I just came back from my two-week Myanmar trip and I had a wonderful experience in that beautiful country. A few days before my trip, I’ve been having these nervexcitement flashes. You can read more about it from my post: Nervexcited for My Myanmar Trip.
I have so many things to write about the trip that I don’t even know where to start. It would have been easier if I brought my laptop with me so that I can blog each day.
It’s probably more important and more helpful for other travellers to know how much it would cost to go backpacking in Myanmar that is why I chose to write this article first. I was looking for that kind of information before my trip, but couldn’t find one.
My itinerary was: Singapore -> Kuala Lumpur -> Yangon -> Bagan -> Mandalay -> Pyin Oo Lwin -> Inle (Nyaung Shwe) -> Yangon -> Kyaik Htee Yoe (Kinpun / Kinmon) -> Yangon -> Kuala Lumpur -> Singapore.
The expenses that I put here are mainly within the Myanmar route.
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Breakfast meal | 1000 Ks |
| Normal meal | 1800 Ks |
| Cola | 1200 Ks |
| Bottled water | 300-400 Ks |
| Beer | 1500-1800 Ks |
Buffet – Myanmar Style
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Taxi from airport to Chan Myaye Guesthouse | 8000 Ks (you can bargain for 7000 Ks) |
| Accommodation in Chan Myaye Guesthouse (Dormitory) | $12 (~ 12000 Ks) |
| Dinner | 3000 Ks |
| Shwedagon Pagoda Entrance fee | $5 (~5000 Ks) |
| Taxi to Shwedagon | not so sure about this because I got a free ride from a friend |
| TOTAL | 28000 Ks (~$28USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Lake Kandawgyi | 2000 Ks |
| Option A: Express Bus to Bagan | 15000 Ks |
| Option B: VIP Express bus to Bagan | 18000 Ks |
| Taxi from Chan Myaye Guesthouse to Aung Mingalar Bus station | 10000 Ks (you can bargain for 9000 Ks) |
| Breakfast | free in guesthouse |
| Lunch | 3000 Ks |
| Dinner | 3000 Ks |
| TOTAL | 33000 KS (~33 USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Bus station to guesthouse via trishaw | 3000 Ks |
| Accommodation in Winner guesthouse (single room w/ shared bathroom) | $10 ~ 10000 Ks |
| One-time Park fee | 15000 Ks |
| Option A: Bike rental | 1500 Ks |
| Option B: eBike rental | 8000 Ks |
| Breakfast | 1000 Ks |
| Lunch | 2300 Ks |
| Dinner (buffet) | 3500 Ks |
| Water bottle | 400Ks |
| Mandalay beer | 1500 Ks |
| TOTAL | 39000 Ks (~$39 USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Option A: Trip to Mt. Popa (van with 7 passengers) | 7000 Ks |
| Option B: Trip to Mt. Popa (car with 4 passengers) | 8000 Ks |
| Breakfast | free in guesthouse |
| Lunch | 1000 Ks |
| Dinner (Christmas Eve celebration!) | 5750 Ks |
| Water | 300 Ks |
| Half-day Bike Rental | 750 Ks |
| TOTAL | 16000 Ks (~$16USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Breakfast | free in guesthouse |
| Lunch | 1500 Ks |
| Dinner (Christmas Eve celebration!) | 5200 Ks |
| Water | 300 Ks |
| Bus to Mandalay (Express) | 8000 Ks |
| Bike rental | 1500 Ks |
| TOTAL | 16500 Ks (~17USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Bus station to Royal Guesthouse via motorbike | 3000 Ks |
| Accommodation in Royal Guesthouse (single room with shared bathroom) | 12000 Ks |
| Tour of Outer Mandalay | 20000 Ks (you can bargain down to 18000Ks) |
| Water | 300 Ks |
| Breakfast | 1000 Ks |
| Dinner (with soda) | 2800 Ks |
| TOTAL | 39000 Ks (~$39USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Group Taxi to Pyin Oo Lwin (back seat) | 6000 Ks (initially 6500 Ks) |
| Accommodation in Sein Kyaw Inn (big room with own bathroom) | 10000 Ks (12000 Ks usual price) |
| One day tour (motorbike) | 5000 Ks |
| Lunch | 1600 Ks |
| Wine & cake | 1400 Ks |
| Kandaw Gyi Garden | 5000 Ks |
| Camera fee | 200 Ks |
| Dinner | 1600 Ks |
| TOTAL | 31000 Ks (~$31USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| One day tour in Pyin Oo Lwin (motorbike) | 5000 Ks |
| Breakfast | 1000Ks |
| Lunch with strawberry ice cream yoghurt | 1700 Ks |
| Pwe Gauk Falls entrance fee | 500 Ks |
| Camera fee | 300 Ks |
| Group Taxi to Mandalay (back seat) | 4500 Ks |
| Accommodation in Garden hotel (single room with 2 beds and shared bathroom) | 13000 Ks |
