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Southeast AsiaCost Index

Name: Southeast Asia Cost Index 2026
Creator: Brokepackr

Daily backpacker costs across 72 cities. Data sourced from live hostel pricing, updated weekly.

Cities

Avg daily cost

$17.14

Cheapest

Hue · $9.93

Priciest

Melaka · $51.66

Daily Costs — All Southeast Asia Cities

Budget Tiers

What does your daily budget actually get you? Here's how far your money stretches in this region.

⛺

brokepackr

$15–$22/day

Dorm beds $4–$8, street food meals for $1–$3, and local buses between cities. Laos, Cambodia, and rural Vietnam consistently rank as the cheapest destinations in the region. At this tier, you're eating at market stalls, skipping air conditioning, and moving slowly — but the per-day burn rate is among the lowest anywhere on Earth.

🎒

Comfortable

$20–$35/day

Private rooms in guesthouses, sit-down restaurant meals, the occasional taxi or Grab ride, and enough headroom for a cooking class or temple entry fee. Thailand and Indonesia at this tier offer a quality of life that would cost 3–4x in Western Europe. Bangkok in particular punches well above its price point for food and transit.

✨

Splurge

$35–$55/day

Boutique hostels with pools, mid-range restaurants, and activities like diving or multi-day treks. Singapore skews this tier higher — even budget travelers rarely dip below $40/day there. KL and upscale Bali areas land here too, though both offer sharper value than Singapore on accommodation and food.

Best Months to Go

Hostel prices and flight costs shift with seasons. Green months mean lower prices and thinner crowds.

Jan

Peak dry season

Feb

Dry, shoulder crowds

Mar

Heating up, deals emerge

Apr

Songkran + low demand

May

Off-season begins

Jun

Cheapest month overall

Jul

Early monsoon, mixed pricing

Aug

Monsoon, summer travelers

Sep

Wettest month, low demand

Oct

Late monsoon, prices rising

Nov

Dry season starts

Dec

Holiday peak, highest prices

Budget-friendly

Moderate

Peak pricing

Classic Routes

Well-trodden backpacker corridors with estimated total costs including accommodation, food, and local transport.

The Banana Pancake Trail

The most-traveled backpacker corridor in Southeast Asia. Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train, overland into Laos, then south through Vietnam. Total transport costs stay under $200 if you stick to local buses and overnight trains. The route is well-worn for a reason — infrastructure is solid, visa logistics are straightforward, and per-day costs average $30–$35.

Bangkok→Chiang Mai→Luang Prabang→Hanoi→Ho Chi Minh City

Estimated total

$1,200

4 weeks

Plan this route →

Island Hopping Loop

Beach-focused route connecting Thailand's gulf islands to Bali via a budget flight from Krabi or KL. Diving certification on Koh Tao adds $250–$350 but is among the cheapest in the world. The Bangkok-to-Bali flight is the biggest single expense — book 6–8 weeks out for fares under $100 one-way.

Bangkok→Koh Tao→Koh Phangan→Krabi→Bali

Estimated total

$1,500

3 weeks

Plan this route →

The Full Loop

The comprehensive Southeast Asia circuit covering four countries overland. Cambodia adds Angkor Wat (3-day pass: $62) but keeps daily costs low at $26–$30/day. The loop works in either direction, though Bangkok makes the cheapest entry point for international flights. Budget $25–$30/day average across all four countries.

