Backpacker Cost Index · Updated 10 November 2026
Backpacker Cost Index 2026: Daily Budgets for 20+ Countries
What a normal backpacking day costs in 21 countries, in your own currency: a dorm or simple guesthouse, local food, local transport and a few paid sights.
Short answer: Laos, Nepal, India, Vietnam and Cambodia are the cheapest places to backpack right now. Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia cost a little more but are the easiest first trips. Japan, Italy, Croatia and New Zealand need the most careful budget.
Flights, visas and insurance aren’t included. Neither are big one-off activities such as diving courses, safaris or multi-day treks.
Daily backpacker budgets by country
Each range runs from a careful day (dorm, street food, walking) to a normal social day with a paid sight, a few drinks and some local transport. Pick your currency and every price on the page changes. Figures are converted from US dollars at European Central Bank reference rates from 9 November 2026 and rounded, so treat them as a guide.
| Country | A day (US$) | What moves the number | Plan it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Asia | |||
| Laos | US$20–30 | Very cheap. Slow boats, buses and local food keep it low; tubing, caves and tours are the extra days. | Southeast Asia route |
| Vietnam | US$25–40 | Very cheap. Cheap dorms, street food and sleeper buses. Ha Giang loops and Ha Long cruises are the big extras. | Vietnam guide |
| Cambodia | US$25–35 | Very cheap. Beds and food are cheap. The Angkor pass and tuk-tuk days are the obvious spikes. | Siem Reap itinerary |
| Thailand | US$30–45 | Cheap. The north is cheapest. Islands, ferries and party towns push you to the top of the range. | Thailand guide |
| Malaysia | US$30–40 | Cheap. Hawker food is great value, hostels are fair, and buses are easy. Alcohol is expensive. | Kuala Lumpur guide |
| Indonesia | US$30–50 | Cheap. Java, Lombok and Flores are cheaper than Bali, where cafe-and-beach-club days add up fast. | Indonesia guide |
| Philippines | US$30–50 | Good value. Boats, island-hopping tours and domestic flights cost more than the cheap food suggests. | Philippines guide |
| South Asia | |||
| Nepal | US$20–40 | Very cheap. Kathmandu and Pokhara are cheap. Trekking permits, guides and flights are budgeted separately. | No guide yet |
| India | US$20–45 | Very cheap. Can be very cheap, but AC trains, private drivers and nicer rooms change the number fast. | No guide yet |
| Sri Lanka | US$25–45 | Very cheap. Trains, guesthouses and rice and curry are cheap. Safaris, Sigiriya and tuk-tuk drivers are not. | Sri Lanka itinerary |
| East Asia | |||
| South Korea | US$60–100 | Expensive Asia. Fast, cheap transit and good-value food. Seoul beds and Jeju car hire lift the average. | South Korea itinerary |
| Japan | US$70–120 | Expensive Asia. Konbini meals and hostels help. Shinkansen tickets and peak-season beds are the big costs. | JR Pass maths |
| Europe and the Caucasus | |||
| Albania | US$30–50 | Cheap. One of Europe’s cheapest. Riviera beds in July and August cost far more than inland towns. | Driving in Albania |
| Georgia | US$30–50 | Cheap. Guesthouses and food are excellent value. Marshrutkas and mountain transfers are the swing cost. | No guide yet |
| Turkey | US$40–70 | Good value. Overnight buses help. Istanbul beds and Cappadocia balloon flights push it up. | Driving in Turkey |
| Portugal | US$55–85 | Mid-range. Lisbon and Porto beds in summer are the pressure point. Trains and food are fair. | Lisbon to Porto |
| Greece | US$55–95 | Mid-range. Athens is fair value. Island ferries and July beds can push a day well past the top. | Greek ferries |
| Croatia | US$60–100 | Pricey. Summer coast prices, ferries and old-town stays bite. Shoulder season is far kinder. | Croatia route |
| Italy | US$70–110 | Pricey. Big-city beds, fast trains and paid sights add up. The south is cheaper than the north. | Europe trains |
| Oceania | |||
| Australia | US$60–100 | Expensive. Dorms run about A$35 to A$60 in the big cities. Long distances and tours do the rest. | Insurance for Australia |
| New Zealand | US$60–110 | Expensive. Dorms, fuel and a campervan or bus pass add up. Queenstown activities are a budget of their own. | Driving in NZ |
Use the range, not the middle. Stay a week in one cheap town and you’ll land near the bottom. Book a bus or ferry every second day and you’ll sit near the top.
What a day in the index includes
The numbers cover daily ground costs: where you sleep, what you eat, how you get around town and what you pay to see things. International flights are left out because your starting city changes the total more than anything else.
