How Much Does It Cost to Travel in South East Asia for 3 Months? A Monthly Budget Guide

Written By Laura Cannon

How to Budget for 3 Months in South East Asia

If you’ve ever dreamt of spending an extended, immersive season in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, you’re probably wondering: “How much will I need each month?”

Here’s the exciting part: when you travel with DECADES, your accommodation, in-continent transfers, a dedicated host, and four curated adventure days per month are already included. That takes care of the biggest expenses and removes the dreaded solo traveller tax.

That leaves just the day-to-day costs—meals, local transport, add-on activities, and treats. Here’s a realistic monthly breakdown:

Monthly Budget Snapshot

Monthly budgets depending on your lifestyle (equal time split across Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand).


Assumptions Behind the Budgets

Lean (£550/month → ~£18/day)

  • Food & Drink: Almost entirely street food (£2–£3 a meal) and simple local cafés. No alcohol or Western restaurants.

  • Local Transport: Walking most places, with occasional tuk-tuk or taxi rides.

  • Activities: Mostly free or very low-cost — exploring temples, markets, walks, local parks. Just one or two paid activities in a month.

  • Wellness & Extras: A massage or yoga class here and there, but not weekly.

  • Shopping & Misc: Minimal — replacing toiletries or small essentials only.

This is “backpacker frugal,” but still comfortable given how affordable South East Asia is.

Comfortable (£1,125/month → ~£37/day)

  • Food & Drink: Mix of street food and local restaurants. Eating out most days, occasional drinks in cafés, a few mid-range restaurant meals.

  • Local Transport: Regular use of tuk-tuks or taxis, possibly occasional scooter hire.

  • Activities: A couple of paid activities most weeks — e.g. cooking class, day tour, or a cultural site.

  • Wellness & Extras: One massage per week, a few yoga classes or fitness sessions, occasional salon visit.

  • Shopping & Misc: Some clothing, souvenirs, or extras each month.

This is a balanced lifestyle: mostly local living with some comfort and variety built in.

Indulgent (£1,400/month → ~£47/day)

  • Food & Drink: Eating out daily across a mix of local and tourist-friendly restaurants, plus regular café stops. Drinks and alcohol included.

  • Local Transport: Using taxis or private drivers frequently; comfortable rather than frugal choices.

  • Activities: Paid activities every week — multiple tours, excursions, or classes.

  • Wellness & Extras: Regular spa treatments, massages, and fitness or wellness add-ons.

  • Shopping & Misc: Budget for clothing, gifts, or larger one-off purchases.

This level includes frequent splurges and little luxuries, while still being very affordable compared with UK living.

General budget information for South East Asia

  • Food & drink – street food (£2–3), local cafés/restaurants (£6–10).

  • Transport – tuk-tuks, taxis, scooters (~£2–3 per ride).

  • Activities – cooking classes (£25), day tours (£30–40), cultural entry tickets (£2–5).

  • Wellness – massages (£10), yoga (£8), personal care like haircuts (£12).

  • Shopping & misc – clothes, toiletries, SIM cards, souvenirs.

And remember: DECADES already builds in four adventure days per month, so you’re not paying for big excursions every week.

Costs by Country: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand

To make it even clearer, here’s what typical day-to-day costs look like across each destination:

🇻🇳 Vietnam

  • Bowl of pho in Hanoi: 60,000 VND (~£2)

  • Local coffee: 30,000 VND (~£1)

  • Taxi ride across Ho Chi Minh City: 100,000 VND (~£3.20)

  • Cooking class in Hoi An: 700,000 VND (~£22)

🇰🇭 Cambodia

  • Street food meal in Phnom Penh: 12,000 KHR (~£2.30)

  • Tuk-tuk ride in Siem Reap: 10,000 KHR (~£2)

  • Day pass to Angkor Wat: $37 (~£30)

  • Massage: 30,000 KHR (~£6)

🇱🇦 Laos

  • Café latte in Luang Prabang: 25,000 LAK (~£1.50)

  • Bowl of noodle soup: 30,000 LAK (~£1.75)

  • Bicycle hire for the day: 50,000 LAK (~£2.80)

  • River boat trip: 150,000 LAK (~£9)

🇹🇭 Thailand

  • Street food pad thai in Bangkok: 60 THB (~£1.30)

  • Taxi across Chiang Mai: 100 THB (~£2.20)

  • Traditional Thai massage: 400 THB (~£9)

  • Entry to a cultural site: 100–200 THB (~£2–5)

These examples show how far your money can stretch — and why even a “comfortable” lifestyle abroad often costs less than routine life in the UK.

Why it can cost the same (or less) than home

Budgeting for travel isn’t just about what you’ll spend abroad — it’s about what you won’t spend at home.

  • No groceries or weekly shop.

  • No petrol, parking, or commuting costs.

  • No heating or energy bills while you’re away.

  • No casual coffees, takeaways, or pub meals.

For many DECADES travellers, that frees up £1,000–£2,000 each month straight away.

And if you own your home, you can go further by renting it while you’re away.

Here’s our guide: 5 Steps to Get Your Place on Airbnb in One Day.

The takeaway

With DECADES covering your biggest costs, you can live well in South East Asia for anywhere between £550 and £1,400 a month.

Often, that’s close to — or even less than — what life at home already costs. The only difference is that instead of paying bills in the UK, you’re exploring vibrant street markets, drifting down the Mekong, visiting temples, and connecting with a community of fellow travellers.

👉 Want to check your own numbers? Try our Ultimate Travel Budgeter GPT — plug in your lifestyle and see instantly what your monthly spend could look like.

👉 Curious what’s included in the DECADES South East Asia adventure? Explore the trip here.

Laura Cannon
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5 Steps to Get Your Place on Airbnb in One Day