Essentials in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia draws travelers worldwide thanks to its idyllic beaches, wild rainforests, and ancient ruins. It’s also a hugely popular location if you’re planning on traveling on a budget. From food to transport, you’re sure to find some bargains.
But in which Southeast Asian city can your money stretch the furthest? The experts at Bounce have analyzed a wealth of data to find out. We have looked at the prices of food, drink, and other necessities in each capital city in the region. We’ve also compared these prices to London to find out how much you could save on vacation.
The cheapest capital cities compared to London
1. Manila 42% cheaper than London
The capital of the Philippines is the cheapest Southeast Asian city compared to London. The total cost of the ten items we looked at amounted to £25.16 ($31.82), 42% cheaper than London’s £43.41 ($54.87). The city also has the most affordable average cost for a kilo of rice and a one-kilometer taxi ride at £0.74 ($0.94) and £0.19 ($0.25), respectively.
2. Hanoi 29.3% cheaper than London
Next is Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, which is 29.3% cheaper than London overall. Hanoi has some of the most affordable grocery items on the list, with a liter of milk costing £1.10 ($1.39) and a dozen eggs averaging £1.25 ($1.58). This is more than two and a half times less expensive than London’s average of £3.44 ($4.35) for eggs.
3. Phnom Penh 28.5% cheaper than London
Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, rounds out the top three, with essentials totaling £31.04 ($39.25), 28.5% cheaper than London. Despite being one of the top three cheapest Southeast Asian capital cities, none of the items we looked at were the cheapest on the list.
Singapore is the most expensive Southeast Asian country compared to London
Singapore is the only Southeast Asian country with higher prices than the UK capital, costing 28.9% more overall for the items we looked at. Four items on the list, including bread, milk, and petrol, were cheaper in London. The cost of living in the country is so high because the island nation has to import a lot of its food and drink, driving up prices.
The capital cities with the most items under £1
1. Jakarta, Vientiane, Hanoi 6 items under £1
Three capital cities in Southeast Asia, Jakarta, Vientiane, and Hanoi, share the top spot for the most items under £1, with six each. In all three cities, Coca-Cola/Pepsi, bread, bottled water, and a 1 km taxi ride all cost less than £1.
Despite sharing the most items under £1, Vientiane is the most expensive city for cheese, costing £21.88 ($27.65) per kilo. Hanoi also has the highest average price for a kilo of rice, at £6.21 ($7.86), eight times more expensive than Manila’s £0.74 ($0.94).
2. Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, Manila 5 items under £1
Three capitals also share second place, Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila, with five items under £1. In all three cities, gasoline costs under £1, the cheapest being Kuala Lumpur at £0.36 ($0.46) a liter. However, a bottle of wine will set you back £13.28 ($16.80) in Kuala Lumpur, nearly double the price of Manila at £6.71 ($8.49).
3. Bangkok 4 items under £1
In third place is Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, with four items under £1: Coca-Cola/Pepsi, bottled water, gasoline, and a one-kilometer taxi ride. Like several other cities on the list, a bottle of wine is the most expensive item in Bangkok, averaging £13.70 ($17.32).
Cody Candee, CEO and Founder of Bounce comments on budgeting for your stay in Southeast Asia:
“While Southeast Asia is often regarded as a cheap destination for the cost of living, like any region, prices fluctuate depending on the location. Compared to London, Manila is the most inexpensive capital overall, while Jakarta, Vientiane, and Hanoi offer the best value for money for many individual items. On the other hand, Singapore is nearly 30% more expensive than the UK capital, with half the items we looked at costing more. With this in mind, here are some tips on budgeting during your stay in Southeast Asia:
1. Find budget-friendly accommodation
“While it might be tempting to splash out on your travels, finding accommodation with the best value for money is vital for sticking to a budget. Hostels are often the cheapest and most sociable option if you're traveling solo. If you’re with a partner, a budget-friendly hotel room can be more affordable than two beds in a hostel dorm. Make sure to book online in advance to get the cheapest deals.
“If you plan on staying long-term, you could negotiate a discount for a long-term stay in a hostel or hotel. Alternatively, look into local rental platforms to find cost-effective housing.
2. Eat like a local
“Street food is a big part of Southeast Asian culture. You’ll find it everywhere, from dedicated stalls to local markets. It’s often cheap and high-quality. While you might miss some home comforts, many Western foods will be priced at a premium in the region, so avoid Western-style restaurants and give local food a go.
“If you want to cook for yourself, visit local markets. Fresh produce from markets is often cheaper than in supermarkets. Avoid more touristy areas when shopping, as prices can be lower off the beaten path.
3. Use public transport
“Taxis can be a convenient mode of transport when traveling, but can often be expensive. So it’s worth getting to know your way around on public transport. Bigger cities like Bangkok and Jakarta have metro systems that make it easy to get from one side of town to the other, quickly and cheaply.
“When traveling between destinations, opt for a bus or train. While it may take longer to get to your next location, you’ll have the peace of mind that you aren’t spending more than you can afford.”
Methodology
Beginning with a list of the capital cities of Southeast Asian countries and the UK capital, London, we sourced the prices of the following items in each city via Numbeo:
- Domestic beer
- Coke/Pepsi
- Cappuccino
- Milk (1 liter)
- Loaf of bread (500g)
- Eggs (12)
- Rice (1kg)
- Local Cheese (1 kg)
- Water (1.5 liter bottle)
- Bottle of wine
- Taxi 1km
- Gasoline (1 liter)
We then combined the prices to reach an overall total for each city and compared them to London’s prices to find the percentage difference.
Local currencies were converted on 11/21/2024 using xe.com.
Data was collected on 11/21/2024.
Note: Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw, was removed due to insufficient data.