The Costs of Asia

HOME / ASIA

 

The below table is a recapitulative table of the cost of various items in each country visited.  Due to the inflation rates of some countries, those prices are obviously subject to change. Prices are also not constant in all the localities of a country (we usually kept the cheapest prices) and products are sometimes slightly different. 

Note : prices for China were updated / confirmed in March 02 with the help of Walter, from Australia

The exchange rate was correct at the time of writing but is obviously subject to variation. We will not update the table from this point of view as local prices often follow those changes (if the dollar appreciate, local prices will often increase to maintain the same revenue). The table expressed in US$ should therefore remain more or less accurate and provide a fair comparison between the countries. 

Please help us to cover other countries & maintain those tables updated (refer to the table with costs expressed in local currency)

See also the Global Costs Table (Asia & Central America together)

 

Costs expressed in US$

  Currency Converter

  China HK Thailand Laos Myanmar Cambodia Malaysia Singapore Nepal
Exchange Rate for one US$ :
(at the time of writing)		 8.25 7.80 38 7700 350(7) 3800 3.76 1.72 76
Rmb HK$ Baht Kip Kyat Riel Ringgit S$ Rupiyaa
                   
Water (1) liter 0.00 0.00 0.14 0.21 0.10 0.14 0.27 0.00 0.20
Coca cola can 0.30 0.38 0.32 0.45 0.34 0.53 0.32 0.58 0.53
Local beer (2) 660ml 0.36 3.85 1.05 0.65 1.00 0.92 2.66 3.02 1.05
Ice cream Magnum 0.42 1.28 0.58 0.78 0.78(6) 0.79 0.77 1.22 0.78(6)
Cake/bread   0.24 0.26 0.26 0.19 0.21 0.13 0.27 0.58 0.20
Banana kg 0.61 0.64 0.26 0.06 0.11 0.26 0.40 0.87 0.39
Noodle soup   0.36 1.92 0.39 0.52 0.29 0.39 0.53 1.16 0.45
Fried noodle   0.61 2.56 0.53 0.65 0.43 0.53 0.53 1.74 0.50
Fried rice   0.61 2.56 0.53 0.65 0.43 0.53 0.53 1.74 0.50
Basic meat dish   1.21 3.21 0.53 0.91 0.43 0.39 0.80 1.74 0.80
Toilet paper roll 0.24 0.64 0.21 0.13 0.14 0.21 0.27 0.29 0.33
Soap Safeguard 0.61 0.64 0.39 0.52 0.46 0.39 0.43 0.70 0.25 (8)
Shampooing 1 dose 0.24 0.26 0.05 0.06 0.04 0.08 0.13 0.29 0.10
Washing powder 1 dose 0.24 0.26 0.05 0.13 0.04 0.08 0.27 0.58 0.26
AA Battery (3) x2 2.42 2.56 1.05 1.17 0.71 1.00 1.20 1.45 0.86
Kodak Film 200 x36 3.03 3.21 3.16 3.25 2.50 2.50 3.19 2.91 1.45 (8)
Development (4)   2.67 3.85 4.11 3.25 3.27 3.45 4.79 6.10 2.90
Internet hour 0.36 0.00 0.53 2.60 2.60(6) 4.00 0.66 1.74 0.34 (8)
Tel call to Europe 1mn 1.21 0.38 0.66 2.60 4.00 1.63 0.66 0.13 1.25
Stamps to Europe 10gr 0.65 0.35 0.45 0.45 0.10 0.61 0.24 0.58 0.59
Average GH (5)   7.27 15.38 2.37 2.16 3.77 3.41 3.72 11.63 3.29
                   
Total Cost US$   23.68 44.19 17.61 21.39 21.76 21.97 22.63 39.09 17.02
Cost Indice   1.13 2.10 0.84 1.02 1.04 1.05 1.08 1.86 0.81
  7 9 2 3 4 5 6 8 1
  China HK Thailand Laos Myanmar Cambodia Malaysia Singapore Nepal

(1) Water : free boiled water in China, free tap water in HK & Singapore, mineral water in Malaysia, distilled water otherwise
(2) Local 660ml Beer : ordered in small restaurant or bought in shops when too expensive
(3) Battery : Duracell or Panasonic Alcaline except Nepal (Energizer)
(4) Development film : 3R size on Kodak paper (except Nepal)
(5) Average Guesthouse : average spending for a Single room or Dbl with single occupancy rates
(6) Articles not available => same costs as in Laos
(7) Unofficial rate (around K700 per $ in 2001) ! The official one is at a ridiculous K6.25 for 1 US$ ! Nobody is stupid enough to change at this rate...
(8) Film = Fujifilm / Soap = another international brand / Internet in Kathmandu, much more expensive outside / Researched by David Woollan


 

Costs expressed in local currencies

  China HK Thailand Laos Myanmar Cambodia Malaysia Singapore Nepal
  Rmb HK$ Baht Kip Kyat Riel Ringgit S$ Rupiyaa
                   
Water (1) liter 0 0 5.26 1579 35 526 1 0 15
Coca cola can 2.5 3 12 3500 120 2000 1.2 1 40
Local beer (2) 660ml 3 30 40 5000 350 3500 10 5.2 80
Ice cream Magnum 3.5 10 22 6000 na 3000 2.9 2.1 na
Cake/bread   2 2 10 1500 75 500 1 1 15
Banana kg 5 5 10 500 40 1000 1.5 1.5 30
Noodle soup   3 15 15 4000 100 1500 2 2 34
Fried noodle   5 20 20 5000 150 2000 2 3 38
Fried rice   5 20 20 5000 150 2000 2 3 38
Basic meat dish   10 25 20 7000 150 1500 3 3 61
Toilet paper roll 2 5 8 1000 50 800 1 0.5 25
Soap Safeguard 5 5 15 4000 160 1500 1.6 1.2 19
Shampooing 1 dose 2 2 2 500 15 300 0.5 0.5 8
Washing-powder  1 dose 2 2 2 1000 15 300 1 1 20
AA Battery (3) x2 20 20 40 9000 250 3800 4.5 2.5 65
Kodak Film 200 x36 25 25 120 25000 875 9500 12 5 110
Development (4)   22 30 156 25000 1145 13100 18 10.5 220
Internet hour 3 0 20 20000 na 15200 2.5 3 26
Tel call to Europe 1mn 10 3 25 20000 1400 6194 2.5 0.23 95
Stamps to Europe 10gr 5.4 2.7 17 3500 35 2300 0.9 1 45
Average GH   60 120 90 16600 1319.5 12958 14 20 250
                   
  China HK Thailand Laos Myanmar Cambodia Malaysia Singapore Nepal

(1) Water : free tap water in HK & Singapore, mineral water in Malaysia, distilled water otherwise
(2) Local 660ml Beer : ordered in small restaurant or bought in shops when too expensive
(3) Battery : Duracell or Panasonic Alcaline except Nepal (Energizer)
(4) Development film : 3R size on Kodak paper (except Nepal)