Bangkok→Siem Reap→Ho Chi Minh City→Hanoi→Luang Prabang→Chiang Mai

Estimated total

$1,800

6 weeks

Plan this route →

All Southeast Asia City Data

#	CITY	DAILY TOTAL▲	HOSTEL/NIGHT↕	FOOD/DAY↕	TRANSPORT↕	ACTIVITIES↕	SAMPLES
1	🇻🇳 HueCheapest	$9.93	$4.47	$2.73	$0.93	$1.80	15
2	🇻🇳 Phong Nha	$10.31	$4.64	$2.84	$0.96	$1.87	10
3	🇮🇩 Yogyakarta	$10.55	$4.75	$2.90	$0.99	$1.91	13
4	🇮🇩 Gili Islands	$11.12	$5.00	$3.06	$1.04	$2.02	11
5	🇮🇩 Lombok	$11.12	$5.00	$3.06	$1.04	$2.02	10
6	🇻🇳 Hoi An	$11.40	$5.13	$3.13	$1.07	$2.07	14
7	🇻🇳 Sapa	$11.71	$5.41	$3.15	$1.07	$2.08	10
8	🇮🇩 Sumatra	$11.95	$4.78	$3.58	$1.22	$2.37	2
9	🇻🇳 Da Nang	$12.00	$5.40	$3.30	$1.12	$2.18	12
10	🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh City	$12.19	$5.49	$3.35	$1.14	$2.21	19
11	🇻🇳 Hanoi	$12.29	$5.53	$3.38	$1.15	$2.23	15
12	🇻🇳 Ninh Binh	$12.29	$5.53	$3.38	$1.15	$2.23	13
13	🇻🇳 Ha Long Bay	$12.38	$5.19	$3.60	$1.22	$2.37	6
14	🇱🇦 Luang Prabang	$12.49	$5.62	$3.43	$1.17	$2.27	12
15	🇱🇦 Don Det	$12.49	$5.62	$3.43	$1.17	$2.27	0
16	🇲🇲 Yangon	$12.63	$5.05	$3.79	$1.29	$2.50	1
17	🇻🇳 Da Lat	$12.71	$5.05	$3.83	$1.30	$2.53	8
18	🇲🇲 Bagan	$12.80	$5.12	$3.84	$1.31	$2.53	1
19	🇹🇭 Chiang Rai	$12.80	$5.76	$3.52	$1.20	$2.32	15
20	🇱🇦 Vang Vieng	$13.30	$5.99	$3.66	$1.24	$2.41	11
21	🇱🇦 Vientiane	$13.40	$6.03	$3.69	$1.25	$2.43	13
22	🇮🇩 Flores	$13.43	$5.37	$4.03	$1.37	$2.66	2
23	🇻🇳 Nha Trang	$13.62	$5.84	$3.89	$1.32	$2.57	4
24	🇹🇭 Pai	$13.65	$6.14	$3.75	$1.28	$2.48	15
25	🇹🇭 Chiang Mai	$14.06	$6.33	$3.87	$1.31	$2.55	14
26	🇰🇭 Battambang	$14.54	$5.82	$4.36	$1.48	$2.88	1
27	🇮🇩 Jakarta	$14.65	$5.41	$4.62	$1.57	$3.05	8
28	🇰🇭 Siem Reap	$14.68	$5.62	$4.53	$1.54	$2.99	13
29	🇮🇩 Canggu	$14.94	$6.72	$4.11	$1.40	$2.71	15
30	🇮🇩 Nusa Penida	$14.94	$5.81	$4.57	$1.55	$3.01	12
31	🇹🇭 Koh Tao	$14.95	$6.73	$4.11	$1.40	$2.71	15
32	🇮🇩 Seminyak	$14.95	$6.01	$4.47	$1.52	$2.95	8
33	🇮🇩 Bali	$14.98	$6.74	$4.12	$1.40	$2.72	48
34	🇮🇩 Ubud	$15.09	$6.79	$4.15	$1.41	$2.74	13
35	🇹🇭 Ayutthaya	$15.22	$6.85	$4.19	$1.42	$2.76	5
36	🇵🇭 Boracay	$15.31	$6.89	$4.21	$1.43	$2.78	6
37	🇹🇭 Koh Phangan	$15.31	$6.89	$4.21	$1.43	$2.78	14
38	🇵🇭 Baguio	$15.40	$6.16	$4.62	$1.57	$3.05	1
39	🇵🇭 Siargao	$15.47	$6.96	$4.25	$1.45	$2.81	11
40	🇲🇾 Cameron Highlands	$16.02	$7.57	$4.22	$1.44	$2.79	9
41	🇹🇭 Koh Phi Phi	$16.34	$7.35	$4.49	$1.53	$2.97	15
42	🇹🇭 Krabi	$16.34	$7.35	$4.49	$1.53	$2.97	15
43	🇹🇭 Koh Lanta	$16.44	$7.40	$4.52	$1.54	$2.98	15
44	🇲🇾 Langkawi	$16.54	$7.44	$4.55	$1.55	$3.00	12
45	🇲🇾 Penang	$17.35	$7.81	$4.77	$1.62	$3.15	10
46	🇵🇭 Dumaguete	$17.51	$8.03	$4.74	$1.61	$3.13	5
47	🇵🇭 Cebu	$17.52	$8.70	$4.41	$1.50	$2.91	16
48	🇵🇭 Bohol	$17.52	$7.88	$4.82	$1.64	$3.18	13
49	🇰🇭 Kampot	$17.88	$5.80	$6.04	$2.05	$3.99	10
