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What 6 Months of Traveling in Southeast Asia Cost Me (2024 Update)

09/15/2024 by Kristin Addis 211 Comments

2024 update: Since first traveling to Southeast Asia in 2012, I’ve revisited the region nearly yearly, logging over 2.5 cumulative years. Over that time, some prices have changed, and this post reflects those numbers.

Back in 2012, I spent a glorious eight continuous months backpacking in Southeast Asia on a long-term traveler’s budget. This meant staying in dorms, taking public transportation, eating street food, and generally traveling on a shoestring.

In 2016, I returned with a more middle-of-the-road budget, and since then, have experienced the luxurious side of the region as well.

Over that time, I’ve learned that whether have limited funds or a bit more money to play with, it will go further in Southeast Asia than almost anywhere else. Today, let’s answer the question “what does it cost to travel in Southeast Asia?”

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Southeast Asia on a Budget
  • Pre-trip Expenses:
  • Trip Expenses:
  • Why couldn’t I travel on only $30/day?
  • More saving tips:
  • READ NEXT:
  • Best Places in Southeast Asia for Solo Travelers
  • The Ultimate Southeast Asia Itinerary
  • What to Pack for Backpacking in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia on a Budget

nusa ceningan
Chilling in Nusa Ceningan, famous for surfing and more

I spent $7,958 USD (without scuba diving: $6,095) for six months in Southeast Asia, with a month each in Cambodia, Laos, northern Thailand, southern Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. With flights and pre-trip expenses, it added up to $11,000. Adjusted for today’s inflation, that would be about $15K.

Some guide books will swear that $30/day or less is sufficient for traveling in Southeast Asia — but this is generally not realistic.

So how much will you need to travel in Southeast Asia in 2024? I want to give you the most up-to-date budgeting guide, and to make calculations even easier with the addition of one-month or three-month breakdowns. With my recent trips back to Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia; a bunch of online research; and the help of a BMTM team member who lives in Southeast Asia, here’s how much you should expect to spend for an extended trip in Southeast Asia:

Pre-trip Expenses:

1. Travel insurance

1 month$100-$200
3 months$400-500
6 months$600-$700
Siquijor
On Siquijor Island, the Philippines

This is one of those costs that’s annoying, but necessary should the worst occur. I went with World Nomads travel insurance, which happened to be cheaper than any other company I could find for US citizens.

Saving tip: If you know for sure how much time you’ll be away, buying more months up front is definitely cheaper than extending the policy periodically.

2. Flights to Southeast Asia: $1,500

kelingking
On Nusa Penida Island, Indonesia

Flight costs might be totally different depending on where you’re coming from, but I usually end up spending about this much, including flights from home and any international flights once in the region. The first time I went, I bought two one-way flights from LAX to Southeast Asia and back. In hindsight, this may not have been the cheapest way to travel (I could have saved a couple hundred dollars by booking round-trip), however, I was unsure of my dates and departure city. Sometimes, the penalties and restrictions on moving flights ends up making a RT flight too much of a hassle.

Other ways to save are by making your itinerary logical, so that you can take overland transport most of the time and don’t have to cover huge distances all at once.

Saving tip: To reduce your flight costs, subscribe to flight deals like this one, especially if you are flexible on your travel dates. Flights are also cheaper during shoulder and rainy seasons. You can also travel hack like I do to save money. Here are my best tips on making your economy long-haul flights more comfortable.

3. Immunizations: $350

You’re out of luck if you’re an American when it comes to travel immunizations, because chances are you’ll be covering them out of pocket. I personally elected not to take malaria pills or get rabies vaccinations because of associated costs and the unlikelihood of either becoming a real issue.

Saving tip: In order to get immunized the cheapest way possible, visit the travel specialist at your local county healthcare clinic, or get the immunizations at one of the Bangkok Hospitals, which is the name of a premier chain with multiple locations in Thailand.

4. Travel gear: $400

solo travel
Hanging on Siargao. Your gear will be your home in the next few months, so pick wisely!

My backpack alone cost me over $200, but was worth every penny, as nothing ever broke and I’m still using it over 10 years later!  I also invested in Pacsafe products to keep everything protected, which I do not regret! Check my Southeast Asia backpacking guide to essential items.

Saving tip: Limit your luggage to carry-on only, so you can save on checked luggage. Southeast Asia is generally hot and humid year-round, so you will only need thin and breathable clothes. It’s also incredibly affordable there, so you can always buy things you need as you go.

5. Visa costs for Southeast Asia

I am all about winging it when it comes to a backpacking trip, especially in Southeast Asia. However, if you are on a budget, it’s best to decide on your length of stay in each country to avoid unnecessary visa fees. Here’s a complete breakdown of visa costs for US citizens for most Southeast Asian nations:

CountryVisa FeesValidity
Cambodia$3630 days
IndonesiaVisa Free30 days
Laos$5030 days
MalaysiaVisa Free90 days
Myanmar(Currently unsafe to visit)28 days
SingaporeVisa Free90 days
PhilippinesVisa Free30 days
ThailandVisa Free30 days
Vietnam$2530 days

Trip Expenses:

1. Food: $10-15/day

1 month$300-450
3 months$900-1,350
6 months$1,800-2,700

Eating local delights and choosing street food when possible are the best ways to keep food costs down. Local dishes taste better and cost much less vs. Western dishes anyway. Why order a disappointing burger for $5 when you could have amazing steamed pork buns, papaya salad, coconut soup, pad thai… (the list is endless!) for less than $1? If you are staying at a place with a kitchen, you can get groceries for cheap from the market and make your own food. (Note that in certain places, like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Bali, eating out can often be cheaper than cooking.)

Saving tip: Check with your hostel receptionist for recommendations. Eat where the locals eat. Don’t fear street food. It’s cooked right in front of you and may even be fresher and less processed than what’s available at home.

2. Accommodation: $5-30/day

1 month$150-900
3 months$450-2,700
6 months$900-5,400
rumah pohon, nusa penida
Indulge yourself once in a while, though!

This really varied depending on if it was high or low season and on the country, and whether or not you’re willing to stay in dorms. Cambodia and Laos were the cheapest, while Indonesia and Malaysia tended to be more expensive and provided less value for the money.

Here’s how much you should expect to pay per night, if you were to book a hostel bed a week in advance (pick one that’s clean and strategically located):

CountryCost/Night
Cambodia$4–10
Indonesia$5–10
Laos$4–10
Malaysia$5–15
Myanmar$5–11
Singapore$10–18
Philippines$6–15
Thailand$5–10
Vietnam$4–8

3. Transportation: $2-$10/day

1 month$60–300
3 months$180–900
6 months$360–1,800

Land transportation is generally very cheap in all of Southeast Asia. Taking an intercity bus typically costs about $10. The cost of renting a bike is around $8-$15/day. On the islands like the Philippines, public boat trips take ages but they are extremely cheap, at about $2/ride. Even in big cities like Bangkok, fares for public transportation start at $0.41 per stop on the metro.

4. Activities:

mutiara Laut
On the boat in Raja Ampat

Diving: If you are a diver, you will be thrilled to find many, many affordable diving spots all over Southeast Asia. Prices go as low as $100 for a three-day/two-night stay with three dive trips, though when I returned to the region in 2018, I went on a glorious 11-day live-aboard diving trip in Raja Ampat that now costs over $6,000.

Island-hopping: An island-hopping trip with 5-6 stops for less than $30? Only in Southeast Asia. Your negotiation skills will decide how much you pay for your excursion, so negotiate away, and if the price offered does not make sense to you, walk away — there will be five more agents down the same street. Generally, you should expect to pay about $20-30 for a full day outing (typically 9am-3pm) that you share with others. For a private trip, it will be over $100. Read my comparison of El Nido boat trips here.

Group tours: A walking tour is often the best way to get to know a new city. There are many tip-based, free walking tours available, and some of them are actually really insightful and fun. It’s the best way to meet new friends too. Paid tours typically cost about $8-15.

Hiking: I love that this activity is mostly free, save for the occasional entrance fee! Even some popular hikes, like Mount Bromo, can be affordable if you do them independently.

Cooking classes: This delicious activity runs about $20-40 for a class. Consider the skills you will gain and the free food you will make! I’d say it’s pretty worth it, especially if you’ve fallen in love with the local cuisine.

