Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Dili

Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport

Daily Budget: $25-66 per day

Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Dili

$10-25 per night

Basic guesthouses, simple rooms with shared bathrooms, fan-cooled accommodations in local neighborhoods

$8-18 per day

Local markets, street food stalls, simple local restaurants serving traditional Timorese dishes

$2-8 per day

Walking, local buses, mikrolet (shared minivans), occasional motorbike taxi for longer distances

$5-15 per day

Free beach access, walking tours, local markets, occasional museum entry or cultural site

Currency: $ US Dollar (USD) - widely accepted alongside local currency

Curated experiences perfect for your budget/backpacker travel style

Eat at local markets and street stalls instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use mikrolets and local buses instead of taxis (usually 80-90% savings on transportation)

Stay in local neighborhoods rather than waterfront tourist areas (generally 30-50% lower accommodation costs)

Visit free beaches and cultural sites instead of paid tours (can save $20-50 per day)

Buy snacks and water at local shops rather than hotels or tourist areas (typically 200-300% markup in tourist zones)

Travel during shoulder season months for accommodation discounts (usually 20-40% lower rates)

Relying entirely on taxis and private transport instead of learning local transport options (can triple daily transport costs)

Eating only at hotels and tourist-area restaurants (typically doubles food expenses compared to local options)

Not carrying small bills for local vendors and transport (often leads to overpaying or inability to use cheaper services)