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Trying to work out the cheapest country in Southeast Asia for travel in 2025? You’ve come to the best place. In this article we will compare the main Southeast Asian countries in terms of food, accommodation and transport prices. We have traveled all of these counties on a budget to give you accurate, reliable and up to date information. If you can get cheap flights then southeast asia is one of the best choices for a low budget tropical trip. But which country is best?
Southeast Asia is packed with natural beauty, great food, beautiful beaches and adventure. However, prices in southeast asia depend massively on your country, area and your itinerary. The quality also varies massively from country to country. Some countries are cheap and not that nice. Other countries are more expensive and still not very nice. And yet other countries are cheap and amazing. While other countries are expensive and not that nice. Inside knowledge is everything.
CONSIDERING A FAMILY GAP YEAR? – Don’t miss these EPIC budget tips for a Family Gap Year
Cheapest country in Southeast Asia Disclaimer
The prices are averages to give you a rough feel for the country. The prices in this article reflect an “easy to find” lowest end. Super savvy travellers may be able to find even lower prices. And anyone can find prices higher than these. Also, budget looks very different between countries. Some countries a low budget goes a long way. In other countries you need to be ready to rough it. In this article we will try and give you a feel for what you will get for your money in each country.
Go light & go budget – Don’t miss our guide on how to travel with just a backpack
We have tried to give you an average for each country. Prices can vary lots within a country. For example, rural Philippines is relatively cheap. But the capital city and tourist spots like El Nido are surprisingly expensive.
Use BOOKING.COM or AGODA to find cheap hotel deals in Southeast Asia
Comparison – the cheapest country in Southeast Asia
You may be interested in our guide How to Travel Thailand for under £20 per day
The countries earlier in the list are cheaper on average, you get more for your money at the low budget end AND cheap food, accommodation and transport are more readily available. Further down the list average prices are higher, the quality of the low budget end may be lower and it is harder to find cheap food, accommodation and transport.
| Cheapest street food | Cheapest budget accommodation | Cheapest transport | |
| Vietnam | £0.70 – £2 $1 – $2.50 | £5 or $6 | £1 – £3 local taxi $1.20 – $3.50 £10 – £20 long bus journeys $12 – $24 |
| Thailand | £1 – £2 $1.20 – $2.50 | £5 or $6 | £1-2 for local taxi $1.20 – $2.50 £10 – £30 for long distance buses or trains $12 – $36 |
| Indonesia | £1 – £2 $1.20 – $2.50 | £5 or $6 | £1 – £3 for short taxi rides Taxis are quite cheap. £10 – £30 for long distance buses |
| Laos | £1 – £2 $1.20 – $2.50 | £6 or $7 | £1 – £3 for local taxi journeys $1.20 – $3.50 £10 – £15 for intercity bus journeys $12 – $18 |
| Cambodia | £1 – £2.50 $1.20 – $3.00 | £5 – £10 $6 – $12 | £0.70 – £2.50 for short tuk tuk rides $1 – $3 £7 – £15 for long bus rides $10 – $18 |
| Philippines | £0.70 – £3 $1 – $3.50 | £10 – £15 $12 – $18 | £0.30 – £0.50 for jeeps and tuk tuks. $0.35 – $0.60 £2 – £3 for taxi journeys $2.50 – $4 £10 for inter city bus journeys $12 |
| Malaysia | £1 – £4 $1.20 – $5 | £10 – £15 $12 – $18 | £2 – £4 for local taxi journeys $2.50 – $5 £6 – £8 for long bus journeys $7.50 – $10 |
| Brunei | £1 – £3 $1.20 – $3.50 | £15 – £20 $18 – $24 | £2 – £6 for a taxi ride $2.50 – $8 |
| Singapore | £1.20 – £5 $1.50 – $6 | £20 – £30 $24 – $36 | £0.70 – £3.00 for the metro system $1 – $3.50 |
A few tips for budget travel in Southeast Asia
If you’re trying to find the cheapest country in Southeast Asia – it all depends on how you travel. Here are some of our top super savvy tips for budget travel in Southeast Asia:
- Get off the beaten track – try to travel away from the tourist spots and visit some really local towns and villages.