Popular tourist sites: Angkor Wat costs a whopping $62 for a three-day pass, getting to the sky bridge of the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia means paying $20, and the beautiful Gardens by the Bay in Singapore also costs $23 to enter the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest. Pick and choose what you’d really want to see, and factor the entrance fees into your overall budget.

5. Shopping:

Toiletries: If you can, buy from the small stores instead of the big chain drugstores. They are likely to cost you less, and you get to help the locals out. If you want to stick with familiar brands like Pantene and Nivea, the cost is similar to what you’d pay back home, if not slightly cheaper. Local brands cost less.

Clothes: They’re so cheap and awesome! You can get a funky top for $3, a clichéd but must-have pair of elephant pants in Thailand for less than $5, and a beautiful silk scarf for less than $8.

Outdoor gear: There is much “counterfeit” hiking gear in Vietnam and Indonesia for a fraction of the original cost, but the quality is lacking too. You can get a legit waterproof jacket for as low as $12, but if you bring it from home, it’ll last longer.

Why couldn’t I travel on only $30/day?

Swimming in the Philippines
Coron, one of my favorite spots in the Philippines

The $30/day benchmark does not take into account gear, insurance, flights, and immunizations. It’s also easy to forget that things like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, sunscreen, batteries, adapters, mosquito repellent, medication, and visas all need to be periodically purchased on the road. The cost seems small but when budgeting only $30 for one day, $4 on a small bottle of shampoo can really add up.

But the $30 benchmark is more than realistic, if not a little rich, when staying in one place for an extended period of time in one of the cheaper countries. I was able to spend $3/night on accommodation and around $10/day on food and drink in Otres Beach, Cambodia, for example. I didn’t spend a dime on activities because the beach was free. But what about the days when I moved around? What about the times I had to spend $40 on a visa, $9 on a bus ride, and $3 on a water taxi? My budget was blown before I even bought food or a bed for the night.

What about the days that I wanted to visit Angkor Wat, go scuba diving, or jungle trekking?  An extremely low budget is only feasible if you hardly move around and never spend anything on activities, but why travel to the other side of the world only to miss out on these things?

If I had not scuba dived, climbed Mt. Kinabalu, or gone trekking in Bukit Lawang or Mt. Rinjani, I would have shaved over $3,000 off of my trip, easily. I also never spent more than a week in any one place. Had I moved more slowly, I could have saved a lot more.

More saving tips:

  • All hope is not lost if you have a smaller budget to work with. To keep costs low, use services like Couchsurfing for free accommodation. Not into it? Stay in dorms. They are a great way to meet people and save some cash. House-sitting is also a possibility, though less so in Southeast Asia.
  • Walk around! The best way to get to know a new destination is to explore on foot. Instead of taking a cab or a bus to get from point A to B, give yourself a little extra time and walk instead. Walking also allows you to discover hidden gems and cool spots along the way.
  • Always travel use public transit instead of by private or tourist coach, even if that means your travel days are longer. If you’re rich in time but not in funds, this is the best way to do it.
  • Book transportation and tours with your hostel. Most of the time, hostels will have ways to book transportation and other activities through them, which is a great way to make sure you’re not getting ripped off (since the hostel will want to make sure they get good reviews).
  • Eat local foods and abstain from alcohol. The biggest budget eater is partying, by far. If you never buy drinks, you’ll literally save thousands. Really, thousands!
  • Use a debit card that doesn’t charge fees and refunds the ATM fees assessed by other banks. The only one I’m aware of is Charles Schwab.
  • Do your research! Don’t just take the first price you see. This goes for accommodation, tours, and transportation. Taking the time to shop around can help save you some serious cash.

For a country-specific budget guide on each place mentioned above, I go into more detail in each of these posts:

Thailand

Malaysian Borneo

Indonesia

Philippines

Southeast Asia budget guide

How much do you usually spend on traveling?  Do you have any budget travel tips to share? 

READ NEXT:

Best Places in Southeast Asia for Solo Travelers

The Ultimate Southeast Asia Itinerary

What to Pack for Backpacking in Southeast Asia

*Some links in this post are affiliate links for products and services we personally use and love. Any purchase you make through them supports us at no extra cost to you. Thanks so much!

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About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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Comments

  1. Stef says

    09/04/2013 at 9:18 am

    Great resource! Thanks for sharing that with us!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/04/2013 at 11:58 am

      Glad you find it helpful!

      Reply
      • Anonymous says

        10/11/2017 at 2:03 pm

        Thanks! Without the scuba diving, it would come right on budget with $30.45.

        Reply
  2. Evan says

    09/04/2013 at 9:19 am

    I can’t wait for my trip to SE Asia after the World Cup in Brazil. I need to start saving!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/04/2013 at 11:58 am

      Good luck! I’m loving how travel-focused we Gauchos are!

      Reply
  3. OCDemon says

    09/04/2013 at 3:13 pm

    I definitely thought this title was going to be more personal, like, the answer was going to be “MY SOUL.” Oh well though. Info is great too!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/04/2013 at 3:53 pm

      Hahahaha! Well that too! More like my heart.

      Reply
  4. TammyOnTheMove says

    09/04/2013 at 9:50 pm

    I think you budget is more realistic. If you are traveling in a country and not take part in certain tours, then you might as well not bother (i.e. Angkor Wat). Love Otres beach. So stunning!

    Reply
  5. Jo (The Blond) says

    09/05/2013 at 3:46 am

    I think $11,000 for 6 months travel, including everything is not bad at all considering that you did trekking, scuba diving and things like that.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/05/2013 at 10:44 pm

      Yeah and when one really adds in the extras like flights, immunizations, and insurance, that’s a pretty realistic budget.

      Reply
  6. Joanna says

    09/05/2013 at 6:22 pm

    I loved how you broke everything down! I get some frustrated looks when I can’t give one price tag for any one of my trips because it really depends on how you travel and what you do!

    As much as it’s great to get advice on how to stay on budget, some experiences are priceless and would be a waste to pass while you’re RIGHT THERE.

    Reply
  7. Rika | Cubicle Throwdown says

    09/05/2013 at 6:36 pm

    Awesome breakdown!! I love how sometimes it’s just way better to separate the ‘real cost’ from the ‘I have an expensive scuba habit’ cost 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/05/2013 at 10:45 pm

      Hahaha! Exactly. I had to state that hey, a lot of this was due to this habit I have of spending a lot of time under water. I’m a bit of a junkie. I know you can relate!

      Reply
  8. Heri says

    09/06/2013 at 2:47 am

    Awesome 😀 , I always envy reading your blog :'(

    I hope some day, I will take my own journey same like you do 😀

    thak’s for the “VIRUS” hahahah

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/06/2013 at 11:22 pm

      Awesome and you’re welcome 🙂

      Reply
  9. brian says

    09/06/2013 at 6:38 am

    Great breakdown. I wish I had the discipline to do that. Did you have any issues with the one way tickets and the airlines wanting you to have proof of departure from the destination country?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/06/2013 at 11:22 pm

      I have a way around that 😉

      Reply
      • Chris Fitz says

        05/11/2016 at 12:26 pm

        I’m planning on traveling soon, and being only my 2nd time out of the country, don’t want to run into any unnecessary issues 🙂 what is your way around this?

        Reply
  10. Kayleigh says

    09/06/2013 at 3:42 pm

    Here I am sitting behind a desk bemoaning every hour of ridiculous corporate america. For the past year, I got away with playing the game my way. Was always on the ball with my work so I took advantage of countless travel opportunities and unpaid vaycay because I could care less about the money so long as I have enough to travel. Well for regulatory reasons I can no longer escape dreaded weeks, nor escape for an hour or 2 during the day for a yoga sesh when there is not work to do. 🙁 talk about killing my soul. Anyway, I can’t tell you how many people I tell about your blog and right you are, people just don’t get it. I guess taking the safe, traditional road (the road too highly traveled IMO) is what people feel comfortable with and so they stick with what they know. So here I am, trying to balance holding a job, saving the dough until I can take off on the trip of a lifetime! So glad I stumbled upon your site-absolutely love it!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/06/2013 at 11:26 pm

      Aww thanks so much for your comment. Hang in there, you’ll be back on the road and it’ll all be worth it.

