Everyone says Southeast Asia is cheap. That’s the line. You can live on $20 a day. Eat street food for a dollar. Sleep in a dorm for five bucks. That was true in 2016. It’s not the full picture in 2026. Prices have shifted. Tourism taxes have popped up. The dollar doesn’t stretch as far in Bangkok as it used to. But the region is still one of the best value destinations on earth — if you know where your money actually goes. Here’s my honest take on the real costs, the traps, and whether it’s still worth booking that…