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Just like our recent European cities Backpacker Index for 2011, we’ve tried to make travel planning and budgeting much easier for Asia as well. While it’s difficult to accurately compare one city to the next, our method should give the clearest possible picture of which destinations are great bargains and which will put more of a dent in your travel funds.
Check the Asian Backpacker Index for 2012
As you’ll see below, most of Asia is incredibly cheap by international standards, with only the single most expensive city being a place many can’t afford at all.
It’s also worth considering that when the difference between two cities is only US$5 or US$10 per day, then most travelers won’t need to adjust their styles much to be able to afford either one. Many of the cities in the middle of the list are very close together, so don’t get too caught up in the order in those cases.
How the Backpacker Index works
For this comparison we are trying our best to compare apples to apples, so we chose a “basket of goods” that stays the same, figured out the current price for each item, and then translated the total into US dollars to make things easy to compare. Prices for most things are fixed and certain, but prices for a “budget lunch” or a bottle of beer can vary depending on whom you ask. Still, our estimates are based on a lot of research, and should be very close if not right on.
Costs for each city
- One night in the cheapest bunk at the least expensive hostel with a good location and good reviews, or half the price of a double hotel room in places where there are no hostels
- Two public transportation rides per day
- One paid/famous attraction per day (Every city is loaded with free things to do for budget-conscious travelers, but here we take the average cost of a major attraction in each city for each day.)
- Three “budget” meals per day (We took our minimum meal price and added 20% to make it more realistic for a longer trip.)
- Three cheap, local beers (or two large beers) each day as an “entertainment fund.” Non-drinkers might have dessert and coffee or attend a local music performance instead, so this is a general benchmark that should be proportional for each city.
Price of Travel’s Asia Backpacker Index for 2011
Note: All prices converted to US dollars in late July, 2011. The main index price will be converted daily on in the Miscellaneous section of each city’s main page. This main list will be updated when currencies shift in a meaningful way.
1 – Hanoi, Vietnam (cheapest)
Asia’s cheapest city for backpackers is also one that gets high marks from most visitors with its unique combination of French colonial and Asian post-communism. The food is also top-notch, especially when you are sitting amongst locals at one of the thousands of plastic-chair cafes throughout the city. Keep costs even lower by sticking with Bia Hoi, the world’s cheapest beer.
- Currency: Vietnamese dong
- Cheap/good hostel: The Drift Backpackers Hostel – 82,500/night
- Transportation: 20,000
- Meals: 72,000
- Drinks/Entertainment: 30,000
- Attractions: 17,000
- Daily Backpacker Index: VND221,500 = US$10.76/day
2 – Hoi An, Vietnam
Until you are actually planning a trip to Vietnam you’d be excused for never having heard of Hoi An, which is just south of Danang on the central coast. But Hoi An is a very popular stop for those touring the country, and it ends up being the trip highlight for a great number of those. The old town is a perfectly preserved Chinese-style fishing village, and the city is as filled with great and cheap restaurants as it is with tailor shops.
- Currency: Vietnamese dong
- Cheap/good hostel: Hoa My Hotel – 115,000/night
- Transportation: 20,000
- Meals: 76,800
- Drinks/Entertainment: 30,000
- Attractions: 50,000
- Daily Backpacker Index: VND291,800 = $14.18/day
3 – Goa, India
India, in general, is a great travel bargain, as long as you are outside of its huge cities. Goa is actually a small state, rather than a city, so it’s a collection of beach and inland towns that have long been associated with hippie and electronic-music culture. Not all of Goa is this cheap, of course, but those on a budget can stretch their travel funds almost indefinitely in Goa if they have to, or are just motivated to hang around for a few months.
- Currency: Indian rupee
- Cheap/good hostel: Anjunapalms Guesthouse – 130/night
- Transportation: 8
- Meals: 288
- Drinks/Entertainment: 120
- Attractions: 100
- Daily Backpacker Index: INR646 = US$14.57/day
4 – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Saigon, as it’s still usually known, is far more sprawling and modern compared to Hanoi, and it’s quite a bit more lively as well. Hotel and food prices tend to be a bit higher than elsewhere in Vietnam as well, but compared to almost anywhere else in the world this is a bargain.
- Currency: Vietnamese dong
- Cheap/good hostel: Nga Hoang Hotel – 144,000/night
- Transportation: 20,000
- Meals: 108,000
- Drinks/Entertainment: 36,000
- Attractions: 15,000
- Daily Backpacker Index: VND323,400 = US$15.71/day
>>>Ho Chi Minh City prices and weather
5 – Vientiane, Laos
Landlocked and sometimes forgotten, Laos generally only tends to get visitors who are spending time touring the whole region, but those who make it are rewarded with a fascinating culture, and low prices. Laos’ capital city is so low key that it feels like a small-town river resort, though modern development is starting to creep in.