      Reply
  11. Michelle | Lights Camera Travel says

    09/08/2013 at 5:22 am

    Thanks for sharing Kristin! It’s always helpful to see these posts. I generally budget the same, $1000 for ground expenses, and things like flights, visas, expensive activities (i.e scuba diving) on top and that usually works for me!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/08/2013 at 11:56 am

      1k is a great budget for the extra stuff.

      Reply
  12. Arianwen says

    09/08/2013 at 10:36 pm

    This is a really useful overview! I’m pretty bad at keeping a close eye on exactly what I’ve spent so when people ask me about my trip to South America, it’s a very rough estimate! Nice one keeping track!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/09/2013 at 4:18 pm

      I had a lot of going back through my bank account withdrawals to do!

      Reply
  13. Turner says

    09/09/2013 at 10:00 pm

    Not too bad. I would be about spending $30 a day too, as per Lonely Planet suggestions, that is if all that weed and hookers didnt get in way. Sigh.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/11/2013 at 12:41 pm

      It’s the ping pong shows and lady boys that really kill my budget.

      Reply
  14. Morgan says

    09/10/2013 at 9:54 am

    This is amazing! Thanks for putting it together. I’m also an American and just started vaccinations – the rabies and japanese encephalitis will probably be put on the back burner due to prices (It’s outrageous!). Do you think you went the correct route skipping those?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/10/2013 at 12:31 pm

      I couldn’t even find Japanese Encephalitis when I was getting my vaccinations. I understand it’s kind of important if you’re spending a large chunk of time in SE Asia though, as it’s a pretty serious disease. You can definitely find it in Thailand, although I’m not sure how much it would cost. I personally don’t have that immunization and, well, I’m still alive and kicking!

      Reply
  15. Karl says

    09/10/2013 at 3:05 pm

    Great story and thank you for laying out your expenses like that. Helps those of us who are looking into long trips some very valuable info

    Karl

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/10/2013 at 8:13 pm

      Glad you found it helpful!

      Reply
  16. Jennifer says

    09/11/2013 at 1:35 am

    I love your breakdown and it’s really realistic. Just did the same and I’ve come to pretty much the same conclusions. It’s easy to be on the cheap in SEA, but not everywhere and all the extras add up really fast!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/11/2013 at 11:12 am

      Thank you! Yes the extras do add up.

      Reply
  17. Joey Rana says

    09/12/2013 at 1:14 pm

    please visit the philippines. plenty of places to visit and part of south east asia. many travelers often neglect the philippines and hope you can make an exception.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/12/2013 at 8:20 pm

      I will. Next year!

      Reply
  18. Simmy says

    09/24/2013 at 1:53 am

    Brilliant post, thank you so much! My trip is rapidly approaching and this has really helped.

    Reply
  19. Vera says

    09/25/2013 at 7:55 am

    Hello! I came across your blog and found it really inspiring! I am planning a 3 week trip to HK and maybe Thailand in October. I will attempt to blog my journey and looking for blogs to follow as well as increasing my number of followers so feel free to explore and please join my site while you are at it!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/25/2013 at 1:15 pm

      Thanks Vera! HK is awesome

      Reply
  20. Simon Lee says

    10/08/2013 at 12:00 am

    Hi Kristin,
    Dropping by for the first time. I am from Malaysia.

    I am surprised that you spent the most money for accommodation in Borneo as there are quite a number of budget accommodation in the area.

    Did you checked out some of the islands off the coast of Semporna? Widely known as a scuba diver paradise and i am sure you will like it as diving is what fascinating you:)

    Cheers,
    Simon

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/09/2013 at 8:08 am

      Well, it had more to do with the fact that I had been spending closer to $5 in most other countries. Yes, Borneo has budget accommodation, especially in the cities, but it’s not as cheap as other places in Southeast Asia – Malaysia in general is not as cheap. I went diving in Sipadan and it was amazing!

      Reply
  21. Manfred says

    11/27/2013 at 8:44 pm

    We just finished 6-7 months around SE Asia as a couple and spent an average of just under $30 each. We started and finished in Bangkok though, so didn’t have the additional cost of flights to/from SE Asia. We also didn’t get any immunizations, as our doctors here didn’t recommend any. We also didn’t need to buy any travel gear, as we both already had suitcases. I think this would be the case with most travelers. We wrote a book about our experiences if anyone is interested. See our blog.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      11/27/2013 at 8:51 pm

      Oooh Yikes I would DEFINITELY suggest everyone at least get the Hepatitis vaccines and Tetanus. Very important!

      Reply
  22. Kny says

    12/25/2013 at 4:26 pm

    hi, i wanna go to Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia. but i am confused how to get a visa to Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. can you help me out?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/25/2013 at 10:41 pm

      It really depends on where you’re from! You should check your country’s travel advisory website for more info. If you’re from the US , Canada, or EU, you can get a visa on arrival for all of those countries.

      Reply
    • Manfred says

      12/26/2013 at 12:19 am

      What country are you from. If from US, UK, etc, you don’t need visa for Malaysia or Singapore, and can get visa on arrival for Indonesia. For Indonesia you need to have a flight booked to leave the country before arriving.

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        12/27/2013 at 5:17 am

        That’s helpful info because I actually got a two month visa for Indonesia prior to going there while I was in Kuala Lumpur. I was told I needed proof of an onward flight but they never asked, and I didn’t have one!

        Reply
        • Manfred says

          01/20/2014 at 8:24 am

          Maybe it’s different if you have a visa in advance. Also, sometimes people need onward flights and sometimes they don’t check. But I know people that haven’t be allowed on their flight because they didn’t have onward tickets. I wish they had proper rules, but it’s all a bit hit and miss.

          Reply
          • Kristin says

            01/20/2014 at 8:32 am

            You don’t *really* need anything booked onward. There are ways around that but I know what you’re saying. Thailand and Indonesia are often that way and the Philippines is as well.

  23. Craig says

    01/19/2014 at 11:17 pm

    Hi,

    This is awesome as I’m planning my next adventures. Im currently in New Zealand but i just wondered in which currency was your budget for Asia?

    Cheers,

    C

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/20/2014 at 8:15 am

      Ah I should note that on the post. USD 🙂

      Reply
  24. Brett says

    01/21/2014 at 9:26 pm

    Looking to do a 6 week trip this Summer with a friend starting with a week in Thailand and ending with a week in the Philippines. Unfortunately can’t visit every country you described – did you have any personal favorites or must-sees!? My friend and I are both scuba certified as well – any great scuba spots would be much appreciated! Thanks, love the website!

    -Brett

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/25/2014 at 9:00 am

      Sipadan in Borneo is the best diving I’ve done. You must book that kind of far in advance. Komodo in Indonesia is also amazing but the current is strong and you need at least AOW certification. I loved Cambodia and Laos but in 6 weeks I wouldn’t try to rush too much. A lot of people do and they miss a lot. Northern Thailand is great!

      Reply
  25. Arianwen says

    03/09/2014 at 5:26 pm

    This was a really helpful post. Thank you for all the details. I’m trying to decide where to visit on my way back from Australia to the UK. Cambodia and Vietnam are looking like they might come out top, although I really want to see the Philippines too! I see this trip extending…!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/09/2014 at 6:13 pm

      I just did a budget post on the Philippines and it’s more expensive than I thought it would be. I have one on Vietnam going up today so check that one out! I really loved Vietnam!

      Reply
  26. Suchi says

    03/19/2014 at 8:53 am

    I love your helpful breakdown, but I do think that hostels eat up a lot of the travel budget, so I almost always try to couchsurf or stay somewhere as a Workaway volunteer whenever I travel in Asia or Europe. I think hostels are my last resort because I’ve had a couple negative experiences in hostels, but also, when you CouchSurf (which doesnt always mean you sleep on a couch btw!) or stay as a volunteer with a local, first of all, it’s FREE–plus you get free meals as a Workaway volunteer, and your CS host may also invite you to join him/her or their family for a meal or two. And second of all, you are gaining a truly authentic experience and perspective of the lifestyle, and you have a local to help you and offer you excellent advice for your stay! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/20/2014 at 7:55 pm

      Great suggestions and agreed, especially in more expensive countries. I’ve couch surfed in Europe and in China.

      Reply
  27. Sidney says

    03/23/2014 at 2:36 pm

    Thanks this helped alot!