- Eat local street food and snacks – street food is generally cheap, tasty and readily available in Southeast Asia.
- Travel overland – take local buses. Travel around Southeast Asia overland is generally very cheap. Try to buy your tickets at the bus station rather than booking in advance. For local shared buses remember to barter.
- Find cheap accommodation using an online booking website. Then contact the cheapest hotels directly on Facebook and try to negotiate a deal for booking directly.
- If you have lots of places to visit use motorbike rental or local buses to get around
- Remember prices are always flexible. Barter to get the best prices – keep it friendly and positive. You can barter for transport, accommodation and also you can barter for products in markets.
- Research your activities. Work out what you really want to do and then price up the cheapest options. Choose countries that are cheap for your preferred activities.
- Avoid pre-book tours. These can be quite expensive (with some exceptions). Where possible try to do things independently. If you do need to take a tour book through local travel agents. Always shop around and barter.
1 Vietnam
Don’t miss our 10 day Vietnam itinerary
Vietnam may be the cheapest country in Southeast Asia. Cheap food, drinks, accommodation and transport are easy to find. Vietnam is also packed with natural beauty, fascinating culture and adventurous activities. Many travellers love Vietnam and refer to it as one of their favourite destinations. Before we go on, it is worth being aware that there can be a scammy culture in some tourist areas of Vietnam. Vietnamese people are generally very friendly and welcoming. Here is why we think Vietnam may well be the cheapest country in Southeast Asia:
Cheap food in Vietnam
Street food for example typically ranges in price from 20,000 – 60,000 VND (£0.70 – £2.00). The most common cheap street food in Vietnam are Pho Soups – noodle soup with chicken, veggies and stock. Another very popular cheap food in Vietnam is Bahn Mi – french style baguettes packed with pickled veggies, meat, egg and sauces. You can also find rice dishes and BBQ. Pork is very popular. Fresh fruit is widespread and it is easy to find fruit shakes. Oh yeah, and it would be wrong not to mention the amazing Vietnamese coffees too. It’s not just the price of the food that we love in Vietnam. We also love the availability of food. Cheap food is everywhere. Good quality, tasty, healthy and varied.
Don’t miss our Hanoi streetfood guide
Cheap rooms in Vietnam
It is also very easy to find cheap rooms in Vietnam. If you’re on a really tight budget expect to pay around £5 per night for a simple room (150,000 VND). However, you will need to hunt around for rooms this cheap and may need to compromise a little. If you’re able to budget around £10 – £15 per night you money will go along way in Vietnam. You will often have lots of choice and may be able to find rooms with a lot of character and even features like swimming pools. Some rooms may include breakfast with your room – but we were not super impressed with this.
Cheap transport in Vietnam
Transport in Vietnam is very cheap and pretty good for the money. You can use Grab and Gojek to book taxis in most of the big towns and cities around Vietnam. These apps allow you to get cheap and convient taxis. Expect to pay aound 30,000 – 90,000VND (£1 – £3) for short taxi rides. There are also good local bus systems in most of the bigger towns and cities. Expect to pay around £10 – £20 for long bus journeys. We we’re very impressed with the price and quality of a VIP sleeper bus in Vietnam. There are private capsules with surprisingly comfortable bedding. There are also sleeper train options too.
CHECK OUT THE FULL GUIDE – Vietnam vs Thailand – Which country should you visit?
2 Thailand
Don’t miss our 10 day Thailand itinerary
In terms of being cheap and amazing Thailand is very similar to Vietnam. Depending how you travel and what you do, Thailand could also lay claim to being the cheapest country in Southeast Asia. Thailand is slightly more developed with more tourist destinations – making it slightly more expensive on average. However, it is very easy to get off the beaten track and find fantastic cheap food, accommodation and transport in Thailand. In general, the north of Thailand is cheaper than the south. So if you’re on a tight budget aim for Chiang Mai and Chaing Rai. On the other hand, Phuket and the islands in the south tend to be more expensive.
