Siting here in bali airport waiting for my trip home got me thinking.
Past 18 months been to cambodia 4 times, laos 1, Burma 4, bali 1, and thailand of course from south to north and all places in between
Over all Thailand wins hands down.

Bali Expensive. Last here in 2002 and its gotten to be all about money. Very overbuilt in the tourist areas, (mototcyled 85% of the island.) Only thing cheaper here vs thailand is macdonalds and burger king. Large bintang for $2.50
You can get great value for ur $$ in hotels but its low season, told prices double in high seaon. I can eat cheaper in phuket than here. As its a relatively small place would , NOT want be here high seaon.

Myanmar, great country to travel, you have choices of planes, boats, cars, mototcyles, bus's. Hotels for 3 star a bit high but no problem finding good one for $20-25 for a double, food very cheap but except for shan food, not that good, large Mandalay beer only $1.40. Friendly people and lots to see and do. Not yet overrun with tourist, infact many places you canhead off too and not see any tourist at all.

Laos, have been all over driving and enjoyed it a lot. Fantastic places to get away, great gh's, hotels for $15-25 for a double. Very good, inexpensive food and large servings, large beer laos $2.People are super friendly. Except for luang prabang in high seaso, its peacefull.

Cambodia, well what can i say, enjoy my stays but it poor value for ur $$. Seen most of the country and it is the poorest in the region with obvious poverty everywhere. Halfway decent cheap food and of course cheap ( shit) beer compared to what other countries offer. No other countries are u hassled as much for a moto, tuk tuk, buy trinkets or just asked for $. People are much friendlier out of the cities. Also the dirtiest country where people seem the least concerned with trash

Thailand, has something for everyone at all prices. You can backpack using buss everywhere, eat cheap delicious streetfood and stay in dorms. Or 1 star air con hotels for under $20.
OR travel 5 star. Lots to see and do. Best diving in the area and friendly locals ( not just refering to tourist areas) and the food far better than anything around.. ok, alcohol is not cheap, ( large singha $2.50). Your money for value is best here

Ok my opinions, but based on 32 years living here and travelling everywhere, left out Malaysia, ( love penang) and singapore, ( great place to visit with wife, gf and kids) great food and lots to do but it cost ya.

Thailand is great! Fun times.

Cambodia, however, is for the quirky - something has to be "odd/wrong" with you if you stay here, whether it be an addiction to offroading, an abnormal need to help the poor, or a fatal attraction to Frenchy herstory.

Or you got a great job, in the wrong place, or an all-consuming faith in changing the world, one soul at a time.

Times are changing now, however. "Progress" – with a different flavor. Aeon Mall 2, Parksons, a new "Angkor Alley" (?) was it in SR, container markets, Kings Road SR, sea festivals, bla bla bla bla bla ...

Whatever happened to my sweet little Phnom Penh? She was a short, sweet and cute little girl with pig tails and cavities.

Now she's grown, sports high heel towers and flashy, glass and steel smartphones, and gaudy dangles that seem pricey and out of reach.

I hope she doesn't go for hollow victories, and consorts with a wealthy guy that just pays her to be his mistress.

The wealthy here buy lambos and rolls like fine pairs of hand-crafted shoes – and some have whole *shelves* of fine footwear. Still cheaper than in Thailand or Vietnam.

It's a fun and inexorably developing place – you just better be able to stand the truth.

Thank you for great objective reports.
Only Myanmar that I do not know, so where should I go to stay on a beach in a cheap aircon bungalow ?
Not interested to visit more, just want a different beach with weed if possible.
Do you know where ? Do you have photos ?
Thanks.

I've been all over SE Asia (except Myanmar) and chose to retire in Vietnam... specifically Vung Tau.

In general, it's less expensive than Thailand and has way better infrastructure than Cambodia. Vung Tau has several beaches, the air is clean, the roads are good and the weather is great. Rent prices are comparable to Cambodia. Electricity is cheap and doesn't 'go out' as often as in Thailand; and in seven months, I've only been without water once (for a couple of hours).

Food is dirt cheap if you go to the market (or the fishing boats) and cook yourself. You can eat out (local Vietnamese restaurant) starting at 15,000 dong (65 cents); and in a pub, a bottle of beer (Saigon Export - "Red") is 71 cents - you buy a beer ticket: 6 for 100,000 dong. Of course, you can spend more if you want... there are literally hundreds of restaurants and pubs/bars ('girlie' and 'regular'). I can get any imported food I want at prices comparable to anywhere else in SE Asia.

My one year, multiple entry Business Visa cost $250 (letter) + $135 (stamping fee) = $385. Now that I'm here, I can 'renew' on a two year basis (without leaving Vietnam)... and best of all, the Chinese and the Russians have not 'found' this place yet.

Like Cambodians, the Vietnamese are (generally) welcoming of foreigners... and unlike the Thais, they don't have the cognitive dissonance generated by smiling (while secretly despising foreigners); and, turning their country into giant whore house while professing to hold high Buddhist morals.

lots of former sihanoukvillains resettled in vung tau in recent years.
no weed there though cannabistourist.
commies have a death penalty for it in the Nam.

I would also like to see what pple think of SEA travel bargains.

I disagree with PR aBout Thailand. I think he's forgotten that it's now become rather bland and is getting most people by ATM fees that are a real insult to Tourists.

indonesia is a huge and diverse country with some outstandingly inexpensive interisland ferry travel opportunities at very low prices, even in first class.

https://wikitravel.org/en/Pelni