    Reply
  28. Kirby says

    03/23/2014 at 8:15 pm

    I’m currently planning my trip for this summer, and just wanted to say this post/site is extremely helpful! I just got all my vaccines last week. Japanese Encephalitis set me back $500 alone. Yikes! I’m now on to gear. Taking your advice w/ a 40L pack. As for travel insurance, I just got a quote online from World Nomad that says it’ll be $386 for 6mo. coverage. Why was yours so much more expensive? Was it the timing? Or maybe $793 is for a full 10 mo?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/24/2014 at 12:54 am

      I got the adventure plan which covers SCUBA diving, etc., and that was for the full ten months as well. I wish I had just bought it all at once upfront because it’s actually cheaper that way. Oh well! You live and learn 🙂

      Reply
  29. Allen Espy says

    03/24/2014 at 6:04 am

    I did a similar trip in 2000. 6 months, about eight countries. Semi-backpacking. $12,000

    Reply
  30. Frank says

    03/28/2014 at 9:08 pm

    Did it cost money to get visas’ to these countries?
    Were visa’s even required if you’re not working?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/28/2014 at 9:24 pm

      Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia are free. Cambodia ($20), Laos ($35 but depends on where you’re from), and Indonesia are all visa on arrival but they cost money. Vietnam must be procured before you land and it’s expensive. I paid $20 and then $45 for a stamping fee.

      Reply
  31. Lina says

    04/21/2014 at 11:13 pm

    Hey Kristin – thanks for sharing this! I will say that traveling as a couple makes the cost a lot better. Rob and I did six months in SE Asia and with all flights and a lot of scuba, we came out to a bit over $30/day per person. We always stayed in private rooms with private bathrooms, although we did do a fair amount of haggling.

    When you add in shots and flights to Asia, the costs do go up. But that’s what frequent flier miles and pre trip health insurance are for :o)

    -Lina

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      05/05/2014 at 1:17 am

      Splitting taxis is a huge help. The months that I did most of my traveling with friends were definitely cheaper.

      Reply
  32. Christopher K says

    05/02/2014 at 12:38 pm

    Hey Kristin!

    I’m getting ready for my trip to SEAsia in mid-June, arriving in Bangkok on a one-way ticket as well, and I just wanted to ask you about your experience flying with such a ticket.

    Apparently one of the requirements for Thailand’s free 30-day tourist visa is to have proof of “an onward or return airline ticket within 30-days of arriving.” I’m planning on flying to Bangkok and staying there until my 30 days expire, at which point I’ll heading to Cambodia –> Vietnam –> Laos via LAND transport however (i’m planning on buying my bus and train tickets when I get there).

    My question is: Did you happen to have another airline ticket (out of thailand within 30 days) purchased and ready to show to the immigration officials and/or airline when you arrived? How’d it go for you? Do you think the airline could bar me from getting on the plane if I show up to the airport in new york with nothing but the one-way ticket to bangkok and my passport?? :S

    It’s just one of my scruples at this moment!

    Hope that all made sense! Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      05/05/2014 at 12:55 am

      Sometimes the agent at the check in counter will ask for onward travel proof and if you don’t have it they won’t let you check in. I’d suggest editing an old e-ticket from a different airline with a future travel date and printing that to bring with you.

      Reply
  33. André says

    05/21/2014 at 3:03 pm

    Thailand also has (or had 5 years ago) cheap rooms. I got a single or double bed room for 3-4€ outside of bangkok on different occasions. I plan for round trip with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos now and it is great to hear that I won’t be completely broke at the end of it. 🙂 Also one hint: An Indonesian friend showed me some Indonesian booking sites and they seem a lot cheaper than the American/European ones. Try tiket.com for instance.

    Reply
  34. Barbora says

    05/28/2014 at 9:28 pm

    Your website is freaking awesome! No nonsens lifestyle generic scribbling, but actual useful practical advice. Big thank you!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      05/31/2014 at 3:09 am

      Wow. THANK YOU!

      Reply
  35. matthew says

    06/01/2014 at 2:05 am

    I just got home from a 18 month trip all over SE Asia, Singapore 3x, Malaysia 6x, Indonesia 1x, Thailand 2x, Philippines 1x, and did the whole 18 months on $8200 USD including my separate 1 way flights back and forth from the US. It helps to make friends on the way, lots of free food and places to sleep.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      06/02/2014 at 4:13 am

      Couchsurfing and staying with friends definitely helps a lot. I tend to buy meals or pay my share or bring a gift, though, which does increase my costs. To me, it seems like the right thing to do.

      Reply
  36. Emily says

    06/22/2014 at 6:00 pm

    Hey, I love your post and have found it particularly useful whilst planning my own trip, I’ve got a question about currency.. How did you handle money over there? Did you have lots of different currency on you at all times or did you literally just withdraw money in each country when you needed it?
    Also, how did you cross from each country to the next and have you got rough prices for them?
    Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      06/23/2014 at 2:45 am

      I just withdrew money when I needed it. I crossed overland for the most part and typically you want to pay visa fees in US Dollars so always have some of those on you.

      Reply
  37. Tuan says

    06/23/2014 at 11:08 am

    Travelling is enjoying the different food: should be careful as paying too low …you might be fed with rat meat instead of pork… especially in poor country, meat is still expensive. If the meal is a buck, I’m not sure it’s pork or rat….?
    A 3 to 4 dollar meal should be very satisfying… if your budget could not afford that then I was wondering what would you enjoy in your travel?
    My idea is to save a bit more before your trip and really enjoy the time there …. if you find yourself penny-pinching then wait for another season and build those extra bucks…The worst thing is to see something that your friends enjoying while you couldn’t afford.

    Wd you sleep in a place where rats came out at night to say hi? It is much more enjoyable to stay at a 5.00 or 10.00 room and enjoy the night rather than sleepless because of those vermins….

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      06/23/2014 at 5:43 pm

      That’s absolutely ridiculous. You can see the meat before you eat it, usually raw, at the street stall. I think we all know that beef ribs look nothing like rat meat, and it’s possible to just go vegetarian as well. I also eat food locals eat and take pride in making. It’s insulting to them to claim they’re cooking rat’s meat.

      $1 streetside soup in Vietnam (with a giant pork shank in it, I might add) is delicious.

      Lastly, most rooms I stayed in that year were around $5-$10 per night. I now often spend a bit more but I wanted to see if it could be done for $30/day back then.

      Reply
  38. Kaylin says

    07/24/2014 at 5:28 pm

    After doing some number crunching, it looks like you spent about $34/day not including the scuba (which wouldn’t necessarily be something alot of people would do on such a trip) or the flights (which most people don’t include in their daily budget). So really it’s not so far off the $30/day recommendation! Either way, this is a great article showing real expenses on your trip. I have been to Thailand and Cambodia before for 2 weeks, but I want to go back and do a much longer trip to more countries in the next couple years, so I will definitely keep this budget in mind 🙂 You are so right that not drinking saves SOOOOO much money. I feel like half my budget in Cambodia was for those $5 buckets LOL.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      07/29/2014 at 5:27 am

      That’s true, but I think a lot of people have one or two expensive activities they just really want to try, so it’s worth budgeting that in. Cutting out drinking would actually make it much cheaper than $30/day considering where I was staying and the types of transport I was taking.

      Reply
  39. Eddie says

    07/30/2014 at 4:04 am

    Hey Kristin,

    Great blog!! I was wondering if you had any advice on obtaining visas on your travels?? I have a one way ticket to thailand this upcoming November, and I was honestly just going to wing it as far as determining my length of stay in certain countries/areas. Any help would be appreciated!!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      07/30/2014 at 7:36 am

      I did the same. Most countries, except for Vietnam, you can just get a visa on arrival (depending on which country you’re from, of course), and it can be pretty easy to extend.

      Reply
  40. Ian Limbonis says

    08/10/2014 at 11:12 am

    Im on my 111th day today, and so far spent <1500$. Tracking all my expemses daily to meet the least possible expensiture, though i must say coffee, cigarette, and seldom beers can help lower this doen further.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      08/11/2014 at 1:05 am

      Wow you’ve done a great job then!

      Reply
      • Ian says

        08/11/2014 at 1:59 am

        Not as much as how you organized your expenses ;-). Im glad how quite basic i’m becoming

        Reply
  41. Michael says

    08/25/2014 at 11:23 pm

    Wow thats cheap.. good for you!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/02/2014 at 10:54 pm

      I tried! Could do it even cheaper and certainly more expensively as well.