Don’t miss our FULL break down – what is the cost of a budget trip to Thailand?
Cheap food in Thailand
If you’re looking for the cheapest country in Southeast Asia Thailand may be it. Food in Thailand is readily avaiable all over the place and it is very cheap. Most street food ranges between 50 – 100 baht (£1 – 2). Cheap food in Thailand is tasty, healthy and varied. Whether you want Pad Thai, papaya salad, BBQ chicken and sticky rice. Most street food in Thailand is very fresh and the quality is high. In some destinations it is very easy to find fresh seafood. For example, when we lived in Koh Phangan one of our regular family favourites was a large BBQ fresh fish for around 100 – 150 baht, sufficent to feed our hungry little family. We also love the abundance of Seven Eleven shops in Thailand. These convenience stores provide affordable snacks such as sushi, onigiri, toasted cheese sandwiches and much more. Cheap and readily available food really is one of the massive advantages of travelling Thailand.
Cheap rooms in Thailand
It is easy to find budget rooms in Thailand. If you are travelling on a very tight budget you can often find rooms for around 250baht (£5) for a simple fan room. However, this can be more challenging in touristy destinations. If you’re in a tourist hotspot, budget rooms generally start around 500 baht (£10). Some budget rooms in Thailand can be pretty rough. For example, it may be a grubby wooden room. Some rooms may lack windows and natural light. In other cases you may see mold. And of course you can always expect some creepy crawlies as fellow roommates. If your able to spend around £10 – £20 for a room in Thailand you money goes quite far. You can normally get a clean A.C. room with comfortable bedding and in a nice location.
Cheap transport in Thailand
Transport in Thailand is very cheap. In cities like Bangkok you can get taxis using the Grab or Bolt app. Alternatively flag a taxi at the side of the road and ask them to use the meter. Short taxi rides around the city normally cost £1-2. Taxis are actually cheaper than tuk tuks in Thailand.
Many areas of Thailand also have shared buses called songthaws (these normally cost around 10 – 30 baht (less than £1). Always check the price before you jump in. It is also cheap to travel around Thailand. It normally costs around £10 – £30 for long distance buses or trains around the country. If you can, we always recommend booking trains a few days early and spash out for a first class sleeper cabin.
Deciding between Thailand and Cambodia? – Don’t miss our Full Guide – Which country is best to visit Cambodia or Thailand?
3 Indonesia
Don’t miss our one week Bali itinerary
Indonesia is one of the cheapest countries in the world. Again, depending where you go and how you travel, Indonesia may well be the cheapest country in southeast Asia for travel. It is also a top destination for beaches, islands and diving. Although Indonesia is super cheap, it is quite an intrepid and under-developed country. On the other hand, some of the tourist hubs offer a lot for your money. For example, prices in Bali are higher than other areas of Indonesia but your money goes a long way in Bali. We will come back to that.
Cheap food in Indonesia
Food in Indonesia is very cheap and readily available. Indonesian street food is very tasty and normally costs around 20,000 – 40,000 IDR (roughly £1 – £2). Cheap food is very easy to find. One of the most popular street food dishes in Indonesia is Nasi Champur (Malay for mixed rice). Nasi Champur is a mix of different curries, veggies, meat served with rice. If you find yourself in a touristy spot in Indonesia you can find an impressive range of international cuisine. The prices for the quality are very impressive. For example, in Bali you can find things like smoothie bowls packed with fresh fruit for around 40,000IDR (roughly £2). You can also find Italian food, middle eastern food and Japanese food. The quality is very high for the price.
Cheap rooms in Indonesia
Accommodation in Indonesia is very cheap. You can normally find rooms for around 100,000IDR (roughly £5) at the cheapest end. It is easy to find budget rooms in Indonesia. Cheap rooms are pretty basic. Expect strangely hard or spongy bedding, fan rooms and a lack of hyigene. If you are able to pay a little more money for a room in Indonesia you money will go a long way. For example, if you pay around £20 on the touristy Gilli Islands, you can stay in a very nice hotel with outdoor swimming pool and a buffet breakfast on the beach.
