Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Ubon Ratchathani

Accommodation

200-500 baht ($5.50-$14) per night

Dorm beds in hostels near the university area, simple guesthouses in the old town, or fan rooms in traditional teak houses

Food & Dining

150-300 baht ($4.25-$8.50) per day

Morning markets for breakfast, street food stalls around Thung Si Muang, evening food courts at local markets

Transportation

50-120 baht ($1.40-$3.40) per day

Songthaew shared trucks, local buses to temples, walking around the city center, occasional motorbike taxi

Activities

100-250 baht ($2.80-$7) per day

Free temple visits, local markets, walking along the Mun River, occasional museum entry

Eat at morning markets like Thung Si Muang where locals shop - breakfast for 30-50 baht rather than 80-120 baht at tourist cafes

Use songthaews instead of taxis (10-20 baht vs 100-150 baht for same distance)

Stay slightly outside the immediate city center where rooms are typically 30-40% cheaper

Visit temples independently rather than organized tours - most charge just 20-50 baht entrance

Shop at local fresh markets for snacks and fruit instead of convenience stores

Taking taxis everywhere instead of learning the songthaew routes (costs 5-7x more per day)

Eating only at riverside restaurants aimed at Bangkok weekenders (typically 200-300% markup vs local places)

Booking last-minute during Candle Festival season when prices double or triple