      Reply
  42. Paul Durano says

    08/27/2014 at 9:11 pm

    If your in Cebu, Philippines by mid Jan – May 2015, I help you find a place for $20 per day. Living with local family.

    Reply
  43. Samantha says

    08/29/2014 at 4:45 pm

    Hey Kristin,
    HUGE fan of your blog and the advice you give. You have really helped me out as I plan for my backpacking trip to SEA, Australia, and New Zealand (leaving in 65 days!!–but who’s counting?!). Quick question: did you get a credit card for this trip? I opened up a Charles Schwab account for the ATM card, but I wanted to get a credit card with 0 foreign transaction fees as well, just as a precaution. Do you have any banker recommendations? :). Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/02/2014 at 10:43 pm

      Glad to have your readership! I use a Capital One Venture card and would also suggest having some kind of back up as well. Airline mileage cards also often are transaction-fee-free.

      Reply
  44. Haley says

    09/18/2014 at 1:01 pm

    Hi Kristin,

    For your southeast asia travels you got immunizations for Hepatitis A and Tetnus?

    Did you get any for: Fly or Typhoid or Hepatitis B or Japanese Encephalitis or Rabies?

    Also, you mentioned you chose not to take medication for Malaria? Any concern why?

    My mother wants me to inoculated for every conceivable transmittable/contagious disease but to save both money and side effects I want focus on the truly most necessary vaccinations.

    Thank you!
    Haley

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/18/2014 at 10:21 pm

      I got Tetanus and Hep A, already had B, as well as Typhoid. Did not get rabies and Japanese Encephalitis wasn’t even available at my clinic. I have never taken anti-malaria medication. I’m in that part of the world for way too long for that.

      Reply
  45. Stephanie Be says

    10/03/2014 at 10:58 pm

    I just wrote an article on tips for Thailand, and one of my tips was that it is NOT as cheap as people make it out to be. I couldn’t agree more with the misconception that it’s “easy” to live on a shoe string budget in developing countries. There are many costs, and chances are that most travelers WANT to experience things like an elephant reservation park or Angkor Wat.

    Nice to hear it from you too!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/04/2014 at 6:14 am

      Southern Thailand is definitely more expensive than the middle and north as well!

      Reply
  46. Franca says

    10/04/2014 at 1:33 am

    I forgot how cheap SEA can be and after being traveling around Europe for more than 1 year, it seems like a dream being able to spend so little and still enjoying yourself so much! We spent a lot less than you have, but mainly because we didn’t do the activities you did and we took some extra vaccinations (rabies for instance because we volunteered in dog shelters) and malaria pills in some areas. Sometimes I miss these countries, maybe we should go back and explore the countries we haven’t been yet. There is too much of the world I want to see, my list gets longer instead of shorter 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/04/2014 at 6:13 am

      Same here. I am over in Europe now, thankful that I now have a bigger budget but definitely do still love SEA, both for how cheap it can be and how amazing it can be.

      Reply
  47. Victoria says

    10/04/2014 at 5:12 am

    Definitely agreed $30 isn’t realistic if you want to see and do things, although I think as an American you have it way worse! In the UK immunisations are free, I go to TK Maxx for my travel gear so we’re looking at maybe £30-40 on a bag and then flights cost me about £400-£500 RETURN if I don’t care what day I travel on. When I did Phuket for a month it cost $400 US for my room ($13 per day) and then I spent roughly $10-$20 on food and I literally wasn’t doing ANYTHING except working on my computer and going to the beach. So really $30 is only do-able if you decide to do the ‘living somewhere’ option and do nothing.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/04/2014 at 6:10 am

      Definitely true. Moving around is expensive due to traveling costs, but living in one place or moving very slowly makes things much more affordable.

      Reply
  48. Emily says

    10/08/2014 at 8:00 pm

    Hey Kristin,
    We shall be traveling Indonesia in June and we wondered if you had any tips on where to go?
    we figured we’d stop off in Bali (its the cheapest island to fly to) plus my friend works there as an instructor and I’m going to take my DM course there. Other than that we’ve seen that Sumatra and Flores look good, but we don’t really know anything about them.
    Also, how expensive is it to take a tour with the orang-utans? i’ve looked online and it said 20,000Rp… that seems pretty cheap to me, does that sound about right?
    Finally, how expensive is it to island hop? we traveled south thailand via boats and busses and it work out pretty cheap but will it be the same in Indo?

    Thanks for your advice and your amazing travel blog!
    Keep up the awesome work!
    Emily 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/09/2014 at 11:41 am

      Definitely I wrote a lot about it in the Indonesia https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/category/destinations/southeast-asia/indonesia/

      Here’s the info on Orangutans https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/bukit-lawang-trekking/

      Here’s info on island hopping local style https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/how-to-get-from-flores-to-lombok/

      Reply
  49. whitney says

    10/16/2014 at 2:28 am

    what backpack did you buy for $200 and what do you do for income (or has the initial funds from liquidating your assets not run out yet)? also do you still maintain and contribute to a retirement plan? lastly, i assume travel insurance makes up for not having employer sponsored health benefits? i too am a banker and im wondering how i can make this a reality for myself.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/16/2014 at 8:04 am

      Yes I contribute to a retirement account, which was pretty heavily invested in with my old job. I make money off of this blog and freelance writing. Check out my series on how to start a travel blog if that interests you!https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/category/travel-prep/how-to-start-a-travel-blog/

      Reply
  50. Tony says

    11/05/2014 at 4:04 pm

    Hey,

    i wanna backpack for 6- 8 months in Asia , and is like 10.000 dollar enough ??

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      11/06/2014 at 4:07 am

      Well you can see how I laid out my expenses here, so I’d say that no, it is not, if you add in things like flights, gear, and insurance. It is if you don’t party much and don’t do expensive activities and stay in dorms, eat street food, and take local transport. It boils down to your way of traveling.

      Reply
  51. TeachingTravel says

    11/24/2014 at 8:25 am

    You really missed out by not spending as much time in Vietnam! Vietnam is extremely cheap.
    However I didn’t spend as much time in Cambodia, this time i’ll make sure to check out the beaches! Last time I just hit the temples of Cambodia and skipped right through!

    Also traveling with someone else would really bring these costs down!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      11/24/2014 at 8:53 am

      I ended up returning to Southeast Asia and spending a month in Vietnam after writing this post. Traveling with someone else would definitely cut the costs down but I’m a solo traveler and that’s the focus of this blog 🙂

      Reply
      • Claire says

        08/28/2016 at 1:08 am

        I’m so curious, why and what would all the reasons traveling with a partner cut the costs down??

        Reply
        • Kristin says

          09/07/2016 at 3:24 pm

          You split cabs and private rooms

          Reply
  52. Muzammil says

    12/17/2014 at 2:11 pm

    Hey! Amazing article and love your website!

    Can you please let me know how many flights did you have to take in your 10 months Oceania & SE Asia trip? And what were those flights?

    Thanks!
    Muzammil

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/17/2014 at 3:19 pm

      I probably took around 6-8. If you just stayed in Southeast Asia you can do almost all of it overland. You can get very cheap last minute ones on local airlines and on Air Asia. I really like Bangkok Airways in Thailand, and Tiger is also good.

      Reply
      • Muzammil says

        12/17/2014 at 3:26 pm

        Thanks for the response! When you say overland, are you referring to taking ferries/boats between countries like Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, etc.?

        Reply
        • Kristin says

          12/18/2014 at 2:14 am

          You could do that but it takes a VERY long time and in that case I’d just fly.

          Reply
  53. Anonymous says

    12/29/2014 at 9:18 pm

    Wow , I really want to do this how do you find all the places to sleep and not end up paying for hotels

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/31/2014 at 12:50 pm

      Stay in hostels/guesthouses and especially dorms to save money.

