Here is a simple breakdown of what we paid, or regularly saw, during our travels through Southeast Asia. Prices can change depending on the season, location and how you like to travel, but this should give you a helpful starting point.
Any accommodation we have linked is somewhere we would happily stay again and genuinely recommend based on our own experience.
This guide is set for affordable travel based on how we were able to travel, you can find ways to go cheaper, and you can certainly pay up for a more comfortable experience.
Want to see some of these destinations for yourself? You can watch one of our Southeast Asia travel vlogs below.
Malaysia Travel Costs
Kuala Lumpur
- Hotel: Around RM140 - 270 per night
- Hostel: Around RM30 - 60 per person per night
- Transport: Metro is RM5, around RM15 - 45 per grab ride, or around RM60 from the airport
- Local meal: Around RM15 per meal
- Restaurant food: Around RM20 - 40 per meal
- Daily Budget: Around RM120 per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
We stayed at and recommend this hotel, which was fantastic with a great pool, comfortable rooms and right next to a metro station.
Kota Kinabalu
- Double room: Around RM110 - 155 per night
- Dorm bed: Around RM30 - 60 per person per night
- Transport: Around RM6 - 12 per Grab ride
- Local food: Around RM5 - 15 per meal
- Restaurant food: Around RM20 - 40 per meal
- Daily Budget: Around RM90 per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
Sandakan
- Double room: Around RM80 - 140 per night
- Dorm bed: Around RM30 - 60 per person per night
- Transport: Around RM5 - 12 per Grab ride
- Local food: Around RM5 - 15 per meal
- Restaurant food: Around RM20 - 40 per meal
- Daily Budget: Around RM90 per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
Malaysia was one of the best-value countries for us. Kuala Lumpur felt modern and easy to travel around, while Borneo was affordable and amazing for wildlife experiences.
Singapore Travel Costs
- Hotel: Around $125 - 210 SGD per night
- Hostel: Around $40 - 75 SGD per person per night
- Transport: Grab rides are usually around $10 - 20 SGD
- Hawker food: Around $5 - 10 SGD per meal
- Restaurant food: Usually $15+ SGD per meal
- Daily Budget: Around $70SGD per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
Singapore was easily the most expensive place we visited in Southeast Asia, but hawker centres and a lot of walking make it possible to not spend too much.
Thailand Travel Costs
Ao Nang
- Hotel: Around 970 - 1,600 THB per night
- Dorm bed: Around 215 - 430 THB per person per night
- Transport: Up to around 110 THB per ride
- Meals: Around 150 - 300 THB per meal
- Daily Budget: Around 600 THB per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
We stayed at and recommend this hotel, which blew us away with the room size and pool facilities. Great breakfast as well at an extra cost.
Koh Tao
- Hotel: Around 860 - 1,300 THB per night
- Dorm bed: Around 320 - 650 THB per person per night
- Transport: Prices vary, but transport is more limited around town
- Meals: Around 100 - 150 THB per meal
- Daily Budget: Around 500 THB per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
Koh Samui
- Hotel: Around 1,075 - 1,720 THB per night depending on location
- Dorm bed: Around 215 - 430 THB per person per night
- Transport: Up to around 110 THB for short bike rides, or around 540 THB for a car across the island
- Meals: Around 100 - 150 THB per meal
- Daily Budget: Around 600 THB per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
Bangkok
- Hotel: Around 1,000 - 2,200 THB per night depending on location
- Dorm bed: Around 200 - 450 THB per person per night
- Transport: Around 17 - 62 THB per trip on the MRT or BTS
- Meals: Around 100 - 200 THB per meal
- Daily Budget: Around 750 THB per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
Thailand can still be very affordable, especially for food and public transport, but prices vary a lot depending on whether you are in Bangkok, a beach town or on an island.
Cambodia Travel Costs
Cambodia uses Cambodian Riel, but as tourists we found that many prices were commonly quoted and paid in USD, so we have listed Cambodia in USD.
Siem Reap
- Hotel: Around $15 - 25 USD per night
- Dorm bed: Around $3 - 7 USD per person per night
- Transport: Tuk-tuks are usually up to around $3 USD for most rides
- Meals: Around $3 - 7 USD per meal
- Daily Budget: Around $25 USD THB per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
We stayed at and recommend this hotel, which was a great option for the location, value for money and was fantastic in organising our Angkor Wat tour, even having a packed breakfast ready for us at 4am!
Phnom Penh
- Hotel: Around $20 - 40 USD per night
- Dorm bed: Around $3 - 10 USD per person per night
- Transport: Most rides are up to around $3 USD
- Meals: Around $3 - 7 USD per meal
- Daily Budget: Around $35 USD THB per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
We stayed at and recommend this hotel, which was above our usual budget, but as we were there for my birthday, we spent a bit extra and it was definitely worth it.
Cambodia was very affordable for accommodation and transport, especially in Siem Reap. The main thing to budget for is attractions, as places like Angkor Wat can add more to your daily spend, although still affordable at only $37 for a day ticket.
Vietnam Travel Costs
Ho Chi Minh City
- Hotel: Around 300,000 - 1,000,000 VND per night
- Hostel: Around 200,000 - 400,000 VND per person per night
- Transport: Around 15,000 - 80,000 VND for a bike, or 50,000–200,000 VND for a car
- Local meal: Around 50,000 VND per meal
- Restaurant food: Around 150,000 - 300,000 VND per meal, or more at nicer restaurants
- Daily Budget: Around 500,000 VND per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
Since we live in Ho Chi Minh City, we don't have any accommodation to share with you, although we have made this guide to the districts of Ho Chi Minh City for you to decide which area to stay in.
Ho Chi Minh City is one of the easiest places in Southeast Asia to travel on a budget. Local food is cheap, Grab bikes are affordable, and there are plenty of budget hotels and hostels across the city.
Hanoi
- Hotel: Around 300,000 - 1,000,000 VND per night
- Hostel: Around 200,000 - 400,000 VND per person per night
- Transport: Around 15,000 - 80,000 VND for a bike, or 50,000–200,000 VND for a car
- Local meal: Around 50,000 VND per meal
- Restaurant food: Around 150,000 - 300,000 VND per meal, or more at nicer restaurants
- Daily Budget: Around 500,000 VND per person, plus accomodation, shopping and activities
Hanoi is also very affordable, especially if you stay around the Old Quarter and eat local food. It is a great-value city for travellers, with cheap transport, budget accommodation and lots of affordable food options.
Our Quick Verdict
- Cheapest overall: Cambodia or Vietnam
- Best value for money: Malaysia
- Most expensive: Singapore
- Best cheap food: Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam
- Most variable prices: Thailand, especially between Bangkok and the islands
Travel Tip: Sort Your Data Before You Arrive
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If you're travelling on a budget, Vietnam and Cambodia offer some of the best value in Southeast Asia. For us, Malaysia was the sweet spot between affordability, comfort and experiences, while Singapore was by far the most expensive destination. Wherever you choose to visit, Southeast Asia remains one of the best-value travel regions in the world.
More Southeast Asia Travel Guides
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