This is a list of our average budgets per country. For reference I will also include the currency conversion at that time for comparison with today's conversions.
All prices are in Australian dollars.
Please also keep in mind that our budget is $15-20 a night all inclusive. We choose to stay cheaply and travel on local transportation, eat at local markets or restaurants and not do very much shopping. We are both divers aswell (a very expensive habit indeed) and diving costs are also included in our daily budget.
Please see the individual country information for a complete accommodation breakdown.
All prices are in Australian dollars.
Please also keep in mind that our budget is $15-20 a night all inclusive. We choose to stay cheaply and travel on local transportation, eat at local markets or restaurants and not do very much shopping. We are both divers aswell (a very expensive habit indeed) and diving costs are also included in our daily budget.
Please see the individual country information for a complete accommodation breakdown.
Australia (2011)
Our budget (each): $50 per day
Actual average spending (combined) : $120 per day (includes campervan rental and transport to and from Tasmania, aswell as petrol, camping fees and all other daily expenses.)
Outcome: Over- budget.
Actual average spending (combined) : $120 per day (includes campervan rental and transport to and from Tasmania, aswell as petrol, camping fees and all other daily expenses.)
Outcome: Over- budget.
Bangladesh (2010)
AU$1 = 69 Taka
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) : $12 a day
(based on staying in cheap accommodation, eating breakfast on the street and other meals at local restaurants, and travelling by public transport.)
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) : $12 a day
(based on staying in cheap accommodation, eating breakfast on the street and other meals at local restaurants, and travelling by public transport.)
Borneo (Sabah & Sarawak, Malaysia) (2011)
AU$1 = 3.1 MYR
Our budget (each): AU$25 per day
Actual average spending (each) : $ 36 per day
(We did alot of diving, as well as a trip to Mulu.)
Our budget (each): AU$25 per day
Actual average spending (each) : $ 36 per day
(We did alot of diving, as well as a trip to Mulu.)
Brunei (2011)
AU$1 = B $1.20
Our budget (each): AU$20 per day
Actual average spending (each) : $20 per day
(We stayed in a dorm room and ate at cheap local restaurants)
Our budget (each): AU$20 per day
Actual average spending (each) : $20 per day
(We stayed in a dorm room and ate at cheap local restaurants)
Cambodia (2009)
AU$1 = 4100 Riel
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $15 per day
(based on basic backpacker accommodation and street food, as well as paying entrance fees to the usual
tourist destinations.)
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $15 per day
(based on basic backpacker accommodation and street food, as well as paying entrance fees to the usual
tourist destinations.)
China (2010)
AU$1 = 6.7 RMB
Our budget (each): AU$25 per day
Actual average spending (each) : $11 per day
(This is our average over 6 months - 4 months living rent-free with a friend & purely travelling for 2 months. We speak basic Chinese so were able to eat and travel locally. Daily costs while we were just travelling were $24 per day)
Our budget (each): AU$25 per day
Actual average spending (each) : $11 per day
(This is our average over 6 months - 4 months living rent-free with a friend & purely travelling for 2 months. We speak basic Chinese so were able to eat and travel locally. Daily costs while we were just travelling were $24 per day)
Hong Kong (2010)
AU $1 = HK $8
Our budget (each): AU$ 30 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $35 per day
(Hong Kong is not cheap so we couch-surfed to reduce costs.
A large amount of our budget was for new visas.)
Our budget (each): AU$ 30 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $35 per day
(Hong Kong is not cheap so we couch-surfed to reduce costs.
A large amount of our budget was for new visas.)
Indonesia -Bali, Java and Sumatra (2008)
AU$1 = 9000 IDR
Our budget (each): AU$ 15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $16 per day (including LOTS of diving!!)
Laos (2009)
AU$1 = 8300 Kip
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $16 per day
(Includes: average-nice backpacker accommodation, local street food, souvenir shopping, occasional
motorbike rental, and lots of beer Lao!)
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $16 per day
(Includes: average-nice backpacker accommodation, local street food, souvenir shopping, occasional
motorbike rental, and lots of beer Lao!)
Malaysia (Mainland) (2008)
AU$1 = 3 MYR
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $10 per day
(Accommodation was slightly expensive but local food was cheap and delicious, and transportation was cheap and reliable. Average also includes diving!)