      Reply
  54. Lesh @ NOMADasaurus says

    01/03/2015 at 9:48 pm

    What an awesome breakdown Kristin. I know what you mean about $30 a day. Sometimes it happens but most of the time not. There are so many awesome activities to do all over South East Asia and we were not missing out on them. Love your tips for cheap travel. We love eating locally and traveling locally too. It is not just cheap but such a great experience. We have met some wonderful people on some journeys. We have been taking a budget daily so we can keep track of our spendings. The fact it is there on paper has really helped us budget. Over spend one day, lay low the next day. It is crazy how much alcohol can add up too and how many stories I have heard of people spending all their money partying and have not enough to see the rest of the country. The country always comes first for us. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/04/2015 at 2:04 pm

      Thanks Lesh. I definitely agree it’s better to buy experiences than beers, but if you can do both, even better! 😉

      Reply
  55. Andy says

    01/04/2015 at 6:29 pm

    Hey Kristin, great breakdown – I’ve managed on $30 in Asia, but on the basis it was covering food and accommodation only and no sightseeing. Also, these kind of simple ‘figures’ just don’t work in places like Singapore, Tokyo, etc. It annoys me when I see guides/books/etc. encouraging this as an ‘option’ because there must be so few people who manage on something like $30 a day and still get to see and do everything they wanted! Bring more – see and do more.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/05/2015 at 4:52 am

      True Singapore is a lot more costly and I actually haven’t been there yet. If any guide books are suggesting $30/day is doable in Tokyo I’d toss that right out the window!

      Reply
  56. Kyle says

    01/12/2015 at 6:26 am

    How am I only just finding this blog? Good stuff

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/13/2015 at 1:23 am

      Aw thank you.

      Reply
  57. Yoko says

    01/25/2015 at 10:42 pm

    Never tried this myself, but I would imagine $30 (3000 yen) in Tokyo is possible. Well, I am in Tokyo now working (I am from Canada) but will travel abroad in November.

    3000 yen breakdown possibility (if not relied on heavy tourist travel-style) – of course, it all depends on what you want to do that day; the list of what to do is endless:

    1. Yamanote Line (most of the touristy places are on this line): 730 (day pass; it is even less that if you want to stay in places that require less than 730 yen)
    2. Food ~1000 a day IF cheap, healthy, and convenient food places (i.e. Sukiya) –> much less required if rice balls and other smaller foods bought at convenience stores or McDonalds (100 yen options)
    3. Accommodation – Couchsurfing! (0 yen)
    4. Others (museum fee, drinking, whatever you choose)

    Total: 1730yen plus additional

    I do not know how much travel insurance is needed. Nor visa. However, when sites that say $30/day is possible, I do not believe that cost includes visa, insurance, etc. I think it means just travel expenses (food, accomodation, and such).

    And for visa, I have never bought it before. But according to my Japanese passport Visa requirement for travel in Europe, I can travel in Europe for 3 (or 6) months at maximum without visa, so I am sure Visa is not required if less than 3 (or 6) months?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/27/2015 at 7:28 am

      Thanks for that! I had no idea it could be so cheap since Japan is always thought of as so expensive. You can get a VOA for fewer than 3 months in Europe, yes. You can only stay for 3 out of every 6 months.

      Reply
  58. Kristin says

    02/06/2015 at 1:55 am

    I went for a month in December/January of last year and found it expensive, probably because I wasn’t able to find as many dorms and it was over the holidays which is an understandably expensive time.

    Reply
  59. sashlah says

    02/22/2015 at 8:06 am

    We are spending around 15/20$ a day in two in North Thailand. We rented a huge house with 3 bedrooms for little more than 150/month. We always cook at home buying stuff at the market.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/23/2015 at 1:40 am

      Northern Thailand is really nice and cheap. Cooking at home is cheaper than street food? That’s my favorite part of Thailand!

      Reply
  60. Katie says

    02/23/2015 at 9:11 pm

    Thanks for the great advice! One thing to add, when I was traveling for 6 months through Western Europe, I got charged about $5 per ATM withdrawal– I have Chase. BUT, I called and asked them, and kind of sweet talked them, into refunding me the charges! It wasn’t a lot since I went to the ATM as few times as possible but every dollar counts!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/23/2015 at 10:16 pm

      I’d suggest Charles Schwab which refunds all ATM fees and doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. I really think they’re the best option. Great customer service, too. Wow I sound like an ad but honestly I love them.

      Reply
      • Jonas says

        01/14/2016 at 6:05 am

        Hi Kristin,

        do you by any chance know how this works for Europeans? Can, say a Belgian guy, get an Charles Schab account? 🙂
        Have you met Europeans troughout your trip who managed to solve or eliminate these fees?

        Cheers

        Reply
        • Kristin says

          01/16/2016 at 1:01 pm

          I believe Schwab is only in the US, these are some good suggestions: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/avoid-paying-bank-fees-traveling/

          Reply
  61. Kristin says

    03/07/2015 at 6:08 pm

    First off I want to say I’m a huge fan of your blog! Your posts are always great and so interesting! I’m very grateful for this post in particular. I’m considering homeschooling my son for a year and spending the time traveling SE Asia. So I have a few questions for you: what is the point of travelers insurance? Is it health insurance? We have health insurance and I cover my electronics through my homeowners insurance (it’s very cheap btw) so I don’t think I need travelers insurance, right? Did any areas seems unsafe at all? My son is 13 so he’s not a baby but I still don’t want to put him directly in danger of course. When you reference “dorms” is that the same thing as hostels? What is high season in SE Asia? What language is most widely spoke? I was thinking about spending a few weeks in one spot to take courses on a foreign language. Anything else you think I should know? Thanks and keep up the great work!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/11/2015 at 7:03 am

      Hey Kristin! Depends on which country you’re in regarding which language is spoken the most widely. In Thailand that would be Thai, Malay in Malaysia, etc. However, most places you’ll find you’ll be fine communicating as locals speak at least some English and much communication isn’t verbal anyways, as I’ve learned through the years. I also don’t think a few weeks is enough time to learn much of a language, though I wouldn’t want to discourage you!

      As for insurance, you can check if your health insurance covers you abroad. Mine didn’t. I have travel insurance so that I’m always covered and if I need to be flown home for medical care, I’m still covered. Hope that helps.

      Reply
      • Kristin says

        03/11/2015 at 9:35 am

        Yes that helps a lot! Thank you!

        Reply
  62. Erin says

    05/07/2015 at 7:40 am

    I find your post realistic! And refreshing knowing that I’m not able to always stick to $30/day either. Currently traveling in Northern Thailand and doing my best with level of comfort, while staying cheap. Probably the biggest money saver as you mention is indeed when I go a week or so without drinking. 🙂 Thanks for the honest post and keeping up with your site. Inspiring!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      05/07/2015 at 7:32 pm

      Thanks Erin! Yep the biggest budget killer is alcohol, even though each drink individually is cheap, it adds up!

      Reply
  63. Ferna says

    05/29/2015 at 5:41 am

    Awesome! I got to understand on how much should I be needing and what do I really want before exploring outside my country in SEA!

    Very informative post! 😀

    Reply
  64. Liem @ Holiday Bays says

    06/20/2015 at 10:28 pm

    Hey Kristin, when will you visit Vietnam? We can go for coffee and eat some local food. I live in the Mekong Delta area. Love your blog by the way! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      06/22/2015 at 4:10 am

      I spent one month there in 2014 but would love to return. I love the food and the coffee so much!

      Reply
  65. jez says

    07/18/2015 at 3:40 pm

    Good write-up

    The Wife & I traveled SE Asia for 3 months last year and are hooked! On seeing more. We did things a different way financially so are kinda setup now but it meant foregoing this earlier on. But also means work is almost optional now. We spent about $8k across 7 Countries and that’s staying in Hotels ranging from $50-$100 per night. Everything is cheap there and most things are just so much better. They live a good life and we now see that Western world has it all wrong

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      07/19/2015 at 2:16 am

      Can definitely see where you’re coming from with that. Wouldn’t say they all live a good life though. It’s easy for us to do so because we were born with privilege, a passport that provides mobility, and the ability to earn in a strong currency.

      Reply
  66. Jasmine says

    08/09/2015 at 6:49 am

    My main question in all of this was how did you go about traveling to these countries once you started in Thailand? Are there cheap (significantly cheap) flights available from one to the next or are you able to cross the border in a local bus? *I’m trying to convince my friends of a southeast Asia tour and the only way I can persuade them is if this factor is relatively inexpensive lol.*

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      08/10/2015 at 5:01 am

      Hi Jasmine, I generally crossed overland though I flew to Malaysian Borneo and did a few flights in Indonesia as well. For the most part busses and trains are the method of getting around, and they’re cheap! So are Air Asia flights so I’d suggest signing up for their newsletter and taking advantage of sales. I scored a flight for $18 with them previously.

