Hi Matt,
You've come to the right place! Everyone on TravelBlog has been on some sort of trip in the last year or so and everyone is full of knowledge and information about different parts of the world.
SE Asia is definitely a budget backpacker destination with culture, delicious food, stunning scenery, wildlife, temples and beautiful beaches. As two people, we get by on $50/day. For one person sleeping in a hut/budget guesthouse, eating local food, travelling on cheap buses and having the odd beer or two, expect to spend about $30-$40/day.
North America is a completely different story! We can tell you that from experience...we're from Canada. Hostels are about $30/night, with your other options being a hotel ($80/night) or if it's summertime, you could do some camping...but that's not free either. A campsite for the night will be about $10. If that doesn't interest you, you could couchsurf.
The sights and wilderness of North America are stunning. The people hospitable and friendly, but it's quite expensive and is (obviously) very western. If you're looking for culture, look somewhere else...
Perhaps India, Nepal or Southeast Asia!
We've spent about 1.5 years in SE Asia and have lots of information. Check out our
website for budget backpackers for information on what to pack for SE Asia, places off the beaten path, visa regulations, where to sleep and where to eat.
We highly recommend India for a cultural experience! It's very, very budget friendly (rooms from $5, meals from $0.80, transport on a train from $5) and the experiences and memories you'll take away from India will be priceless. Check out our
India blogs.
Nepal is also a budget backpacker's dream. We would recommending
trekking through the Himalayas. The people here are so friendly as well.
Hopefully this information helps you make a decision on where to go. But wherever you choose, you won't be disappointed.
Safe Travels.
Cheers,
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