Southeast Asia · Travel budgets
Cost of backpacking Southeast Asia: daily and monthly budgets
A cheap hostel bed is only one part of the trip. Your route, transport days and the experiences you want to book matter just as much. Here’s how to put together a budget that leaves room to enjoy being there.
Updated 26 October 2026 · All planning budgets are in Australian dollars (AUD), per person, unless stated otherwise.
A practical starting budget
A$50–80 a day
A$1,500–2,400 for 30 days on a mostly mainland backpacking route: dorms, local meals, shared transport and modest sightseeing.
Add international flights, insurance, visas, major activities and a separate emergency reserve. Budget more for Singapore, frequent flights, private rooms and island hopping.
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How much to budget per day in each country
Use these as planning allowances, not guaranteed prices. They assume a solo traveller using dorm beds, mostly local meals, public or shared transport and a modest allowance for sightseeing. The lower end needs slower travel and fewer paid activities; private rooms and fast itineraries need more.
| Destination | Per day | Seven days | Allow extra for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vietnam | A$40–65 | A$280–455 | Overnight cruises, guided motorbike trips and domestic flights. |
| Cambodia | A$40–65 | A$280–455 | Angkor admission, a driver or guide, and island transfers. |
| Laos | A$40–65 | A$280–455 | Rail tickets, station transfers and organised excursions. |
| Thailand | A$50–85 | A$350–595 | Southern islands, diving, nightlife and holiday dates. |
| Indonesia outside Bali | A$45–70 | A$315–490 | Long distances, inter-island flights and guided treks. |
| Bali | A$60–100 | A$420–700 | Popular beach areas, cafés, private transport and boat trips. |
| Philippines | A$60–95 | A$420–665 | Flights, ferries, boat tours and weather-related changes. |
| Malaysia | A$50–80 | A$350–560 | Island stays and Borneo wildlife or trekking trips. |
| Singapore | A$110–180 | A$770–1,260 | Accommodation and paid attractions. |
Check accommodation for your actual dates before choosing the bottom of a range. A few peak-season nights, a festival or a small island with limited beds can change the whole week. For a second comparison, Hostelz’s regional budget breakdown shows how hostel-based travel costs differ across the region.
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos: start with the mainland
These are useful places to build a slower trip around local meals and budget accommodation. But “cheap country” does not mean every day is cheap. In Vietnam, for example, a half-day tour can cost more than several street-food meals and a hostel night combined. The Vietnam Tourism money guide gives useful local-price examples.
In Cambodia, put Angkor in its own budget line: admission is only part of the day once you add transport, food and possibly a guide. Choose your pass through Angkor Enterprise before finalising that part of the trip.
Thailand and Malaysia: the route changes the price
A city-and-mainland itinerary is a different budget from beaches, diving and frequent transfers. In Thailand, compare your island nights separately from your northern stops. In Malaysia, keep a separate allowance for Borneo excursions or an island stay instead of expecting a city budget to cover them.
Indonesia and the Philippines: count the transfers
Look at the cost of getting between islands before adding another stop. A flight or boat ticket can also mean a taxi to the departure point, baggage charges and a night near the terminal. In Bali, compare areas and accommodation carefully; a café-heavy beach trip will not look like a simple guesthouse-and-local-food itinerary elsewhere in Indonesia.
Singapore: budget it as a separate city stop
Keep Singapore’s daily allowance separate from the rest of your route. Public transport and hawker meals help, but a few nights of accommodation can noticeably raise your average. If your budget is tight, price the stay before deciding how many days to include.
One, two or three months: what should you save?
For a mostly mainland trip, multiply your days by A$50–80, then add the costs that do not fit neatly into a daily allowance. A “month” in the table means 30 days.
| Trip length | A$50/day | A$65/day | A$80/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 days | A$1,500 | A$1,950 | A$2,400 |
| 60 days | A$3,000 | A$3,900 | A$4,800 |
| 90 days | A$4,500 | A$5,850 | A$7,200 |
| 180 days | A$9,000 | A$11,700 | A$14,400 |
For 90 days at A$65 a day, start with A$5,850 for everyday travel. That is not the total amount to save. Get quotes for the extras before treating the trip as funded. If you want mostly private rooms, frequent nightlife or lots of islands, work upwards from the country table rather than forcing the route into A$65.
What does A$65 a day actually cover?
This is an example spending plan, not a claim that each item costs the same everywhere. Think in weekly averages: a quiet day can balance a transport day.
| Dorm bed | A$22 |
|---|---|
| Meals and drinking water | A$18 |
| Transport allowance | A$10 |
| Modest sightseeing | A$8 |
| Laundry, data and small extras | A$7 |
| Total | A$65 |
Regular drinking, shopping, diving courses and major tours need more room. If you spend a whole day’s activity allowance on one ticket, adjust the rest of the week or increase the budget.
Accommodation: compare the whole stay
Check the final price, location, air conditioning, lockers, recent cleanliness reviews and cancellation terms. A cheaper bed far from the places you want to visit may cost more once you add rides. For two people, compare two dorm beds with one private room; for a solo traveller, the entire private-room price is yours.
Compare hostel prices for your dates
Food and drink: choose your everyday habits
Local eateries, markets and simple breakfasts can keep food spending manageable. Café breakfasts, imported snacks, delivery fees and nights out add up even when each purchase feels small. Decide what you enjoy enough to spend on, then make the cheaper option your default for the rest.