Included
- Dorm bed or simple guesthouse
- Local food, some meals out
- Local buses, metros and short rides
- Basic paid sights
- Phone data
Not included
- International flights
- Visas and entry fees
- Travel insurance
- Dives, safaris and treks
- Gear and shopping
What swings it most
- Peak season
- Private rooms
- Alcohol and nights out
- Domestic flights
- Paid tours
The cheapest countries to backpack in 2026
Vietnam: best value overall
- Hanoi dorm beds often cost under US$10
- Sleeper buses and trains save on beds and flights
- Plan it: 2-week itinerary · transport guide
Sri Lanka: cheap, with a few big days
- Beds, trains and rice and curry are cheap
- Budget extra for safaris, the Sigiriya ticket, surf camps and drivers
- Plan it: 2-week itinerary
Budget notes by region
Southeast Asia
Still the easiest region for a long, cheap trip. Thailand isn’t the bargain it was, but it’s good value because everything is easy. Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia are cheaper, and the Philippines costs more than it looks because island hopping means boats and flights. For a country-by-country breakdown with dorm, meal and transport prices, read how much it costs to backpack Southeast Asia.
South Asia
Nepal and India are the cheapest countries in the index day to day, and Sri Lanka isn’t far behind. Treks, permits, private drivers and AC train classes are where the money goes, so price them separately.
Europe
In Europe, your route decides the cost. Albania and Georgia still feel cheap. Portugal and Greece sit in the middle, while Croatia and Italy need real planning in summer. Across Europe, hostel beds are cheapest from November to February and dearest in August. The Euro summer itinerary and Europe eSIM guide cover the practical side.
Japan, Korea and Oceania
Japan and South Korea aren’t cheap, but they’re manageable. Convenience-store meals, hostels and smart rail planning keep the day in range. Check whether a JR Pass is worth it before you buy one. Australia and New Zealand are harder, because beds, fuel and activities are expensive everywhere. Most visitors to New Zealand also pay a NZ$100 tourist levy on top of the NZeTA fee. Australian citizens don’t need either.
The hidden costs that break a budget
Moving too often
Changing towns every two days costs more than staying put: tickets, taxis to stations, luggage storage and tired decisions.
Card fees
Many bank cards add a foreign transaction fee of around 3% to every purchase abroad. Over a three-month trip, that adds up to real money.
Peak season
European summer, cherry blossom season in Japan and Christmas in New Zealand can lift bed prices well past these ranges.
Private rooms can double your accommodation cost in expensive cities, and big activities such as diving, safaris, ski days and multi-day tours belong in a separate budget, not the daily one.
Sort these before you fly
Three costs decide whether these daily numbers hold up: your bed, your card fees and your medical cover.
Beds
Compare dorms and private rooms on Hostelworld. Book ahead for summer in Europe and for weekends in Japan.
Travel money
A Wise card converts at the mid-market rate with a small, upfront fee. Always choose to pay in the local currency at the terminal.
Insurance and data
SafetyWing Essential renews every four weeks and covers medical costs up to US$250,000. Prices depend on age, so get a quote. For data, compare Saily eSIMs.
One hospital visit abroad can cost more than a month on the road. Read the policy wording for scooters, adventure sports and existing conditions before you buy.
FAQ
What is the cheapest country to backpack in 2026?
Laos, Nepal and India have the lowest daily costs in this index, at about US$20–45 a day. Vietnam and Cambodia are close behind. Your flight and visa costs can still change which one is cheapest for you.
Can you still backpack on $30 a day?
Yes, US$30 (about €27, £22 or A$45) still works in Laos, Nepal, India, Vietnam and Cambodia, with dorms or basic guesthouses, local food, slow travel and only a few paid activities. In Thailand and Indonesia it’s possible but tight.
How much do I need for a month in Southeast Asia?
About US$750–1,350 for 30 days on the ground, using the US$25–45 a day that covers most of the region. Add flights, insurance and any big tours.
Which currency should I budget in?
Plan in the currency your savings are in, and pick it in the menu above the table. Once you’re there, track spending in the local currency. Exchange rates move, so recheck yours before you book.
Where to check current prices
Prices move with the season and the exchange rate. These pages are useful for checking a destination before you book:
- Hostelz: backpacking Europe cost per day (October 2026 dorm and daily costs by country)
- Hostelworld: best-value backpacking destinations 2026
- Japan Guide: travelling Japan on a budget
- European Central Bank: euro reference exchange rates
Planning a route? Try the Thailand itinerary, Japan itinerary, South Korea itinerary or 3-month Southeast Asia route.
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