What You Could Get in Yangon for $10 - Cherish the Burmese Local Life Around the City

Hi everyone!

I know, we're all frustrated with the situation. This is not the right time to travel still, but it doesn't mean that we can't plan out our next travel destination right? It helps us to expect better things to come, and keep our hope high!

So, after we covered the capital city of Vietnam Hanoi last week, this week we're going to cover the city that used to be the capital of another country in the Southeast Asia. As you've probably read the title already, yes… We're gonna talk about Yangon on this week's $10 series!

I've been to Yangon and Bago City a few years ago, but I feel like I could explore more places around Myanmar. Today, we've got Adriana of Czech the World to outline how far we could go in Yangon. So, what could you get in the city for $10?!

Table of Content

How Far You Could Get on the Budget in the Former Capital City of Myanmar

Yangon (sometimes referred as Rangoon) is the former capital of Myanmar. The city is a starting point for most travelers and offers activities for a couple of days. The local currency is Myanmar Kyat (MMK).

1000 MMK is around $0.7 cents
10 USD is about 14,000 MMK

Myanmar is quite a cheap country so you can enjoy a lot of fun for $10. Just beware that Card payment is not accepted at the vast majority of places (except for some hotels). You can find ATMs here, but they allow you to withdraw a maximum of 300,000 MMK only. The universal withdrawal fee is 5,000 MMK.

Circular Yangon Train

Taking the Circular Yangon train is the easiest and cheapest way to explore the city and see the local life. The railway loop is 46 km long, and there are 39 stops. Trains run every 45 – 60 minutes, and the lower-class ticket costs 200 MMK only!

You can hop on and hop off as much as you like. The whole circuit takes about 3 hours. The greatest experience is just to watch the “bustle” around.

Visit the Shwedagon Pagoda

Visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar's most sacred Buddhist pagoda. It's also known as the Golden Pagoda. There is an admission fee of 10,000 MMK and Shwedagon Pagoda is open daily from 4:00 to 22:00.

The guided tour is optional and costs some extra money. We recommend visiting Shwedagon pagoda before sunset to enjoy both – the daylight and illuminated pagoda after the dusk. Remember to always have covered shoulders and knees and enter barefoot only.

More Temples in Yangon

There are some other nice temples and pagodas, like Buddha Tooth Relic Pagoda (Swe Taw Myat) or Chauk That Gyi Buddha Temple, which is worth visiting. There is no entry fee.

To get around the city, you can use local buses. The price is as low as 100/200 MMK depending on the type of bus. You need an exact amount to put it in the box at the driver's door.

If you are a fan of markets, head to the Bogyoke Market, where you can buy some souvenirs. You can enjoy the market on your way to the train station. The Bogyoke Market is open daily from 10:30 to 17:00, except Monday.

Even if you visit all the places above, you are still going to have some money from your $10 budget left, so I recommend trying some local cuisine or street food. Check out also more awesome places to visit in Myanmar.