Southeast Asia Budget Per Day: Real Numbers by Country

The actual numbers, country by country

Generic “Southeast Asia is cheap” claims are useless. Here are the real daily budget numbers for budget, mid-range, and comfortable travel in each major destination.

Thailand

Budget (hostel, local food, public transport): $30–45/day. Mid-range (private room, mix of restaurants): $60–90/day. Comfortable: $100–150/day. Bangkok and islands are most expensive; Chiang Mai and smaller cities notably cheaper.

Vietnam

Budget: $25–40/day. Mid-range: $50–80/day. Still one of Southeast Asia’s best value destinations when eating local. Ha Long Bay cruises and tourist restaurants push costs up significantly if you’re not careful.

Bali (Indonesia)

Budget: $35–55/day. Mid-range: $70–110/day. The Canggu tourist bubble dramatically inflates costs. Staying in local areas and eating at warungs brings the budget down to genuine Southeast Asia territory.

Cambodia

Budget: $25–35/day. Mid-range: $50–70/day. Still among the cheapest in the region, though Angkor entry fees (foreigners: $37–72) add a significant one-time cost to the Cultural Triangle portion of any itinerary.

Laos

Budget: $25–40/day. Mid-range: $50–80/day. Genuinely cheap and getting more traveler-friendly. Luang Prabang is slightly more expensive than the rest of the country.

Singapore

Budget: SGD 80–100/day ($60–75). Mid-range: SGD 150–250/day. Not cheap by regional standards, but hawker centre food and the MRT keep daily costs lower than comparable world cities.