- Currency: Laos kip
- Cheap/good hostel: Youth Inn – 25,000/night
- Transportation: 20,000
- Meals: 62,400
- Drinks/Entertainment: 16,000
- Attractions: 6,000
- Daily Backpacker Index: LAK129,400 = US$16.14/day
>>>Vientiane prices and weather
6 – Pokhara, Nepal
While Kathmandu is where most visitors land first, it’s fairly hectic and its sights can be seen in only a couple days, so most people head quickly to Pokhara, which is Nepal’s tourism hub and the starting point of many fabulous treks. Fortunately, it’s not only more pleasant than the capital, but also cheaper in most respects, so it’s a great place to linger if you have time.
- Currency: Nepalese rupee
- Cheap/good hostel: Hotel Angel – 179/night
- Transportation: 80
- Meals: 384
- Drinks/Entertainment: 450
- Attractions: 100
- Daily Backpacker Index: NPR1,193 = US$16.73/day
7 – Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thailand’s “capital of the north” is certainly one of the world’s great travel bargain destinations. Filled with ancient temples and surrounded by a moat and city walls, Chiang Mai is a major stop in the region and a highlight for many. Much less crowded than Bangkok, and quite a bit cheaper as well, this is also booming with expats and creative people living cheaply while they work.
- Currency: Thai baht
- Cheap/good hostel: A Little Bird Guesthouse – 100/night
- Transportation: 30
- Meals: 138
- Drinks/Entertainment: 180
- Attractions: 100
- Daily Backpacker Index: THB548 = US$18.34/day
>>>Chiang Mai prices and weather
8 – Manila, Philippines
It’s a bit unfair to use Manila as the only expample in the Philippines, because the country is loaded with far nicer beach resorts and more interesting colonial cities, many of which are even cheaper than Manila. Still, many sunseekers and cultural tourist head here every week, so it’s good to know that it’s very affordable for most of us.
- Currency: Philippine peso
- Cheap/good hostel: Happy Coconuts Hostel – 250/night
- Transportation: 14
- Meals: 276
- Drinks/Entertainment: 150
- Attractions: 100
- Daily Backpacker Index: PHP790 = US$18.52/day
9 – Luang Prabang, Laos
Prices for many things in Luang Prabang have gone up more recently than in just about any other tourist city, mostly due to its fast-growing popularity, but for now it’s still very cheap for those who travel like a backpacker. The local attractions are all practically free, and the ice-cold Beerlao is sold at the same low price at nearly every restaurant in the city.
- Currency: Laos kip
- Cheap/good hostel: Spicylaos Backpackers – 30,000/night
- Transportation: 20,000
- Meals: 66,000
- Drinks/Entertainment: 20,000
- Attractions: 20,000
- Daily Backpacker Index: LAK156,000 = US$19.46/day
>>>Luang Prabang prices and weather
10 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Phnom Penh might be visited less if not for the fact that it’s a handy stop between Siem Reap and the Mekong Delta, but its convenient location has helped it develop a large tourist infrastructure, and it’s an interesting stop for sure. The main attractions are all quite cheap, as are the happy-hour beers at the pleasant restaurants lined up along the river.
- Currency: US dollar
- Cheap/good hostel: Hostel Nomads – $4.50
- Transportation: 2
- Meals: 7.20
- Drinks/Entertainment: 2.25
- Attractions: 4.00
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$19.95/day
>>>Phnom Penh prices and weather
11 – Bangkok, Thailand
Southeast Asia’s main entry point and most notorious destination continues to be a budget traveler’s dream, with plenty of cheap hostels and hotels plus excellent street food that costs almost nothing. It’s only the relatively high price of alcohol that pushes Bangkok down the cheap list a bit, so teetotalers are even better off than the rest of us.
- Currency: Thai baht
- Cheap/good hostel: New Road Guest House – 160/night
- Transportation: 30
- Meals: 138
- Drinks/Entertainment: 180
- Attractions: 140
- Daily Backpacker Index: THB648 = US$21.69/day
12 – Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
Few parts of Asia have undergone such tourist growth as Bali, even after the tragic bombings. The Kuta beach area is now a nearly solid block of guesthouses, travel agencies, and restaurants, but fortunately it’s also still quite cheap, and an excellent travel bargain in general. Those wanting less commercialism can find it elsewhere in Bali, but those wanting a great beach party can find it in Kuta.
