The most affordable countries to visit in Southeast Asia

Laos is a budget travel darling in the region. Hostels in Luang Prabang and Vientiane start at £3 a night. In Vang Vieng, they're as low as £1.50. Street food, such as sticky rice with grilled pork, is usually 80p or less, and Beerlao is under £1.

Some of the most fantastic sites are free to visit or are very low-cost, such as the Kuang Si Falls, where the £2.30 entry ticket also includes a visit to the Bear Rescue Centre. Transportation between cities on buses and minivans typically costs under £4.50, and the Laos-China Railway is around £6 for a second-class ticket from Vientiane to Vang Vieng. Renting a motorbike is upwards of £4.70 a day.

Average daily budget: £12

Vietnam keeps costs low while delivering big on experience. Omio recently conducted a study on the most affordable countries to visit in Asia, and Vietnam had the least expensive beer; Bia Hoi is usually around 80p. A hearty meal of bánh mì or pho can be had for under a dollar when eating at street food vendors. You’ll sleep decently too – dorm beds in highly-rated hostels (review score of 8 or higher on Booking.com) are £2.30 a night.

"In Vietnam, you can travel in near-luxury on a backpacker's budget. Dollar meals and free rich cultural experiences," Carli Korik of Girls Who Travel says. Korik spent £6.30 daily on street food, £3 for a traditional water puppet show, and £23 for a train from Hanoi to Huế.

Public transit is often less than 40p, while rides from ride-hailing apps like GrabBike are usually less than 80p. Many temples and museums in Vietnam are free to visit. In Da Nang, the Magic Mountains is £1.20 to enter, while the Ba Na Hills is more of a splurge at £1.20. 

Average daily budget: £15

Travelling to Cambodia is slightly more expensive than to other Southeast Asian countries due to the entry ticket to Angkor Wat, which is an absolute must. While the one-day pass is £28, as the largest religious complex on Earth, it's not a site you rush. 

Hostels in Siem Reap cost £1.60 per night, while Phnom Penh hostels start at £4.70 per night, and in the coastal city of Kampot, they cost £3.15 per night. But Elaine Warren of The Family Cruise Companion found that in smaller towns, such as Battambang, a private, air-conditioned room costs as little as £6.30 a night. "We ate incredible fish amok for £1.20," she recalls. Fresh fruit smoothies are also usually around £1.20. Grab rides and tuk-tuks are the most affordable mode of transportation throughout the country, with many rides under £1.60. Many hostels also offer bike rentals for as little as £2.35 per day.

Average daily budget: £15

Malaysia is known for epic street food; eating at hawker stalls can keep spending quite low while visiting the country. Laksa is often priced under £2.35, and nasi lemak is around £1.20. Omio's study found that beer in Malaysia is more costly than its neighbours at £3 a bottle, but that's likely because it's a Muslim-majority country and lacks a drinking culture. 

Hostels are more expensive in Malaysia than in surrounding countries, with rates starting at £4.70 a night for dorm rooms in Penang and £6.30 a night in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. For getting around, Grab taxis are the most convenient and affordable option, as public transport is cheap but not always the most well-connected—most rides cost around £2. 

Many sights in Malaysia are free to enter, including Penang's clan jetties, street art in urban areas, and Buddhist temples such as the Batu Caves. Visiting the Petronas Twin Towers costs £18 – a must-do in Kuala Lumpur. 

Average daily budget: £19

Indonesia is among the best places in SEA to get a bang for your buck. Omio's study found that Indonesia offers the most affordable meals, averaging 20p at a local restaurant. A bottle of local Bintang beer is usually around  £1.20. In Ubud, dorms go for £3.90 a night, and in Jakarta, they are £4.70 a night.

In Ubud, many nearby attractions are free, such as walking through the rice terraces and visiting temples. Some nearby waterfalls charge £1 to enter, and a traditional dance performance at the water palace usually costs around £4.70. Méndez recently visited and got around using GrabBikes for less than £1.20 per ride.

In Lombok's Gili Islands, humble bungalows are less than £16 a night, and scooter rentals are around £4 a day. You can rent snorkels on the beach and swim out for a couple of quid or go on a tour for £14. 

Average daily budget: £19

Méndez lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and has visited Bangkok and Koh Tao on a budget in the last year. Street food is often less than £1.50, as is BoltBike in the city. Many temples are free to visit, but some require a ticket to enter, ranging from £4.70 for Wat Arun to £12 for the Grand Palace. 

In Chiang Mai, hearty vegan buffets are £1.20 a plate, and most temples are free to visit, including the Wat Pha Lat monk trail hike. Wat Pra Singh is about £1 to visit. Visiting truly ethical elephant sanctuaries, like Chang Chill, costs £45, and there are excellent free walking tours. Hostels are £2.30 per night, and GrabBikes are less than £1 around most of the city.

Thailand's islands are more expensive to visit than the capital or northern city of Chiang Mai. Bolt and Grab don't operate in Koh Tao, and a songthaew ride usually costs at least £7 one way. There are fewer street food options, but you can still eat for less than £4 at a restaurant. Flashpacker hostels are £8 a night.

Average daily budget: £24