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $10 per day
(Accommodation was slightly expensive but local food was cheap and delicious, and transportation was cheap and reliable. Average also includes diving!)
Mongolia (2010)
AU$1 = 1500 Tugruks
Our budget (each): AU$ 30 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $25 per day
(We rented a van with driver only (no guide) and self catered the entire month, sharing costs with another couple. Accommodation was mainly camping or at Ger Camps.)
Our budget (each): AU$ 30 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $25 per day
(We rented a van with driver only (no guide) and self catered the entire month, sharing costs with another couple. Accommodation was mainly camping or at Ger Camps.)
Myanmar (2008)
AU$1 = 1100 Kyat
Our budget (each): AU$ 15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $16 per day
(Stayed in local guesthouses, travelled on local transportation and ate on the street or at local owned restaurants. Price includes compulsory government taxes and entrance fees.)
Our budget (each): AU$ 15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $16 per day
(Stayed in local guesthouses, travelled on local transportation and ate on the street or at local owned restaurants. Price includes compulsory government taxes and entrance fees.)
Philippines (2011)
AU$1 = 45 Piso
Our budget (each): AU$ 20 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $20 per day
(We island hopped via public boat and rented motorbikes at most places. We also did ALOT of diving. Accommodation was slightly expensive but food and alcohol were cheap - VERY cheap!)
Our budget (each): AU$ 20 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $20 per day
(We island hopped via public boat and rented motorbikes at most places. We also did ALOT of diving. Accommodation was slightly expensive but food and alcohol were cheap - VERY cheap!)
Singapore (2008)
AU$1 = S$ 1.20
Our budget (each): AU$ 30 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $45 per day
(Accommodation was in dorm rooms, food was street food and alcohol was minimal. Singapore is a very
expensive place!)
Our budget (each): AU$ 30 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $45 per day
(Accommodation was in dorm rooms, food was street food and alcohol was minimal. Singapore is a very
expensive place!)
SRILANKA (2014)
AU$1 = 300 rupees
Our budget (total): AU$ 50 per day (so $25 per adult)
Actual average spending (total) = $50 per day
(We stayed at nice-ish places with attached bathroom, ate mostly street food or at local restaurants, rented
our own tuktuk and drove ourself everywhere. Tuktuk rental was 1000rupees a day. We didn't go to many of
the popular tourist attractions as at US$30 each entry, we couldn't justify it.)
Our budget (total): AU$ 50 per day (so $25 per adult)
Actual average spending (total) = $50 per day
(We stayed at nice-ish places with attached bathroom, ate mostly street food or at local restaurants, rented
our own tuktuk and drove ourself everywhere. Tuktuk rental was 1000rupees a day. We didn't go to many of
the popular tourist attractions as at US$30 each entry, we couldn't justify it.)
Taiwan (2012-13)
AU$1 = NT$30
Our budget (each): AU$ 15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $11 per day
(The above average is mostly living expenses and not too much travelling - when travelling we rode our scooter, stayed at camping grounds and mostly selfcatered for less than $15 per day.)
Our budget (each): AU$ 15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $11 per day
(The above average is mostly living expenses and not too much travelling - when travelling we rode our scooter, stayed at camping grounds and mostly selfcatered for less than $15 per day.)
Thailand (2009)
AU$ 1 = 30 Baht
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $16 per day
(We mostly stayed with friends rent free, but we did ALOT of shopping to compensate- it's impossible not too! Meals were mostly street food or local restaurants and transportation was always local, booked in person from the bus or train station.)
Our budget (each): AU$15 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $16 per day
(We mostly stayed with friends rent free, but we did ALOT of shopping to compensate- it's impossible not too! Meals were mostly street food or local restaurants and transportation was always local, booked in person from the bus or train station.)
Vietnam (2009)
AU$1 = 19000 Dong
Our budget (each): AU$ 20 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $19 per day
(We stayed as cheap as we could, ate most meals on the street or in local restaurants and travelled locally. We also did some diving and LOTS of shopping - even we couldn't resist!)
Our budget (each): AU$ 20 per day
Actual average spending (each) = $19 per day
(We stayed as cheap as we could, ate most meals on the street or in local restaurants and travelled locally. We also did some diving and LOTS of shopping - even we couldn't resist!)