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Timor-Leste Travel Costs: Daily Budget and Prices (2026)

Last verified: Checked against operator prices, hotel rates and local guides

By David · Updated

Quick answer · as of September 2026

As of September 2026, a budget trip in Timor-Leste costs about USD 45 to 70 per person a day, mid-range about USD 100 to 160 and comfortable travel about USD 200 to 300. Rooms and transport are the big costs: a 4WD with driver costs USD 120 to 150 a day, while local meals are USD 2 to 5 and a mikrolet ride USD 0.25.

Budget (per day)
USD 45–70
Mid-range (per day)
USD 100–160
4WD with driver
USD 120–150 a day
Local meal
USD 2–5
On this page

Daily budgets

Accommodation and transport outside Dili make up most of your spending. Food is cheap if you eat locally. The ranges below are per person per day, sharing a room, and exclude international flights.

Budget

USD 45–70

per person, per day

Dorms or simple guesthouses, warung meals, mikrolets and buses, the ferry to Atauro.

Mid-range

USD 100–160

per person, per day

Comfortable hotels with air conditioning, restaurant meals, taxis, a shared 4WD for day trips.

Comfort

USD 200–300

per person, per day

The best hotels in Dili, fast boats to Atauro, private 4WD and guided trips, diving.

Prices as of September 2026. A private 4WD is the biggest single cost outside Dili; sharing it with others brings mid-range costs down quickly.

What things cost

Prices below were checked in September 2026 and are in US dollars.

Typical prices in Timor-Leste, September 2026
ItemTypical price (USD)
Visa on arrival30
Taxi, airport to central Dili15 or more
Taxi within Dili (daytime)3–6
Mikrolet (minibus) ride in Dili0.25
Bus Dili–BaucauAbout 4
Bus Dili–MaubisseAbout 5
4WD with driver, per day120–150
Self-drive city SUV, per day (Dili only)From about 90
Self-drive 4WD, per day120–190
Motorbike rental, per day15–25
Ferry Dili–Atauro4–5
Fast boat Dili–Atauro70–75
Dorm bed in Dili11–15
Mid-range hotel room in Dili60–120
Good-value hotel with pool and breakfast in DiliFrom 40
Serviced studio in Dili, per month800–1,000
Atauro eco-lodge, with all meals50–95 per person
Warung meal (nasi or mie goreng)2–4
Main course at an international restaurant10–15
Coffee1–3
Shore dive on AtauroAbout 50
Petrol, per litre (government cap)1.50

For accommodation, see the best-value places to stay in Dili, including Hotel Dongshan (our partner), which has a pool and includes breakfast from USD 40 a night, and monthly rentals in Dili for longer stays.

Where the money goes

Transport outside Dili costs much more than visitors expect. Buses are cheap but slow, run early in the morning and do not reach many beaches or trailheads. Most travellers hire a 4WD with a driver for trips east or into the mountains. Split between three or four people, it becomes reasonable.

Accommodation is pricier than the standard would suggest, because the tourist market is small and many hotels serve NGOs and business visitors. Outside Dili, simple guesthouses are good value at USD 15 to 35.

Food is the easy saving. Warungs and the evening fish grills on Dili's Beach Road cost a few dollars. Imported food in supermarkets is expensive.

Ways to save

  • Travel in the dry season with others and share a 4WD.
  • Take the government ferry to Atauro (USD 4) rather than a fast boat.
  • Eat at warungs and markets, and drink local coffee.
  • Book Atauro lodges that include meals, since there are few alternatives.

More ideas are in our guide to Timor-Leste on a budget.

Frequently asked questions

Is Timor-Leste expensive to visit?

More than most of Southeast Asia. Street food and local transport are cheap, but hotels cost more for the standard, and trips outside Dili usually need a private 4WD.

How much cash do I need for a week in Timor-Leste?

It depends on your style. For a budget week, plan on USD 350 to 500 per person plus the visa. Withdraw it in Dili, as ATMs are scarce elsewhere.

Sources

Official sites, operators and references we checked for this page.

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