How much money it takes to travel in Asia is entirely up to you. While luxury is always available and there will be plenty of budget-blowing temptations, budget travelers manage to scrape by in the cheapest countries for less than US $30 per day!

While flights to Asia can be pricey, you'll typically get more culture, history, entertainment, and great memories for your vacation budget than in other destinations.

Leveraging the currency difference between your home country and developing countries helps to stretch your budget even further.

• Travel styles and comfort levels vary widely among travelers. Use these 10 budget travel tips to make Asia even cheaper!

Initial Costs

Before you worry about daily expenses on the ground in Asia, first consider startup and trip-preparation costs. While spending money before you even get to Asia isn't exactly a pleasant prospect, many of these one-time expenses will keep you prepared for future international trips.

• Recommended vaccinations for Asia
• Budget travel insurance for your trip
• Travel visa fees (if any)
• Booking a flight to Asia

Take a Tour or Go Independent?

While there are some advantages for booking a tour on your first trip to Asia, doing so from home will significantly add to the cost of your trip. Tours are tempting because they present a total cost for your trip rather than braving the unknown.

If you're willing to wing it, avoid booking an expensive tour from home.

Instead, wait until you arrive in Asia, then if you still feel that a tour is the best way to see a place, book from a local travel agency. Not only does booking once you arrive help the local economy, it eliminates a Western middle agent who probably just has an agreement with a local tour company anyway.

When choosing a tour company, go with a reputable, locally-owned company. Plenty of giant Western tour agencies exploit local destinations in Asia and rarely if ever give back to the people.

• Get more help deciding if you should book a tour in Asia or go on your own.

Choosing the Correct Destination

Some countries in Asia are far cheaper than others; the cost of living varies widely. While how much you spend certainly depends on your style of travel, and any destination can be made more or less expensive, some places simply require much more cash for eating, sleeping, and getting around.

No matter how cheap a destination is, you'll still find five-star resorts and lots of temptations for draining your travel budget. How much you spend in Asia is ultimately up to you. While the sky is the limit for the upper range, some places offer more of an opportunity to save on daily costs such as food and accommodation.

See: where to go in Asia?

Relatively Expensive Destinations:

• South Korea
• Japan
• Singapore
• Hong Kong
• Taiwan
• Macau
• The Maldives

Relatively Cheap Destinations:

• India
• China (excluding Macau)
• Southeast Asia (excluding Singapore)
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal

See how much money for Thailand to get an idea for a Southeast Asia budget.

The Learning Curve

New destinations become cheaper to travel the longer you stay. As a total newbie, you're more likely to overpay for food, transportation, and purchases until you establish a baseline price for things in your head. Nothing can be more frustrating than making a purchase then seeing the same item a few minutes later for less.

You'll also be subject to scams that are made to relieve newcomers of their travel funds. From petty discrepancies in price to elaborate schemes, you'll recognize them easier once you have been on the ground longer.

Until you get through the initial learning curve, you can eliminate some of the extra expense by knowing about the most famous scams in Asia and learning how to negotiate prices in Asia.

Hostels or Hotels

Aside from your airfare, the cost of nightly accommodation is most likely to add up as your second-worst travel expense. Keep in mind that you you'll most likely only be at your hotel to sleep and shower. No one wants to spend time in front of the TV with an exciting new country waiting just outside!

The idea of hostels and sharing bathrooms in budget accommodation is largely a foreign concept to many Americans. While not everyone is cut out for a bunk bed in a room full of partying 20-somethings, you can find much cheaper accommodation and even boutique hostels by avoiding the luxury hotel scene and staying in backpacker areas.

Backpacking is very popular in Asia -- particularly Southeast Asia. Many destinations have learned to accommodate these budget travelers with cheaper options for eating and sleeping. You can take advantage by getting away from the full-service hotels and staying in cheaper guesthouses. Forget the dorms with bunk beds; most hostels in Asia offer private rooms. Guesthouse rooms are available in the cheaper destinations for as low as US $5 - $10 per night!

• See more about what to expect from budget accommodation in Asia.
• for boutique hostels in Asia.

Eating Costs

You'll certainly be eating every meal out while visiting Asia. You can cut down on the daily expense by avoiding the restaurant at your hotel and hitting the streets for some much cheaper and more authentic food.

Unless you patronize only costly tourist restaurants, eating in Asia is actually quite inexpensive. Take advantage of cheap street food -- yes, it's safe -- at roadside carts for the experience. A simple dinner in Southeast Asia can be enjoyed for under US $3.

Hidden Expenses

You can accidentally end up spending more than anticipated due to some unexpected costs in Asia. Here are some examples:

• The tap water is unsafe to drink in many Asian countries. While typically cheap, you'll need to purchase bottled water.

• Drinking alcohol in Islamic countries is generally more expensive.

• ATM and money-exchange fees add up. Thailand charges US $5 per ATM transaction on top of whatever your bank charges. See how to exchange money in Asia.

• Taxes in some countries such as Singapore make tobacco and alcohol very expensive.

The good news is that tipping is still generally not the norm in Asia.