So you have three months. And you’ve chosen Asia. Let’s give 6 weeks to the Southeast (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam). Three weeks to China. And three weeks to India and Sri Lanka.
So how much will this set you back?
Remember, this is just a guide and prices are an average estimate (correct at the time of writing) to give an idea on how much you and your bank account need to cooperate with each other. We’ve channelled The Economist, and added in a Big Mac and Can of Coke Index to give you a better idea of how much your pound is worth in each destination.
Southeast Asia
Let’s start with the backpacker fave. Whether you’re a first timer, or a seasoned traveller, spending a gap year in Southeast Asia is something that never disappoints in terms of experience; it’s synonymous with being value for money and it has a tonne of must dos and must sees to tick off that bucket list.
Average Cost Of Accommodation In Southeast Asia
Dorm rooms here average £6 per night (but you can get as low as £3.30), so if we’re here for 42 nights, you’re looking at £252.
Cost Of Food In Southeast Asia
Meal on the go: Grab some Pad Thai for or a bowl of pho for about £1
Sit down meal: Three courses will cost roughly £11 for two people.
McDonalds meal: £3.15
Bottle of 500ml water: Roughly 22p
Can of coke: Roughly 34p
Local beer: £1.35
Three low cost meals a day, more or less 6 bottles of water, a couple cans of coke and at least one beer, would set those on a budget back could set aside £6.50 per day for food. This equates to roughly £273 over 6 weeks.
For those that want to push the boat out and have at least one sit down meal (and a few more beers), you can expect to part with £15 per day. For six weeks this totals £630.
A Few Activities In Southeast Asia
Angkor Wat’s got to be done right? If I were to pick, my top 5 experiences in Southeast Asia would include:
▪ Singapore Night Safari fr £31
▪ Explore Angkor Wat, Cambodia fr £52
▪ Tuol Sleng Genocide museum, Cambodia fr £28
▪ Learn to dive on Koh Tao, Thailand fr £199
▪ Cruise Halong Bay, Vietnam fr £193
This totals £503. If you can free up a few more notes and can add on a few more excursions then budget at least an extra £200.
China
So you want to see the Great Wall, fit in some Hong Kong, saunter around Shanghai? This part of Asia is a tiny bit pricier so you’ll have to make some wise choices when it comes to choosing accommodation and where to eat.
Average Cost Of Accommodation In China
Dorm rooms here average £7 per night, so we’re looking at £147 for three weeks. Single rooms in hostels average £11 per night.
Cost Of Food In China
Meal on the go: Grab a portion of noodles for roughly £1.50
Sit down meal: Three courses will cost around £13 for two people.
McDonalds meal: £3.18
Bottle of 500 ml water: Roughly 33p
Can of coke: Roughly 32p
Local beer: £1
So if we’re looking at three meals a day, 6 bottles of water, a couple cans of coke and at least one beer, then those on a budget could get by with £8.00 per day for food. This equates to roughly £168 over 3 weeks.
Stretch the pocket further and have at least one sit down meal per day (and a few more beers), and you can expect to part with £17 per day. For six weeks this totals £357.
A Few Activities In China
The top 3 experiences in to do on a gap year in China would include:
▪ Great Wall Experience fr £87
▪ Beijing by bike fr £52
▪ Visit the Terracotta Warriors fr £11
This totals £152 for three must-do activities in China. If you’re flush with cash, then add on an extra £150.
India
India and Sri Lanka host some of the world’s best (and cheapest!) food, most amazing sights, and captivating experiences that can be had on this planet. Some say it’s a little overwhelming, but this just makes you want to go even more right?
Average Cost Of Accommodation In India
Rooms vary quite a bit from city to city in this part of Asia, so it’s harder to pinpoint an average. As a general rule, the cheaper accommodation should never set you back more than £6 per night, totalling a minimum of £126 for three weeks.
Cost Of Food In India
Meal on the go: Grab a curry for less than a £1
Sit down meal: Three courses will set you back £6 for two people.
McDonalds meal: £2.18
Bottle of water: Roughly 15p
Can of coke: Roughly 24p
Local beer: Less than £1
So if we’re looking at three meals a day, 6 bottles of water, a couple of cans of coke and at least one beer, then those on a budget could get by with £5.50 per day for food. This equates to roughly £105 over 3 weeks.
For those who have a bit more cash, and fancy at least one sit down meal per day (and a few more beers), expect to part with £7 per day. For three weeks this totals £147.
A Few Activities In India
3 must do experiences to do on a gap year in India include:
▪ Taj Mahal tour fr £40
▪ Cooking lesson fr £25
▪ Visit Sri Lanka’s Dambatenne Tea Factory fr £3
These three excursions in India add up to £68. If you’re willing to Push the Boat Out, and add on a few more excursions then I’d say budget at least an extra £80.
Getting Around; Southeast Asia, China & India
Getting around Asia is pretty easy, with plenty of flight, bus and train options. Flying is surprisingly good value, and if you book in advance you can grab a bargain; I just searched for a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore and it cost just £11!
A short taxi ride could cost you a £1, whereas a ten mile airport drop could set you back £3. A train ticket from Bangkok to Singapore will set you back £40, and a hop-on hop-off Vietnam bus pass, is roughly £30. China and Japan are a little more costly; a daily rail pass in Japan would average £17, but in India, you’re looking at paying 50p for a three hour journey. Bargain!
Overall
It’s hard to gauge how much you’re going to spend on travel without knowing your exact itinerary. Remember, you won’t be in one place for too long if you’re going to fit this beautiful and intricate and land into three months, and even though it’s inexpensive, getting around will take up a sizable wodge of your budget.
I’d say on average you should factor in around £10 per day for transport, which will equate to £900 over three months.
So there you have it. Confused? If I add up the minimal costs of the above, you could probably get by on £2500. There’s also the really important matter of visas; lots of Asian countries require these for entry, and unless you’re willing to miss out a few countries, this isn’t something you can cut the cost on. Whack on another £150 for visas, at least.
Lets round this up to £3000, and I’d say you’ve got a realistic and sensible budget for your Asian adventure.