Asia Adult Guide

Travel essentials

Cost of trip

General travel cost bands for the 13 countries this site covers, at three tiers: backpacker, mid-range, and upscale. Costs cover accommodation, meals, local transport, and sightseeing only. This site does not publish pricing for paid-encounter activities — see the legal reference page for why.

Scope note

All costs on this page are for general travel: beds, food, local transport, and entry fees. Prices are indicative as of mid-2026 in USD equivalents. Exchange-rate fluctuation, seasonality, and location within a country create wide real-world ranges. Peak-season prices (Christmas–New Year, Golden Week, sakura season) can be 2–3× the baseline figures shown.

Per-country cost bands

Thailand

Currency: THB
Backpacker tier
$25–40/day. Dorm bed or fan guesthouse THB 250–500; street food and market meals THB 50–150 per dish; songthaew or BTS day-pass THB 130; Grab rides THB 60–150. Budget accommodation is plentiful in all major cities and islands.
Mid-range tier
$80–150/day. Mid-tier hotel or Airbnb THB 1,200–2,500/night; sit-down restaurant meals THB 300–600; Grab rides and occasional taxis; temple entry, museum entry, day-tour boat trips ~THB 200–500.
Upscale tier
$250+/day. Boutique or international-brand hotel THB 4,500–15,000/night; Western restaurant or fine-Thai dining THB 1,200–3,000; private transfers; cooking classes, private day trips.
ATM fee THB 220 flat per foreign-card withdrawal. Cash dominant in all non-hotel contexts.

Philippines

Currency: PHP
Backpacker tier
$25–40/day. Dorm or fan room PHP 400–800; Filipino turo-turo (canteen) meals PHP 80–200; jeepney / FX share-van PHP 15–50 per trip; Grab motor or standard ride PHP 80–250. Island boat transfers budget PHP 150–400.
Mid-range tier
$80–130/day. Air-con guesthouse or mid-hotel PHP 1,800–4,000/night; casual restaurant PHP 400–900; island-hopping day trips PHP 1,200–2,500; Grab or metered taxi.
Upscale tier
$200+/day. Beachfront resort PHP 8,000–25,000/night; fine-dining PHP 2,000–5,000; private island transfers; PADI dive day PHP 3,500–6,000.
BDO, BPI, Metrobank ATMs reliable for foreign cards. PHP bills are large in denomination; count carefully.

Vietnam

Currency: VND
Backpacker tier
$18–30/day. Dorm or basic private guesthouse VND 150,000–300,000; banh mi or pho street meal VND 30,000–80,000; xe om (motorbike taxi) or Grab bike VND 15,000–50,000; local bus VND 7,000–12,000.
Mid-range tier
$60–110/day. Mid-range hotel VND 600,000–1,500,000; restaurant meal VND 200,000–500,000; day tour from VND 400,000; Grab car.
Upscale tier
$180+/day. International or boutique hotel VND 2,500,000–8,000,000; fine dining VND 800,000–2,000,000; private car hire; Halong Bay 3D/2N cruise from VND 4,000,000.
VND denominations are large (100k, 200k, 500k notes). 500k and 200k look similar; check carefully. Vietcombank and BIDV ATMs most reliable for foreign cards.

Indonesia

Currency: IDR
Backpacker tier
$25–40/day. Dorm or budget room IDR 150,000–300,000; warung meal IDR 25,000–60,000; Gojek or Grab motorbike IDR 8,000–30,000; temple entry typically IDR 50,000–150,000.
Mid-range tier
$70–130/day. Mid-range villa or hotel IDR 600,000–1,800,000; sit-down restaurant IDR 150,000–400,000; day tour from IDR 350,000; Grab car.
Upscale tier
$250+/day. Private villa or luxury resort IDR 2,500,000–10,000,000; fine dining; private driver per day IDR 500,000–900,000.
IDR withdrawals often limited per transaction (IDR 1.5M–3M). BCA and Mandiri ATMs most reliable. Rupiah in Bali tips toward USD or IDR, depending on venue tier.

Japan

Currency: JPY
Backpacker tier
$60–85/day. Hostel dorm JPY 2,800–4,500; convenience-store meals JPY 400–900; day subway pass JPY 600–1,200; temple and shrine entries JPY 500–1,500. Japan is the most expensive SEA-adjacent destination for true budget travel — a 'backpacker Japan' still costs more than mid-range Thailand.
Mid-range tier
$150–250/day. Business hotel or capsule-hotel upgrade JPY 8,000–18,000; sit-down restaurant ramen/sushi JPY 1,500–4,000; Suica transit; day trip by shinkansen JPY 5,000–15,000.
Upscale tier
$400+/day. Boutique ryokan with kaiseki dinner JPY 30,000–100,000; Michelin dining JPY 15,000–40,000; private transport.
7-Eleven and Family Mart ATMs accept foreign cards reliably. Contactless and IC-card (Suica) payments work at most chain restaurants and convenience stores.

