging every day. Other backpackers try to travel for as long as possible!
How much to budget for 3 months in Southeast Asia
When spending multiple months in Southeast Asia you’ll want to use the average monthly backpacker budget ($1100) and times it by the amount of months you’re travelling for.
- $1100 a month x 3 = $3,300
- Pre-Travel expenses = $1,000
- Emergency expenses = $500
If you are travelling to a lot of different islands in the Philippines or around Southeast Asia in general, add an extra $200 to your budget.
This total is around $4,300 – $4500 for 3 months in Southeast Asia per person. Add on $500 for emergency spending and you could be spending almost $5k.
Our Southeast Asia Backpacking Costs:
We’ve been on two backpacking trips to Southeast Asia on a budget and we’ve learnt a lot of tips from spending almost 1 year in the region.
Our biggest tip is to always have extra money in your budget plan! Although Southeast Asia is a budget-friendly destination, we’ve been caught out a few times, especially in the Philippines. Flights aren’t always cheap in Southeast Asia if you don’t book in advance.
We spent $100 each on a plane ticket from El Nido to Manila as we had a flight out of the country. It was quite a big chunk out of our backpacking budget at the time!
On our first Southeast Asia trip, we spent 3.5 months travelling around Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and we also took a trip to Japan.
That trip (including all flights) came to $8,840 for two people.
During our most recent 7 month trip to Southeast Asia, we found the prices of food and transport had increased. We managed to travel on a budget as we based ourselves in Thailand for 2 months and travelled slower.
This is the key to saving money whilst travelling on a budget.
How much to budget for 1 month in Southeast Asia
- $1100 a month x 1 = $1,100
- Pre-Travel expenses = $1,000
- Emergency expenses = $500
This total is around $2,100 for 1 month in Southeast Asia per person. Add on $500 for emergency spending and you might spend almost $2,600k.
This budget sounds like a lot for 1 Month in Southeast Asia, but most of $800 of that is dedicated to return flights. This is the reality of travelling for shorter periods of time, but it’ll be an incredible 1 month trip.
Here’s our guide on how to save more money for travelling!
Backpacking Southeast Asia Budget Tips
- You’ll spend less money if you travel slower and don’t visit as many destinations.
- If you spent 3 months in one country, you’re Southeast Asia budget will be a lot smaller.
- Eat local food (western food now and again)
- Avoid flights if there’s an alternative option
- Avoid expensive hotels
Remember to pack light! Use our Southeast Asia packing guide to plan your clothes!
Southeast Asia Budget Overview
Overall, we hope this guide helps you plan your Southeast Asia budget. The region is one of the most affordable places to travel in the world for a backpacker. Just make sure you save enough money to travel, respect the locals and have a great time!
💤 Book your hotels here!
🛌 Check out hostels here!
👉 Book transport here on 12.Go!
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