Budget Travel Guide to Southeast Asia 2026: Country Costs
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Asia
Temples, islands and street food: when to visit Asia and how to do it cheaply.
Asia is where a travel budget stretches furthest. Across Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia), comfortable backpacker days still run around 25 to 40 € including a private room, street food and transport. Japan, Singapore and South Korea cost more but reward planning: rail passes, convenience-store meals and business hotels keep even Tokyo manageable.
Timing revolves around two systems: the monsoon, which splits the region into wet and dry halves that swap through the year, and the winter high season (roughly November to February), when weather across Southeast Asia and India is at its best and prices at their highest. There is a good place to be in Asia in every month; the country guides below tell you which one.
Each guide covers the best season, visas and entry basics, daily budgets and the routes that make sense on a first or fifth trip.