Cambodia

Currency: USD (primary)
Backpacker tier
$25–40/day. Budget guesthouse USD 8–18; local restaurant USD 3–7; tuk-tuk from USD 2; Angkor 1-day pass USD 37 (the single dominant fixed cost for Siem Reap visitors).
Mid-range tier
$70–120/day. Mid-range hotel USD 40–80; restaurant meal USD 10–20; private tuk-tuk half-day USD 15–25; private guided Angkor day USD 40–70.
Upscale tier
$200+/day. Boutique or Amansara-tier resort USD 150–600/night; fine dining USD 40–80; private car hire.
Cambodia is a USD economy; change in KHR under $1. Carry crisp USD bills — damaged or older notes are sometimes refused. ABA Bank and Acleda are the most reliable foreign-card ATMs.

South Korea

Currency: KRW
Backpacker tier
$50–75/day. Hostel or goshiwon (micro-room) KRW 25,000–40,000; kimbap or noodle meal KRW 5,000–10,000; T-money day transit KRW 2,000–6,000; museum entry KRW 1,000–5,000.
Mid-range tier
$120–200/day. Mid-range hotel KRW 90,000–180,000; galbi or Korean BBQ dinner KRW 25,000–50,000; Kakao T transport; day trips KRW 30,000–80,000.
Upscale tier
$300+/day. Boutique hotel or hotel-brand suite KRW 250,000–600,000; fine Korean or fusion dining KRW 80,000–200,000.
Card payment universal. Kakao T taxi is card-integrated. T-money card covers all transit and can be used at convenience stores.

Taiwan

Currency: TWD
Backpacker tier
$35–55/day. Hostel dorm TWD 450–700; night-market meal TWD 60–150; EasyCard day transit pass TWD 150–250; temple entry free or TWD 50–100.
Mid-range tier
$90–160/day. Mid-range hotel TWD 2,000–4,000; sit-down restaurant TWD 400–900; day trip HSR + sightseeing TWD 1,500–3,500.
Upscale tier
$250+/day. Luxury hotel TWD 7,000–18,000; Michelin-recommended dining TWD 2,000–6,000; private car hire.
7-Eleven ATMs (Cathay) accept foreign cards. EasyCard (Taiwan's Octopus equivalent) works on metro, bus, taxi, and convenience stores. Low foreign-card fees by regional standards.

Singapore

Currency: SGD
Backpacker tier
$80–120/day. Hostel dorm SGD 35–55; hawker centre meal SGD 4–10; EZ-Link day transit SGD 5–8; free or low-cost sightseeing (Gardens by the Bay ground-level free; Fort Canning free).
Mid-range tier
$180–280/day. Mid-range hotel SGD 150–300; sit-down restaurant SGD 25–60; Gardens by the Bay conservatories SGD 28; cable car + Sentosa SGD 35–85.
Upscale tier
$450+/day. Marina Bay Sands or equivalent SGD 500–1,200/night; fine dining SGD 150–400; private day tour.
Singapore is the most expensive city in this guide. Hawker centres are the single most effective cost-control mechanism: complete meals for SGD 4–8 that are genuinely excellent. Card and PayNow accepted everywhere; cash increasingly optional.

Malaysia

Currency: MYR
Backpacker tier
$25–40/day. Budget hostel MYR 30–60; mamak stall meal MYR 6–15; LRT/MRT day pass MYR 10–20; KLCC Park free; museum entry MYR 5–20.
Mid-range tier
$70–130/day. Mid-range hotel MYR 180–350; restaurant meal MYR 40–100; Grab rides; KL Tower entry MYR 52; Batu Caves free.
Upscale tier
$220+/day. Luxury hotel MYR 500–1,500; fine dining MYR 150–400; private driver per day MYR 300–600.
Touch 'n Go eWallet widely accepted. Grab is cheaper than taxis for most routes. Malaysian ringgit has been a relatively weak currency since 2022, making the country excellent value for Western visitors.

Hong Kong

Currency: HKD
Backpacker tier
$70–110/day. Guesthouse in Chungking Mansions or Mong Kok HKD 200–350; cha chaan teng (Hong Kong café) meal HKD 40–90; Octopus day transit HKD 50–80; Star Ferry HKD 3.4.
Mid-range tier
$180–280/day. Mid-range hotel HKD 900–1,800; restaurant meal HKD 150–350; tram and MTR; Lan Kwai Fong bar entry free, drinks HKD 70–180.
Upscale tier
$450+/day. Mandarin Oriental or Peninsula HKD 3,000–8,000/night; Michelin dining HKD 500–1,500; private peak tram hire not available but private car HKD 800–2,000/day.
Octopus card covers all transit and many retail purchases. HKD is pegged to USD at ~7.8; pricing in HKD is predictable. Wan Chai and Lan Kwai Fong bar prices are among the highest in Asia.