      Reply
  67. Charmaine says

    09/30/2015 at 12:52 pm

    Thanks for all your tips! I’m looking to do some backpacking soon and one thing I’m concern about are bank fees! You mentioned Charles Schwab doesn’t have any fees, can you elaborate more on this? Were you always banking with them or only as a travel account? Is it only available to US citizens (I’m from Canada).

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/12/2015 at 6:38 am

      Hi Charmaine, I don’t know if it’s available in Canada but I don’t think so. This post is a pretty good resource: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/avoid-paying-bank-fees-traveling/

      Reply
  68. Izy Berry says

    11/26/2015 at 2:30 pm

    Is not that expensive !! Incredible is very economic

    Reply
  69. KeepCalmAndWander says

    12/27/2015 at 7:44 am

    Going back to Cambodia soon and I hope the country is still cheap! 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/27/2015 at 1:10 pm

      It’s still cheap.

      Reply
  70. Christian Vielma says

    12/29/2015 at 10:54 am

    Nice post! My wife and I traveled this year around Asia, including SEA. We also find the $30 limit not very realistic unless you stay for long time and live more like a local (preparing your own food instead of restaurant)

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/31/2015 at 4:18 am

      I feel like eating street food is superior to cooking your own when traveling in Asia. It’s fresh, cheap, and lots of it is healthy.

      Reply
  71. Darren Bush says

    01/11/2016 at 11:06 pm

    Hey Kristine,
    I just want to thank you. As your blog is super helpful for me. I will keep all your points in my mind as i am thinking of visiting few countries in southeast asia.

    Reply
  72. Oliver Mortimer says

    01/13/2016 at 6:07 am

    Great article, Myself and my girlfriend are travelling on the 10th of February for 167 days. We will be going to Thailand Laos Malaysia Indonesia and Cambodia. We will be taking with us just over 9000 euro and have our flights booked travel insurance bought and vaccinations done.

    I’m wondering if you think this will be enough money? We would like to see and do as much as we can and will be mostly eating street food but will be staying in our own rooms and not in dorms.

    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/13/2016 at 8:41 am

      If you take local transport and don’t party too much it could work. You might have to stay in dorms sometimes but the main thing that eats a budget quickly is partying for sure.

      Reply
      • Oliver Mortimer says

        01/14/2016 at 3:25 am

        Thanks for the reply. We’re not going over to party, so hopefully we’ll be ok with the budget we have….

        Reply
  73. robbie says

    01/20/2016 at 4:03 pm

    is it best to book hostels and such before or just go on the go

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/22/2016 at 3:27 pm

      I generally do it on the go unless it’s a holiday in which case they can book out for months ahead of time.

      Reply
  74. Natasja Trujillo says

    01/25/2016 at 6:54 pm

    Love your blog. What would you say this budget would be for 2 people?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      01/28/2016 at 10:49 am

      That was just for me. For two double the food costs and add for busses and flights too. I stayed in dorms as well so I paid a single amount but for a private room or a dorm for two you’ll pay double. It’s not entirely double the cost but I’d budget as much for cushion.

      Reply
  75. yuyazz says

    02/03/2016 at 8:03 am

    Hello
    i’m sorry but i really need to write on maximum english blogs because after 6 months of travel in South East Asia, it is my duty to prevent the maximum person from countries such england or australia
    Everywhere we went, thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, Burma, Malaysia, and Laos, we encountered the same type of travelers, loud, arrogant, completely disrespectful of other travelers and local poeple or places..A on several occasions we had to change guesthouse to find a more quiet place, especially away from you english people.
    You have a tendency to shout rather than speak, to make noise, in couple or group, always acting as if you were alone in earth..Even if you know that the owner of the guest house sleeps just next door, even if his childrens have to sleep to go at school the next morning, it will not matter, you continue until late at night yelling like pigs, in total disrespect of your neighbors .I therefore ask you this: learn to respect your neighbors, cease to believe you higher because the whole world must understand you and speak your language when you do not speak any other language except yours..the local bad feel towards overseas is due in large part to your behavior..Vang Vieng but the Thai islands are the best examples of your behavior incredibly bad.English women love to put almost naked, where the local dress head to toe in all sacred places or elsewhere, you English women you absolutely not respect the modesty of local people, in bikini everywhere..we thing that you really behave badly, the whole world hates you for that, but you don’t care and continue..if ever someone notice it to you, you laugh..You, English, you must to know it, please, SHUT UP, and respect local cultures and your neighbors..your culture based on easy friendship, nudity in public places, and “shouting” must stop!!!.Please be respectful and forget your huge egos!!! … you are the shame of Western europe to abroad …you have to know and to behave in consequence please..if some of you think that i’m exagerating, just look and listen, everywhere in South asia, and certainly everywhere in the world..you are in holidays, ok..but maybe your neighbors or the local people around you are NOT in holidays!!!
    -so 1 : be quiet
    -2 : stop wearing bikinis and show your muscles to the whole world..
    if people comme here to read these comments, be adise that you are not really appreciated in the world…especially because of young travellers who just care about themselves, and just think about making party…
    I had no bad idea about english or autralian before, not at all..now after six month travelling, i just hate you, and can’t stand anymore your fucking behaviour..

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/05/2016 at 6:41 am

      I wasn’t going to approve because it’s racist this but then again, there are some nuggets of wisdom in here. People who travel elsewhere only to behave badly and disrespect the locals but partying like crazy are the scourge of Southeast Asia and a big reason why I tried to get away from the Thai islands and find other places that weren’t ruined yet.

      Also, I’m not English. Not Australian either. Your problem is with the bad eggs, not the entire race of people. Calm down.

      Reply
  76. Brennan says

    02/07/2016 at 7:04 pm

    Hey Kristin, this is a great site and very helpful…kudos to ya for setting it up and providing all of the valuable information! I have been pondering leaving my job for some time now to travel Southeast Asia for a year. I have been fortunate that I can travel twice a year while still having my job, and I have been to a few countries so far (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines) but I really want to spend more time there than just a few weeks per year. What are your thoughts on being there for a year? Do you think it’s too long? Also, after your 8 month trip and you returned to the States what was your takeaway from it and are you more motivated to travel now or less? What would say was the best part of the trip?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/10/2016 at 12:39 pm

      Altogether I’ve spent 3 years of my life in Asia and I STILL feel like I haven’t seen it all so there’s no way that a year is too long. I loved the interactions with locals when they happened. Have fun!

      Reply
  77. Kevin says

    03/29/2016 at 2:36 am

    This blog is friggin amazing! Thanks for all the great advice. I’ve been saving for the last two years and I’m about to embark on an across the globe backpack journey, living on 20 dollars a day.

    Reply
  78. Haley says

    04/04/2016 at 4:43 am

    Thanks a lot for sharing!! I’m planning a trip to Southeast Asia and this is the first article that actually helped me to calculate expenses. Thank you for all the helpful information

    Reply
  79. A Pin on the Map says

    05/23/2016 at 10:36 am

    Thanks so much for the invaluable info! Thinking of heading to Vietnam and Cambodia next summer and this post will be perfect to re-visit before I book my trip. Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  80. Julie Rog. says

    05/24/2016 at 4:08 am

    Thanks for all the great advice! I want to travel now ^^

    Reply
  81. NickPomata says

    05/26/2016 at 4:40 am

    i think 11.000$ is too expensive
    i also paln a 6 months travel, in southeast asia
    but probably 4000/5000
    will be my budget

    Reply
    • Tiem says

      07/29/2016 at 2:47 am

      Hi NickPomata, are you still traveling? And how about yourt target 4000/5000 per 6 months? Thank you!

      Reply
  82. Steeve says

    07/08/2016 at 6:33 am

    I am always amazed on how much expenses keep piling up when I am on vacation… Even when I don’t do anything fancy. I now try to do some volunteering work. I receive accommodation and meals and in return I do some work. It is the best way to travel with minimum expenses and to get to know some local people and the local culture. I did it last year in a yoga ashram in India called Arhanta Yoga. It was the best experience ever. I am now looking for a place in Cambodia, if any body has any suggestions… I would love to know!

    Reply
  83. Emilia @ mythicalasia.com says

    07/13/2016 at 10:29 pm

    Southeast Asia is a wonderful destination for the families with kids. Also for many travelers, this region is their first introduction to Asia.