Cheap transport in Indonesia
Transport in Indonesia is also very cheap. You can use the Grab taxi app to book taxis. A short ride is likely to cost 20,000 – 60,000IDR (roughly £1.00 – £3.00). You can also find buses in Indonesia. Alternatively, consider motorbike rental. Something to be aware of if you are travelling further around Indonesia. Boat transfers between the islands could add up if you are travelling a long way.
4 Laos
Laos is a cheap and lovely country to travel. Being slightly off the beaten track Laos has less options if you are looking to splash out and enjoy luxury hotels and International comforts. However, Laos does offer cheap and tasty food and some amazing activities. And it is still amongst the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia.
Cheap food in Laos
Like most counties in southeast Asia Laos is packed with an abundance of cheap and affordable street food. Most dishes range between £1 – £2 in price (This is roughly 20,000 LAK – 40,000 LAK in the local currency) Food is cheap and widely available. The quality and variety of food in Laos is pretty good. Typically you can find BBQ food (sausage, chicken and pork) sticky rice, veggies, noodles and soup.
Cheap rooms in Laos
Budget rooms in Laos typically start at around £6 per night (or roughly 130,000 LAK). Budget rooms are basic. Normally you can expect to have fan rooms, and cheap rooms are often constructed from wood and cheap materials. Expect hard beds, rough bedding and the occasional room with mosquito nets. The cheapest rooms are not super easy to find in Laos – not many rooms at the lowest budget end. Around £10 – £15 is more typical for cheap rooms in Laos.
Transport in Laos
Transport in Laos is pretty cheap and consistent with other countries in southeast Asia. For example, you can take local taxi journeys for around £1 – £3. If you’re travelling further it is likely to cost around £10 – £15 for intercity bus journeys (200,000 LAK – 30,000 LAK). Laos is less developed than Thailand so transport is a little less reliable and there is less of an established transportation system.
5 Cambodia
Cambodia is one of the cheapest countries in the world – but not the cheapest country in southeast Asia to travel. Most people visit Cambodia to see the famous temples near Siem Reap (Angkor Wat), Phnom Pehn (the capital city) or the islands in the south. These areas are more expensive for food, accommodation and transport. However, the rural villages of Cambodia are very cheap. There is a lot of poverty in Cambodia and many ways to help. If you’re travelling on a tight budget Cambodia can be very cheap – but you need to be savvy and shop around. Also budget in Cambodia is rough.
Cheap food in Cambodia
Street food in Cambodia generally costs between £1 – £2.50. At the cheapest end you can normally find greasy noodles, rice and fish or rice and sausage. Cheap street food in Cambodia is not that tasty compared to other southeast Asian countries. If you’re in one of the tourist spots like Siem Reap, there is plenty of more expensive international food available. Most international dishes in Cambodia cost £3 – £8. The quality of international food in Cambodia is surprisingly good.
Cheap rooms in Cambodia
Cheap rooms in Cambodia cost £5 – £10 but it is hard to find cheap rooms. Outside of the tourist hotspots there is not a wide variety of accommodation availble. In the tourist areas there are more options to choose from but accommodation is more expensive. If your budget is £10 – £20 per night you can find pretty good rooms with air conditioning.
Cheap transport in Cambodia
Transport in Cambodia is pretty cheap. Expect to pay around $1 – $3 for short tuk tuk rides around town (£0.7 – £2.50). You can generally hire a tuk tuk driver for $10 – $20 per day depending on the distance. It normally costs $10 – $20 for long distance bus journeys around the country (roughly £7 – £15).