- Currency: Indonesian rupiah
- Cheap/good hostel: Sayang Maha Mertha – 72,000/night
- Transportation: 10,000
- Meals: 44,000
- Drinks/Entertainment: 40,000
- Attractions: 20,000
- Daily Backpacker Index: IDR186,400 = US$$21.87/day
>>>Kuta, Bali prices and weather
13 – Siem Reap, Cambodia
One of the world’s great budget travel cities (and home of the world’s cheapest hostel beds), Siem Reap was built as a staging area for daytime trips to the Angkor Wat temples just to the north, yet on its own this city is also about as pleasant and fun as they come. Interestingly, Siem Reap would be well up this list, in the super-cheap territory, if we didn’t calculate in a substantial amount for Attractions, since the amazing temple complex itself is justifiably not cheap. Everything but the temples is amazingly cheap all things considered.
- Currency: US dollar
- Cheap/good hostel: Garden Village Guesthouse – 1.00/night
- Transportation: 2.00
- Meals: 7.20
- Drinks/Entertainment: 1.50
- Attractions: 12.00
- Daily Backpacker Index: US$23.70/day
>>>Siem Reap prices and weather
14 – Kathmandu, Nepal
Nepal’s capital is one of those cities most travelers just hustle through on their way somewhere else, like Pokhara or other trekking centers in this case, but it’s a fascinating and unusual place that’s worth a look for a few days anyway. The backpacker zone of Thamel is a classic traveler neighborhood, brimming over with cheap hotels, restaurants, and bars.
- Currency: Nepalese rupee
- Cheap/good hostel: Kathmandu Madhuban Guesthouse – 300/night
- Transportation: 80
- Meals: 576
- Drinks/Entertainment: 440
- Attractions: 300
- Daily Backpacker Index: NPR1,696 = US$23.79/day
>>>Kathmandu prices and weather
15 – Phuket, Thailand
Phuket is another strange example on this list, since it’s not a city but a rather large island filled with beach resort towns. This is definitely the most expensive part of Thailand, but still cheapskates can have a good go of things if they are careful, though of course that means staying well away from any of the beaches in the process. Staying in the heart of any of the resort areas will at least double lodging prices, while Phuket Town itself remains quite cheap.
- Currency: Thai baht
- Cheap/good hostel: Sunwest Guesthouse – 200/night
- Transportation: 50
- Meals: 240
- Drinks/Entertainment: 150
- Attractions: 100
- Daily Backpacker Index: THB740 = US$24.77/day
16 – Macau, China
Yes, it’s true that nearly everyone who visits Macau does so to gamble at one of its new and huge casinos, but it’s also long been an interesting destination for cultural visitors, offering a parallel tourist infrastructure in and near the old town itself. Many continue to stop over for a day or two on a Hong Kong side-trip, and bargains are still there for those who look (and don’t gamble).
- Currency: Macau pataca
- Cheap/good hostel: Motel168 Zhuhai NingXi Road Inn – 73/night
- Transportation: 6.40
- Meals: 86.40
- Drinks/Entertainment: 24.00
- Attractions: 8.00
- Daily Backpacker Index: MOP197.80 = US$25.39/day
17 – Delhi, India
In what might be a surprise until you’ve actually visited yourself, Delhi (and New Delhi at its heart) is not as cheap as we might otherwise expect. Hotels tend to be far more expensive here, even in the infamous backpacker ghetto of Pahar Gang, so even while dining on food from street stalls, this is not an ideal place for budget travelers, especially considering the other headaches of visiting.
- Currency: Indian rupee
- Cheap/good hostel: Mystique Moments – 549/night
- Transportation: 16
- Meals: 180
- Drinks/Entertainment: 150
- Attractions: 250
- Daily Backpacker Index: INR1,145 = US$25.83/day
18 – Beijing, China
Even with its Olympics boom, Beijing continues to be a great budget travel destination, with prices that are suitable to nearly anyone. The backpacking set can stay cheaply and see the Forbidden City and Great Wall for just small change, and those with larger wallets can find a bit of luxury and class for not too much more money.
- Currency: Chinese yuan
- Cheap/good hostel: Beijing Leo Courtyard – 35/night
- Transportation: 4.00
- Meals: 39.60
- Drinks/Entertainment: 60.00
- Attractions: 40.00
- Daily Backpacker Index: CNY178.60 = US$27.69/day
19 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Malaysia, in general, tends to be forgotten by many, with the huge capital of Kuala Lumpur often mostly remembered as once having the world’s tallest buildings. That’s a major shame because Kuala Lumpur is a fascinating mix of new, old, and exotic, that’s also extremely easy to access since English is widely spoken. If visiting Singapore it’s worth taking the train up for a short side trip.