    Reply
  84. Maddie says

    07/23/2016 at 12:03 pm

    Took my first trip to Southeast Asia summer of 2015 and spent 10 days in Thailand going through Ayutthaya, Lopburi, and then finally Bangkok. Even spent my 18th birthday in Bangkok and stayed on Khaosan Road! Best experience of my life, planning another trip summer 2017 with my dad that takes us to Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and finally Thailand. We both want to hopefully move somewhere in SE Asia in the next few years and this breakdown of costs and your experience helps with the planning process!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      07/25/2016 at 4:18 am

      That’s wonderful! So glad that you had such a great time 🙂

      Reply
    • Naciholidays says

      09/12/2016 at 2:57 am

      Vietnam is also a good suggestion, I visited Ha Long Bay is very beautiful there and Nha Trang, Sai Gon … Maybe you’ll like it

      Reply
  85. James Crosby says

    08/22/2016 at 11:32 am

    If you really put young urban mind to it $30 a day overall is very realistic. I did that ciircuit as part of a larger trip and it can be done on around $18 a day. Couchsurf, hitchhike, and that’s your two biggest costs wiped out. As far as food, you can easily eat breakfast for $1 and evening meal for $3. Use a steripen so you can drink tap water, never drink alcohol. Also don’t take tuktuks unless you really need to. Wake up early and walk everywhere. Some days I would walk in excess of 20km to explore places. Keeps you fit and it’d free.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      08/22/2016 at 4:56 pm

      I’d say the biggest part of that advice that helps with costs is not drinking (and for the sake of argument, not doing activities that cost money). Eating local and sleeping cheap are great ways to save but I also think most people can’t resist indulging when they travel, in all of the fun stuff, so I’d rather spend a bit more to have more fun.

      Reply
  86. Erin says

    10/13/2016 at 2:06 am

    Hi Kristin,

    My Partner and I are planning a 6 month trip to South East Asia with our 16 month old son.

    We want to do it as cheap as possible and we’re thinking of buying a van and decking it out with a mattress etc.

    Do you think this would be safe and efficient way to travel South East Asia?
    We are planning on going to Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam & Cambodia.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      10/13/2016 at 11:07 am

      I don’t really think that’s necessary. Busses and private rooms at hostels are so cheap, and I never really saw anyone self-driving there except for on a motorbike.

      Reply
  87. Sasha says

    10/21/2016 at 1:44 pm

    So true about the $30 a day and just totally going over with even just a visa fee or transport! Transport prices are what surprised us! I did not get any immunizations though and I flew from Australia so my flights were much less as well. Love your honest breakdown. Very helpful for first-timers to SEA 🙂

    Reply
  88. Äventyrsresenär says

    12/11/2016 at 6:11 am

    Hi there Kristin,

    Just stumbled on your blog and as a former expat in Asia I’m glad to see you covered some useful tips and advice when traveling around this region. I haven’t read all of your posts for this particular adventure… you mentioned some stuff you did in the south of thailand and indonesia and malaysia, was it scuba diving? Would love to know more, did you write a post about these travel experiences as well?

    Have a great weekend,
    Sam aka “Äventyrsresenären”

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/11/2016 at 11:15 am

      Sure did! Scroll down to SCUBA diving on this active adventures page and you can see what I wrote about: https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/outdoor-travel-blog/

      Reply
  89. Chloe says

    12/13/2016 at 3:22 am

    Hello,

    I am going away for 6 weeks on boxing day to Thailand, Vietnam & Cambodia.
    What would you say is the best way to carry money as i will need three different currencies.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      12/15/2016 at 8:59 pm

      get it from ATMs

      Reply
  90. Agness of a TukTuk says

    02/14/2017 at 12:39 am

    Wow, this is great! I learned a thing or two I could’ve done better when I was in SEA. It’s affordable travel, but it could even be made more affordable. There’s something about the people in SEA that totally makes me want to go back.

    Reply
  91. Michael says

    02/22/2017 at 9:29 pm

    Hi Kristin,
    Thank you for the tips, I have traveled around the world but most of them were with the US Marine Corps. I am just finishing up grad school this May and will travel for the first time that is not work related. I will be traveling for 3 months and want to start with Thailand, and end in Australia. I don’t drink (I am hoping that will save me some money) and I don’t have any other habits that will cost me more (want to get a scuba license though). I like the couchsurfing idea (do you know any other option if I don’t find accommodations for free?). What safety advice would you give me (specially if I was in military in my past life) and i believe I have most of the immunization done through military deployments. Where would I be able to learn to surf for cheap or even free in any of these countries that you have visited in SE asia?
    Thank you,
    Michael

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      02/22/2017 at 11:50 pm

      There’s no surf except for in Indonesia, I’m fairly certain. As for safety, just be smart. If you don’t drink then that’ll help a lot with money and with not getting into trouble. Dorms are so cheap, if you can’t couchsurf then go for those.

      Reply
  92. Therie says

    03/12/2017 at 7:35 am

    You really can’t miss scuba diving in SE Asia. It’s a must and the experience is absolutely worth the money. Thank you for putting this together Kristin! Your blog is so awesome, great tips and recommendations, keep it up!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      03/14/2017 at 6:48 am

      Glad you liked it! I totally agree, I wouldn’t have wanted to experience SEA without the diving. It was worth every penny!

      Reply
  93. Ahmed says

    06/15/2017 at 11:43 am

    Has anyone tried camping in South Asia or have any experience with it? I’m considering that 🙂

    Reply
  94. Piotr Kowalski says

    09/26/2017 at 4:53 am

    This is a very good post and I definitely was looking for something like this. I’m planning a long term trip to Asia next year and the information you have put here will make me change my plans a little. I didn’t know that Laos and Cambodia are so damn cheap, $2 for a bed is nearly like for free or to put it into perspective, I couldn’t even buy a nice sandwich in Europe for that amount. Which place/country you liked the most from them all that you’ve seen in south east Asia?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/26/2017 at 7:03 am

      I like them all for different reasons! Laos was pretty special, though, as was Cambodia, because they were a little less popular.

      Reply
  95. Abdulrahman Ameen says

    11/26/2017 at 7:44 am

    This is what I was just searching for. I’m planing to go to a trip to Southeast Asia soon but I have already visited Malaysia, So now I’m Planing to go to Cambodia,Vietnam,Indonesia, Philippines ,Thailand and Myanmar. But a lot of people told me Laos, Vietnam And Cambodia are much similar and they told me you can just go to Cambodia so what do you think of that? and how long should I take to visit these countries with how much budget like estimating ?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      11/26/2017 at 9:26 am

      I don’t think they’re similar at all. Each has its own unique culture and landscape and things to see. I think a month in each country is good if you can.

      Reply
  96. Valentina Greene says

    07/28/2019 at 1:11 pm

    Love reading your posts. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  97. Luna says

    07/31/2019 at 8:44 am

    Thank you for sharing! I enjoyed reading your post, and it is very helpful for me to plan my next trip.

    Reply
  98. Paul says

    08/02/2019 at 4:46 am

    Great post! It will be very helpful to those who are planning to the trip and the pics are very nice.

    Reply
  99. Daniel Gallo says

    08/30/2019 at 12:20 am

    Where do you get the money to do this if your on Min. Wage? im lucky if after all the bills are paid i have 100$ left. like a 1k a year. it take me over a decade to do something like this?

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      09/02/2019 at 9:53 am

      You might find this helpful https://www.bemytravelmuse.com/how-to-afford-solo-female-travel/

      Reply
  100. Brendon says

    11/16/2019 at 5:27 pm

    Great article. I always save up and pay for insurance and the main flight ahead of time and then just pretend that money vanished ? And then I budget from there with my remaining money. Fortunely I’m Canadian and don’t have to pay for immunization. But again the CAD dollar is much weaker thanks USD. Stay in places longer and travel slower saved me hell of alot more money ?

    Reply
  101. Mary Smith says

    01/03/2020 at 2:39 am

    Great post! it will be very helpful for planning any trip to Aisa.

    Reply
  102. Paula says

    01/21/2024 at 11:11 pm

    Great article. I’d also suggest a good tip on money in SE Asia. Atms are a good way of getting cash and you can use apps like ATM Fee Saver – it helps finding the fee-free and lower fee Atms in the region along with withdrawal limits for foreign card holers. worth adding to your list of tricks!

    Reply
  103. MyChronicTravel says

    04/25/2025 at 9:53 am

    I still haven’t been there but I hope to one day. Looks amazing!

    Reply

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