6 Philippines
FULL AND IN-DEPTH GUIDE – How to travel the Philippines on a low budget
We love the Philippines. Beautiful beaches, stunning islands, amazing lagoons, crystal clear waters. You can explore stunning canyons, swim with whale sharks or immerse yourself in swirls of sardines. This stunning country is packed with adventure and breathtaking beauty. If you get a chance to visit the Philippines we highly recommend it. We love the Philippines but this is definitely not the cheapest country in southeast Asia. The capital city Manila is actually pretty expensive for food, accommodation and transport. Popular tourist spots like El Nido (Palawan) are also very expensive – prices are two or three times higher than other parts of the Philippines. The best way to do the Philippines on a budget is to travel off the beaten track and stay in small villages. Visit places that other people don’t.
The Philippines is a beautiful country – BUT it can have its challenges. Find out more about some challenges of traveling in the Philippines.
Cheap food in the Philippines
Food in the Philippines is very cheap. You can find street food for around 50 peso – 200 peso
(£0.70 – £3). Some of the cheapest streetfood in the Philippines is not that nice. The spices tend to be quite mellow and some of the dishes can be quite greasy. Watch out for bakeries. You can often buy fresh cheap baked goods in the Philippines for 30 pesos (around £0.50). Cheap street food is hard to find in tourist areas. In El Nido the cheapest meals cost around 200 pesos (around £3). Many places cost much more. International cuisine is similar to westen prices. Expect to pay 700 pesos (roughly £10) or more for a pizza. One thing is fantastic in the Philippines – Seafood! Make sure you get a seafood platter. You can find amazing fresh seafood platters for around 700 – 1,000 pesos. This may not be cheap but it is amazing value for money. It is rare to find seafood of this quality at such a low price.
Accommodation in the Philippines
Rooms in the Philippines are more expensive than other countries in southeast Asia. Expect to pay around £10 – £15 for a budget room. In some areas power supply can be an issue – so expect power cuts. If your guest house does not have a generator this can mean some pretty sweaty nights. Even the cheapest rooms are quite expensive and the quality is low at the budget end. Your money doesn’t go very far in the Philippines compared to other southeast Asian countries.
Transport in the Philippines
Transportation in the Philippines is very cheap. Expect to pay around £0.30 – £0.50 for jeeps and tuk tuks. Always agree a price before the journey. The jeeps are shared buses that actually look pretty awesome. Alternatively you can get taxis for around £2 – £3 for short journeys. Taxi drivers in Manila seem to charge a lot and are generally unwilling to use the meter. Some drivers may agree to use the meter if you pay an additional 100 pesos. The grab taxi app is also quite expensive in the Philippines. You can get inter-city buses for around 70 peso in the Philippines.
7 Malaysia
Don’t miss our 10 day Sabah itinerary – wildlife, mountains & reef. Alternatively we have a One week Penang itinerary packed with nature, adventure & great food
Malaysia is a stunning country well known for its rich and diverse culture, amazing food and natural beauty. Malaysia offers beaches, islands, beautiful waters and wild jungles. We love Malaysia, and highly recommend it. In the past year or two Malaysia is becoming cheaper due the Ringgit Depreciation (the exchange rate is becoming better if your are converting currencies into RM – the local currency). Malaysia has a dual pricing system. Foreigners are often charged 3 or 4 times more than locals for activities. This can really add up if you’re travelling Malaysia. Also national parks are increasingly charging higher entrance fees. Combined with high price accommodation, this makes Malaysia relatively expensive.
Cheap food in Malaysia
Malaysia has an abundance of street food. The flavors are amazing – but the food is often fried and not healthy. Also, Malaysia does not have a lot of fresh fruit or salads. Seafood tends to be quite expensive (except for a few places like islands). Food is relatively cheap in Malaysia. The cheapest street food in Malaysia is Nasi Lemak (rice parcels served in Banana leaf). Nasi Lemak is rice boiled in coconut milk and is normally served with fish, chicken, egg and a spicy sambal sauce. You can often find Nasi Lemak for around RM2 (roughly £0.40). You can find some small dishes for around RM5 (or £1) in Malaysia. Most street food costs RM10 – RM20 (approximately £2 – £4).