India

Currency: INR
Backpacker tier
$20–35/day. Budget guesthouse or heritage guest-house INR 600–1,200; street food thali INR 80–200; auto-rickshaw short ride INR 50–150; Ola or Uber Moto INR 30–80. India is exceptional value at the budget end.
Mid-range tier
$70–130/day. Mid-range hotel INR 3,000–7,000; sit-down restaurant INR 600–1,500; Ola/Uber car; Taj Mahal entry (foreigners) INR 1,100; Jaipur palace entries INR 500–1,000.
Upscale tier
$300+/day. Heritage palace hotel or Oberoi/Taj group INR 12,000–45,000/night; fine dining INR 3,000–8,000; private car hire with driver INR 3,000–6,000/day.
Payments (UPI / PhonePe / Google Pay) are near-universal in urban areas but many foreign cards cannot access UPI. Carry INR cash for markets, rickshaws, and smaller restaurants. SBI and HDFC ATMs most reliable for foreign cards.

China

Currency: CNY/RMB
Backpacker tier
$35–55/day. Budget hotel or hostel CNY 100–200; street food or dumpling restaurant meal CNY 20–60; metro day pass in major cities CNY 15–30; temple and park entry CNY 20–80 (Forbidden City CNY 60 peak season).
Mid-range tier
$90–160/day. Mid-range hotel CNY 350–700; restaurant meal CNY 100–250; DiDi car rides; major museum entry CNY 30–100.
Upscale tier
$300+/day. International hotel CNY 1,200–3,500/night; fine Chinese dining CNY 400–1,200; private driver; high-speed rail for inter-city.
China's payment ecosystem (Alipay / WeChat Pay) now accepts foreign cards linked directly — register Alipay with a foreign Visa/Mastercard before arrival. Without this, China is cash-heavy for visitors. Bank of China ATMs are most reliable for foreign cards. VPN required to access most Western apps and websites.

Cross-country comparison

Relative cost ranking within each tier.

TierBudget-friendlyMid-costMore expensive
Backpacker ($20–40/day)India, Vietnam, CambodiaThailand, Philippines, Indonesia, MalaysiaJapan, Singapore, Hong Kong
Mid-range ($80–160/day)Vietnam, Cambodia, India, IndonesiaThailand, Philippines, Malaysia, TaiwanJapan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong
Upscale ($250+/day)Vietnam, Cambodia, India, IndonesiaThailand, Philippines, Malaysia, ChinaJapan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea

What costs in Asia generally

ATM withdrawal fees

Thailand charges a flat THB 220 (approximately USD 6) per foreign-card ATM withdrawal — this is the highest flat fee in the region and is set by the Bank of Thailand. Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea charge no local bank fee at bank-branch ATMs (though your issuing bank may charge a foreign-transaction fee on their side). Indonesia and Vietnam fees vary by ATM operator: typically IDR 30,000–50,000 or VND 60,000–90,000 per withdrawal. Cambodia (USD economy) typically charges USD 3–5 per withdrawal at non-ABA ATMs.

The practical mitigation is to withdraw larger amounts less frequently, use ATMs inside bank branches during business hours, and carry a card with low or no foreign-transaction fee from your issuing bank. See the money & ATMs page for country-by-country ATM risk detail.

Foreign-card surcharges

Most hotels, larger restaurants, and shopping malls accept Visa and Mastercard without a surcharge, but many smaller venues add a 1.5–3% card-processing surcharge. This is often posted at the cashier but not always. In Japan, many cash-only businesses do not accept cards at all. In Vietnam and Cambodia, some hotels quote rates in USD then charge in local currency at an unfavourable in-house exchange rate when you pay by card — clarify the settlement currency before paying.

Tipping norms by country

Tipping is not standard practice in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, or China — leaving coins is sometimes seen as odd rather than generous. In Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia, small tips (THB 20–50; PHP 50–100; USD 1–2) are appreciated in restaurants and for tour guides, though not expected. Singapore and Hong Kong follow a British-influenced norm: 10% service charge is typically added to restaurant bills automatically; additional tipping is discretionary. In India, 10% at restaurants is common for sit-down meals; rounding up on Ola/Uber rides is common.

Avoiding scam-overcharges on general tourism

The most common general tourism overcharges in the region are: unmarked tuk-tuk fares (always agree price before boarding if using non-app taxis), 'tourist menu' restaurants near major monuments (walk one or two streets back from the monument and prices halve), organised tour packages sold by accommodation staff at inflated prices (compare with direct booking), and currency exchange at airports (rates at airport money changers are typically 5–10% below city-centre rates; exchange only what you need for transport on arrival, then exchange more in the city). See the scam catalogue for the full pattern list.

Planning links

  • Transport & taxis — ride-hail apps, safe taxi options, and airport transfers by country.
  • Money & ATMs — cash vs card vs e-wallet, ATM skimming risk zones, and e-wallet setup.
  • Before you go — pre-trip checklist including travel insurance, cash strategy, and SIM setup.
  • When to visit — month-by-month calendar for timing your trip to avoid peak-season price surges.