As of November 12, 2026, the cheapest country to travel in Southeast Asia at advisory Level 2 or better is Laos, at about $58 per person per day mid-range. The biggest real price drop for US-dollar travelers over the past year is Indonesia (+9.6% after inflation). The best overall value on the Trip Arbitrage Index is Indonesia, with a score of 78 out of 100.
| # | Country | Mid-range day | Lean / comfort | Real 12 mo | Index | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Laos Slow rivers, karst mountains, and a currency that has lost most of its value. | $58 | $27 / $127 | −0.4% | 63 | Level 2 · Increased caution |
| 02 | Cambodia Angkor, a relaxed coast, and a dollarized economy that hides currency moves. | $62 | $29 / $134 | +0.9% | 67 | Level 2 · Increased caution |
| 03 | Vietnam A long, thin country that feeds you extraordinarily well for almost nothing. | $64 | $30 / $150 | −3.5% | 72 | Level 1 · Normal precautions |
| 04 | Philippines The best beaches in Asia, behind the most tiring logistics. | $65 | $30 / $148 | +6.3% | 72 | Level 2 · Increased caution |
| 05 | Indonesia Seventeen thousand islands, and almost everyone only visits one of them. | $65 | $28 / $158 | +9.6% | 78 | Level 2 · Increased caution |
| 06 | Thailand The most polished budget destination on earth: everything works, at every price point. | $79 | $35 / $187 | +5.8% | 75 | Level 1 · Normal precautions |
| 07 | Malaysia Singapore's infrastructure at half the price, with better food. | $80 | $34 / $182 | +0.4% | 69 | Level 1 · Normal precautions |
Daily costs are modeled estimates per person, excluding international flights. Real 12 mo is the change in what a US dollar buys there after inflation in both countries. Switch currency on any country page. See the method.