| Dinner with soda | 2800 Ks |
| TOTAL | 29000 Ks (~$29USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Motorbike to and fro Mingun jetty | 3000Ks |
| Breakfast | free in guesthouse |
| Mingun boat trip | 5000 Ks |
| Ticket in Mingun temple | 3000 Ks |
| Lunch | 2500 Ks |
| Dinner with soda | 2800 Ks |
| Motorbike from hotel to bus station | 2000 Ks |
| VIP bus to Nyaung shwe | 12000 Ks |
| TOTAL | 30800 Ks (~$31 USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| shared taxi from Bus stop to Gypsy guesthouse (8000 Ks) | 2000 Ks |
| shared room with own bathroom in Gypsy guesthouse (20000 Ks) | 10000 Ks |
| Inle lake entrance fee | 10000 Ks |
| breakfast | 1000 Ks |
| whole day bike rental | 1000 Ks |
| lunch | 1700 Ks |
| water | 400 Ks |
| Hot spring entrance fee | 8000 Ks |
| Dinner (with Myanmar beer) | 3750 Ks |
| TOTAL | 38000 Ks (~$38 USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation in Remember Inn (shared room with 2 beds and own bathroom) | 12500 Ks |
| Boat trip to Inle lake (15000 Ks divided by 4 people) | 3750 Ks |
| water | 400 Ks |
| lunch with strawberry juice | 4500 Ks |
| Ananda beer | 1200 Ks |
| dinner | free in guesthouse because of New Year's party |
| TOTAL | 23000 Ks (~$23USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| breakfast | free in guesthouse |
| lunch | 1800 Ks |
| Express bus to Yangon (Aung Mingalar station) | 14000 Ks (others sell 13000 Ks) |
| dinner at the bus stopover | 1500 Ks |
| TOTAL | 18000 Ks (~$18USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| express bus from Aung Mingalar bus terminal to Kinpun | 7000 Ks |
| Accommodation in Pann Myo Thu Inn (single room with shared bathroom and no hot shower) | 8000 Ks |
| Lunch with soda | 3100 Ks |
| Truck to Golden Rock | 2500 Ks |
| Truck from Golden Rock to Kinpun | 2500 Ks |
| Dinner | 1800 Ks |
| water | 500 Ks |
| TOTAL | 25000 Ks (~$25 USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| breakfast | free in guesthouse |
| lunch | 1800 |
| water | 400 |
| express bus from Kinpun to Yangon | 7000 Ks |
| dinner at bus stopover | 1800 Ks |
| shared taxi from Aung Mingalar to Chan Myaye Guesthouse (9000 Ks / 3 persons) | 3000 Ks |
| Accommodation in Chan Myaye (dorm with shared bathroom) | 12000 Ks |
| TOTAL | 26000 Ks (~$26USD) |
| Item Name | Cost (Kyats) |
|---|---|
| breakfast | free in guesthouse |
| taxi from Chan Myaye Guesthouse to airport | 7000 Ks |
| TOTAL | 8000 Ks (~$8USD) |
It’s possible to spend only $400 USD for the two-week trip although I did spend over that because I had to buy some souvenirs and sometimes splurged myself with food. You will definitely save alot more if you can find someone to share the room or taxi fare with you. Please take note that this excludes the visa, plane ticket to and from your country. I’m currently residing in Singapore but I didn’t take a direct flight from Singapore to Yangon because it’s cheaper to fly from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
I normally bring 1.5x my estimated budget. I feel more comfortable that way. There are ATMs and banks in key cities such as Yangon, Mandalay and Kinpun. There are also guesthouses which accept credit card payment so don’t worry too much if you have few bills left in your pocket.
If you’re still having hesitations travelling alone, read my 4 good reasons why you should travel alone.
Do you want to know where I stayed during my two-week stint in Myanmar? Read this post: Where to stay in Myanmar for two weeks

Great tips! This is making my planning for my Myanmar trip so much easier!
Informative, thanks for this post!
I find this post very helpful for my next trip in Myanmar! Thanks alot.
nice information! by the way, is it better to change kyats at yangon airport or should i exchange my currency before going to Myanmar?
It’s better to change kyats at the airport. 🙂
Super helpful blog… and blogger. I printed all three articles on Myanmar and will them with me in my trip. Salamat, Aldrin! Good thing my friend Rose referred me to your blog. =)
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