Transport: price the journey door to door
Compare the fare plus baggage, terminal transfers and any extra overnight stay. A sleeper bus or train may replace a hostel night, but check arrival times and whether you will want a room when you arrive. Avoid adding a flight just because its headline fare looks low.
Compare buses, trains and ferries
For the flight into the region, use the guide to finding Southeast Asia flights from Australia. Keep that cost separate from your daily travel budget.
A worked 30-day budget: Thailand, Laos and Vietnam
Here is how a mixed route changes the calculation. Adjust these daily allowances to match your accommodation and travel plans.
- 10 days in Thailand × A$70 = A$700
- 7 days in Laos × A$55 = A$385
- 13 days in Vietnam × A$60 = A$780
Everyday travel total: A$1,865, or about A$62 a day. Set aside a further 15% planning cushion—about A$280—for ordinary price variation, bringing this part of the budget to about A$2,145.
Then add the actual quotes for international flights, insurance, visas and any major experience you want, such as an overnight cruise. The daily allowance includes some transport money: if your booked transport costs more than that allowance, add the difference rather than counting the full fare twice. Keep emergency funds separate from the 15% cushion.
The costs to add before you book
- Entry requirements: check each destination for your passport, dates and entry point. Include visas, extensions and mandatory visitor charges where applicable. Start with Smartraveller’s destination advice and follow its official immigration links.
- Travel insurance: get a quote for the whole trip, destinations and activities. Read exclusions, excesses and medical cover rather than choosing on price alone. MoneySmart’s insurance guide explains what to compare.
- Major activities: list the experiences you would regret missing and price them individually. Check whether tickets include transfers, meals, equipment, park fees and cancellation options.
- Preparation: passport renewal if needed, luggage, suitable footwear, medication and any health appointments.
- Home expenses: rent, subscriptions, storage and repayments do not necessarily stop while you travel.
Budget your mobile data for the whole route
A regional eSIM is convenient, but separate country plans can cost less. Use the multi-country eSIM calculator to compare selected Airalo and Saily plans for your countries, days and data needs. Its prices are in USD, so convert them to AUD before adding them to this budget.
For more help choosing, read the Southeast Asia eSIM guide.
Cash, travel cards and ATM fees
Carry a main card, a backup kept separately and enough local cash for smaller purchases. Cash is useful for street stalls, markets and places where card payment is unavailable; avoid carrying your entire trip budget in one wallet.
Check your card’s overseas transaction fees, currency-conversion charges and withdrawal allowance. An ATM operator can charge its own fee even when your bank does not. Compare withdrawal sizes without taking out more cash than you can store safely.
When offered a charge in AUD or local currency, compare the conversion terms carefully; paying in local currency generally lets your card provider handle the exchange. Use the travel-card fee calculator on MoneyHackHQ to estimate fees for your spending and withdrawals.
How to spend less without stripping the fun out
- Choose fewer stops. Longer stays reduce transfer days and arrival costs. A month in two countries can give you more time and budget than rushing through six.
- Book the expensive parts first. Check island beds, holiday dates and must-do tours before filling in the rest of the itinerary.
- Give yourself a weekly activity budget. Save for the experience you really want instead of booking every optional excursion.
- Compare private rooms as a pair. Splitting a room may improve comfort without doubling your accommodation spend.
- Track all spending for the first week. If your A$65 target becomes A$85, adjust early. That A$20 difference becomes A$600 over 30 days.
For the wider planning checklist, read the first-time backpacking guide.
Southeast Asia budget questions
Is A$1,500 enough for a month in Southeast Asia?
It gives you A$50 a day. That can suit a slow mainland route using dorms, local meals and limited paid activities. It is a tight target for an island-heavy trip, regular private rooms or Singapore. Flights, visas, insurance and an emergency reserve still need separate funding.
How much should I save for three months?
At A$50–80 a day, everyday travel costs come to A$4,500–7,200 for 90 days. Add your flight and insurance quotes, entry costs, major activities, home expenses and emergency funds. A$5,850 is the midpoint daily-budget example, not an all-inclusive savings target.
Which country is cheapest?
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are useful starting points for a low-cost mainland itinerary. There is no universal winner: your accommodation, transport pace and paid activities can matter more than small differences between countries.
Is it cheaper to travel as a couple?
Sharing rooms and some transfers can lower the per-person cost. Meals, tickets, flights and many tours are still charged per person. Compare the actual room price against two dorm beds before assuming a private room is cheaper.
Should I book everything before leaving?
Book your arrival accommodation and time-sensitive parts of the route first. Keep flexibility where there is plenty of availability, but check prices earlier for public holidays, festivals and small islands. Flexible cancellation terms can be worth paying a little more for.
Can I reduce the budget by skipping insurance or renting a scooter?
Do not treat either as a simple saving. Insurance needs to suit your itinerary and activities. Before riding, check local licensing requirements and the policy’s motorcycle conditions; a rental shop handing over keys does not establish that you are licensed or covered.
Your booking checklist
- Choose your route and number of nights in each place.
- Check hostel prices on the actual dates.
- Add transport, visa, insurance and major-activity quotes.
- Compare your mobile-data and travel-card costs.
- Keep a planning cushion and an emergency reserve.