50	🇹🇭 Bangkok	$17.93	$8.07	$4.93	$1.68	$3.25	14
51	🇵🇭 Coron	$18.21	$8.19	$5.01	$1.70	$3.31	15
52	🇵🇭 El Nido	$18.21	$8.19	$5.01	$1.70	$3.31	15
53	🇵🇭 Puerto Princesa	$18.21	$8.19	$5.01	$1.70	$3.31	10
54	🇹🇼 Kaohsiung	$18.47	$8.31	$5.08	$1.73	$3.35	7
55	🇰🇭 Koh Rong	$19.16	$8.62	$5.27	$1.79	$3.48	17
56	🇹🇼 Hualien	$19.23	$8.65	$5.29	$1.80	$3.49	5
57	🇰🇭 Sihanoukville	$19.24	$9.06	$5.09	$1.73	$3.36	4
58	🇰🇭 Phnom Penh	$19.71	$6.77	$6.47	$2.20	$4.27	13
59	🇲🇾 Kota Kinabalu	$20.04	$9.02	$5.51	$1.87	$3.64	9
60	🇵🇭 Manila	$20.21	$9.09	$5.56	$1.89	$3.67	11
61	🇹🇼 Taichung	$20.51	$9.23	$5.64	$1.92	$3.72	7
62	🇹🇭 Koh Samui	$21.17	$9.53	$5.82	$1.98	$3.84	15
63	🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur	$21.21	$10.57	$5.32	$1.81	$3.51	13
64	🇹🇼 Taipei	$24.48	$11.02	$6.73	$2.29	$4.44	14
65	🇯🇵 Osaka	$25.52	$11.48	$7.02	$2.39	$4.63	13
66	🇹🇭 Phuket	$25.85	$11.63	$7.11	$2.42	$4.69	15
67	🇰🇷 Seoul	$26.33	$11.85	$7.24	$2.46	$4.78	14
68	🇯🇵 Tokyo	$26.51	$11.93	$7.29	$2.48	$4.81	15
69	🇭🇰 Hong Kong	$30.78	$13.85	$8.46	$2.88	$5.59	13
70	🇯🇵 Kyoto	$31.74	$14.28	$8.73	$2.97	$5.76	14
71	🇸🇬 Singapore	$32.91	$14.81	$9.05	$3.08	$5.97	15
72	🇲🇾 Melaka	$51.66	$8.61	$21.52	$7.32	$14.21	8

62 more cities behind the curtain

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to backpack Southeast Asia per day?

Daily costs range from $20–$25 in Laos to $70 in Singapore. The regional average is $30–$35/day, covering a hostel dorm bed, three meals, local transport, and one activity. Thailand and Vietnam sit in the middle at $28–$38/day.

What is the cheapest country in Southeast Asia for backpackers?

Laos consistently ranks cheapest, with daily totals of $20–$25 including accommodation, food, and transport. Cambodia is close behind at $26–$30/day. Myanmar was similarly cheap before 2021, but tourist access has been severely limited since the military coup. Vietnam offers the best value-to-infrastructure ratio at $25–$30/day — costs are low but tourist services are well developed.

When is the cheapest time to visit Southeast Asia?

May through June and September are the cheapest months. Hostel prices drop 15–25% during monsoon season as tourism slows. January and February are dry season peak — prices are highest, especially around Chinese New Year. December holidays spike prices everywhere.

How are the daily cost figures in this index calculated?

We aggregate live hostel dorm prices from thousands of properties, then add surveyed averages for street food meals, local transport, and one paid activity per day. Data refreshes monthly. Flight costs are tracked separately as round-trip estimates from major US hubs.