Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Udon Thani
Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport
Daily Budget: $24-75 per day
Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Udon Thani
Accommodation
$8-25 per night
Dorm beds in hostels, fan-cooled rooms in local guesthouses, basic budget hotels slightly outside the city center. You'll find simple, clean places with shared bathrooms and minimal amenities.
Food & Dining
$8-20 per day
Street food stalls, local markets, small family-run eateries where locals actually eat. Think noodle soups for breakfast, rice dishes with various toppings for lunch and dinner, fresh fruit from markets.
Transportation
$3-10 per day
Shared songthaews (red trucks), public buses, walking, occasional motorbike taxi for short hops. Renting a bicycle if you're staying awhile.
Activities
$5-20 per day
Free temple visits, walking around local markets, public parks, the occasional museum entry. Maybe one paid day trip if you're stretching the budget.
Currency: ฿ Thai Baht (THB) - exchange rates fluctuate, but these estimates use roughly 35-36 baht per USD as a working conversion. Worth checking current rates when you're actually planning, obviously
Money-Saving Tips
Eat where you see locals eating - street stalls and markets near residential areas typically run 60-70% cheaper than tourist-oriented restaurants, and the food's often better anyway
Use songthaews and public transport instead of taxis for most trips - you'll spend roughly $3-5 per day versus $20-30, though you'll sacrifice some convenience
Visit temples and cultural sites in the morning when it's cooler - most are free or charge minimal entry fees of $1-3, whereas organized tours to the same places might run $30-60
Buy snacks, water, and breakfast items from 7-Eleven or local markets rather than hotel shops - you're looking at 50-80% savings on the exact same products
Book accommodation directly with properties after checking online rates - some smaller places offer 10-20% discounts for direct bookings or longer stays, though this varies considerably
Rent a scooter for multiple days if you're comfortable riding - daily rentals typically run $5-10 versus $15-30 per day in taxi fares, plus you get complete flexibility
Time your visit for shoulder season (March-April or September-October) when accommodation prices drop 20-40% but weather's still generally decent for exploring
Common Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Taking taxis or Grab for every single trip instead of learning the songthaew routes - you'll easily spend 4-5 times more on transport, which adds up fast over a week-long stay
Eating exclusively in the tourist areas around hotels and main attractions - prices typically run 100-200% higher than identical dishes in local neighborhoods just a few blocks away
Booking tours through hotel concierges without comparing prices - the convenience markup usually runs 30-50% over booking the same tours directly or through local operators
Exchanging money at airports or hotels instead of using ATMs or proper exchange booths in town - you're likely losing 5-10% to poor rates and excessive fees
Assuming you need to book everything in advance - while peak season accommodation benefits from early booking, many activities and day trips are actually cheaper when booked locally with a bit of flexibility