How to budget for a multi-country trip through Southeast Asia
Budget for a daily average of $50 USD to cover accommodation, food, and local transport in mid-range comfort. Set aside a separate $300 buffer for regional flights and unexpected costs like visa fees or last-minute changes.
- Establish a base daily rate. Calculate $50 USD per day for your core expenses. This covers a private room in a budget hotel or high-end hostel, three street food meals, a couple of beers or coffees, and local transport like Grab or tuk-tuks.
- Account for regional transport. Budget $40 to $80 per flight for inter-country jumps (e.g., Bangkok to Hanoi). Book these at least 3 weeks out to avoid price spikes. For land travel like buses or trains, allocate $20 per journey.
- Calculate visa costs upfront. Research the exact visa fee for every country on your route before you leave. For example, Vietnam's e-visa is $25, while Cambodia's visa-on-arrival is $30. Stash this exact amount in USD cash, as many borders do not accept cards.
- Factor in 'Activity Spikes'. Your daily spend will drop on travel days, but spike on excursion days. Allocate an extra $100 per week for larger activities like scuba diving in Thailand, a Halong Bay cruise, or an Angkor Wat pass.
- Should I bring local currency from home?
- No. Exchange rates at home are terrible. Bring USD cash to exchange for your first day, then use local ATMs to withdraw money as needed.
- Is it cheaper to book travel in advance?
- Book regional flights 3-4 weeks ahead. Keep buses and trains flexible; you can usually book these 24-48 hours in advance through your accommodation or local agents.
- Do I need to track every penny?
- Use an app like TravelSpend. Input your daily $50 limit and record your costs in the local currency to see how you're tracking against your total trip budget.