- Currency: Malaysian ringgit
- Cheap/good hostel: Hostel Cosmopolitan – 20/night
- Transportation: 1.40
- Meals: 22.80
- Drinks/Entertainment: 24.00
- Attractions: 15.00
- Daily Backpacker Index: MYR83.20 = US$27.73/day
>>>Kuala Lumpur prices and weather
20 – Mumbai, India
Even more expensive than Delhi, Mumbai feels like a shock this far down the list, but perpetually expensive hotels and no real hostels make this city pricier than you might expect. Fortunately, one can see the main sights in a few days or less, so it’s a good idea to minimize time in Mumbai and then head out to someplace less insane as quickly as possible.
- Currency: Indian rupee
- Cheap/good hostel: Anjali Inn – 700/night
- Transportation: 30
- Meals: 180
- Drinks/Entertainment: 180
- Attractions: 250
- Daily Backpacker Index: INR1,340 = US$30.23/day
21 – Shanghai, China
Far more modern than Beijing, and also more designed for business travelers, Shanghai is still a relative bargain for backpackers. Most things are a bit more expensive here, so budget travelers have to seek out the cheaper options, but again, compared to a similar modern city in another part of the world, Shanghai is a steal.
- Currency: Chinese yuan
- Cheap/good hostel: City Central International Hostel – 40/night
- Transportation: 6
- Meals: 54
- Drinks/Entertainment: 60
- Attractions: 40
- Daily Backpacker Index: CNY200 = US$31.01/day
>>>Shanghai prices and weather
22 – Taipei, Taiwan
Another destination that is often forgotten, partly due to its remote location, Taipei still gets high marks from most visitors, and the rest of the island is even more interesting. The tourist infrastructure is well built, so things do tend to be fairly easy, and the city is quite cheap by international standards.
- Currency: Taiwan dollar
- Cheap/good hostel: The Meeting Place – 300/night
- Transportation: 40
- Meals: 204
- Drinks/Entertainment: 150
- Attractions: 200
- Daily Backpacker Index: TWD894 = US$31.01/day
23 – Seoul, South Korea
These days Seoul seems to be known mostly for its lightning-fast internet connections, and its professional videogame culture, but there’s obviously a lot more to it than that. Fortunately, the city is still quite reasonably priced for this kind of technology, although its remote location and less-than-perfect climate will keep most people away.
- Currency: Korean won
- Cheap/good hostel: Backpacker Friends – 12,000/night
- Transportation: 2,000
- Meals: 10,800
- Drinks/Entertainment: 6,000
- Attractions: 8,000
- Daily Backpacker Index: KRW38,800 = US$36.79/day
24 – Hong Kong, China
Hong Kong used to be famously cheap, and it’s still quite reasonably by international standards, but there are now so many rich people and business travelers coming through here that backpackers have to really search for the bargains. Hotels can be quite expensive, though some hostels are still great value.
- Currency: Hong Kong dollar
- Cheap/good hostel: Dragon Hostel – 110/night
- Transportation: 4.00
- Meals: 69.60
- Drinks/Entertainment: 72.00
- Attractions: 36
- Daily Backpacker Index: HKD291.60 = US$37.43/day
>>>Hong Kong prices and weather
25 – Singapore, Singapore
Easily one of the world’s most modern cities, Singapore can actually be quite expensive for most, but fortunately there is still a decent collection of hostels that keep sleeping prices down. Also, eating most meals from the famous hawker centers will keep your budget intact while letting you sample some excellent (and very hygenic) local specialties.
- Currency: Singapore dollar
- Cheap/good hostel: A Beary Good Hostel – 12/night
- Transportation: 1.60
- Meals: 18.00
- Drinks/Entertainment: 6.00
- Attractions: 10.00
- Daily Backpacker Index: SGD47.60 = US$39.34/day
>>>Singapore prices and weather
26 – Tokyo, Japan
No surprises at the most expensive end of the list, but still, up until the recent rise in the currency, Tokyo wasn’t as bad as most made it out to be from a budget perspective. It’s still not outrageous compared to the most expensive cities in Europe, and this is truly an amazing city that everyone should try to visit at least once, but be prepared for it to drain your travel funds quickly.
- Currency: Japanese yen
- Cheap/good hostel: Khaosan Tokyo Original – 2,000/night
- Transportation: 320
- Meals: 2,520
- Drinks/Entertainment: 1,800
- Attractions: 1,000
- Daily Backpacker Index: JPY7,640 = US$97.25/day
Great list, although I don’t quite understand how you could get a room at Garden Village Guesthouse in Siem Reap for one dollar?!
I’m in Siem Reap at the moment, and the guest house said their cheapest room costs 7 dollars a night, it also says 7 dollars on their website…
(Thanks. It’s the dorm beds that are one dollar at the Garden Village. In the left column of the homepage it still says this; “if you are on a really tight budget, the US$ 1 dorm beds / mattresses remain the cheapest accommodation in Siem Reap.” The private rooms do start at US$7, so you have to be willing to sleep in the semi-outdoor bunkhouse out back. – Roger)