What's the cheapest country to travel in Southeast Asia?
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia for backpackers — around £25–£35 a day covers a dorm bed, street food and local transport. Thailand and Indonesia cost a little more but are still superb value; Singapore is the one place to budget hard for.
Your daily spend is driven almost entirely by how you sleep and eat. Dorm beds and street stalls keep you at the bottom of the range; private rooms, western cafés and taxis push you toward £50–£70 a day fast.
Vietnam stands out because distances are long but transport is cheap, and the food — largely eaten streetside — is some of the best value anywhere. Laos and Cambodia are quieter and just as light on the wallet.
Prices creep up in peak season (roughly November–February) and around big events, so travelling in the shoulder months stretches your money further.