I spent four months moving through Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos on a strict $30-a-day budget, tracking every expense in a notes app. It wasn't always comfortable, but it was never miserable either — here's exactly where the money went.
The Daily Breakdown
- Accommodation: $6-9 for a dorm bed or basic private room
- Food: $8-10 for three meals of street food and local restaurants
- Transport: $4-6 average, spread across buses, trains and songthaews
- Activities & misc: $5-7 for entrance fees, SIM data and incidentals
Eat where the locals eat
Street food stalls and local restaurants are almost always both cheaper and better than anything near a tourist strip.
The Biggest Money Savers
Overnight buses and trains double as transport and accommodation. Booking guesthouses a night at a time rather than in advance also opened up walk-in discounts in quieter towns.
Where Costs Crept Up
Islands — particularly in Thailand — consistently ran higher than the mainland, and diving certifications or multi-day tours can blow the daily average if not budgeted for separately.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Written by
Daniel Kim
Photography & Budget Travel Editor
Daniel backpacked across four continents on a shoestring budget before picking up a camera full-time. He now shoots and writes Trek Tales Online's photography and budget travel features.