Find out about the BEST hawkers in Penang
Cheap rooms in Malaysia
Accommodation is relatively expensive in Malaysia. The cheapest rooms in Malaysia typically range between £10 – £15. At these low prices accommodation tends to be pretty basic. Cheap rooms are quite hard to find in Malaysia and the quality is pretty low. Even when you pay more for a room – places are still not great. Overall we have not been very impressed with accommodation in Malaysia.
Cheap transport in Malaysia
Transport in Malaysia is pretty cheap and good. For example you can use the Grab taxi app to get local taxis. A short local taxi journey normally costs around £2 – £4. Many places in Malaysia also have bus systems offering cheap local transport. Langkawi is an exception. The cheapest way to get around Langkawi is to find a cheap car rental (around RM60 per day roughly £12). Long distance travel in Malaysia is very cheap. Expect to pay around RM30 – RM40 (around £6 – £8) for long bus journeys.
Although Malaysia is not cheap overall, it may well be the cheapest country in southeast Asia for long distance bus travel.
8 Brunei
Brunei is one of the most expensive countries in Southeast Asia. This small oil rich country is sandwiched between the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah (Borneo Malaysia). Brunei is a small country and most people only visit for a few days. There is a stilt village, large grand mosque and you can take river cruises. In terms of food and culture, Brunei is quite similar to Malaysia.
Cheap food in Brunei
If you visit a local market in Brunei you can find cheap street food ranging in price from 1.5BND – 5BND (around £1.00 – £3.00). It is hard to find cheaper street food in Brunei. There are lots of mid range cafes – dishes cost around 5BND – 10BND (around £3 – £6). The food is similar to Malaysia but less variety.
Cheap rooms in Brunei
The cheapest rooms in Brunei costs 25 – 30 BDN (around £15 – £20). At these prices the accommodation is reasonable quality. Rooms are generally reasonably clean, comfortable and include air conditioning.
Cheap transport in Brunei
Transport in Brunei is not too expensive. It costs around 3 BND – 10 BND (around £2 – £6) for a short local taxi ride. Long distance bus journeys cost around £10 – £20. Buses and taxis can be hard to get in Brunei.
9 Singapore
Singapore is the most expensive countries in Southeast Asia. We do recommend a visit if you get a chance. Singapore is a very unique and fascinating country. Singapore is very developed. The entire country is a large city with malls, shops and conveince stores. There is an extensive metro system connecting the entire country. Singapore has some great attractions too. Don’t miss Kampong Glam, the Jewel at Changi Airport and the iconic Super tree Garden at Nibong island. Singapore prides itself of being clean, efficient and unified as a country.
Cheap food in Singapore
Relative to other countries in southeast Asia there is not a lot of cheap food in Singapore. The best place to find cheap food in Singapore are the hawker centres. Most dishes cost £1.20 – £5.00 at the hawkers in Singapore. You can also find some cheap cafes around town. Expect to pay around 2-3 SGD for a snack (e.g. steamed buns) and 3 – 8 SGD for a street food meals. International cuisine is relatively expensive.
Cheap rooms in Singapore
There aren’t really any cheap rooms in Singapore. The cheapest accommodation are the Space Pods (capsule hotels) – these are actually a lot of fun so we do recommend a stay – not just for budget. If you’re looking for a room in Singapore expect to pay at least £20 – £30 (most rooms start at 50 SGD per night). Even the cheapest rooms are quite expensive and the quality is low at the budget end. If you’re travelling on a low budget Singapore isn’t somewhere to stay for long. It is fascianting – but we only recommend 2-3 days for budget travellers.
Cheap transport in Singapore
Public transport in Singapore is cheap, efficient and very convenient. The metro system connects all of the main attractions in Singapore. Most journeys cost 1 – 3 SGD (roughly £0.60 – £3.00) for the metro system. It is worth being aware that they do not take cash payments for the metro – but if you have a bank card – it may well be accepted at the gates (just tap and go). We found this surprisingly cheap with a good international card.
