Which place is cheaper, Sapa or Amman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Amman or Sapa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Sapa. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Amman or Sapa?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
Sapa
Sapa is a beautiful town in the northern mountains of Vietnam by the border with China. Many travelers pass through the area on their way from China into Hanoi. Alternatively, some travelers head north from Hanoi to spend a few days in the beautiful mountains where tribal cultures are still alive and well. There are a good number of ethnic minorities that populate the area. The eight populations in the area include H'mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa, and Xa Pho, but the vast majority in the area are H'mong. Within the town of Sapa itself, there are about 7,000 people. The rest of the population lives in the surrounding countryside and are peasant farmers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Vietnam, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Vietnam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $110Sapa $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $110, while the average daily cost in Sapa is $36. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Amman and Sapa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49Sapa $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98Sapa $24
Compare Hotels in Amman and Sapa
Looking for a hotel in Amman or Sapa? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Amman Hotel Prices and Sapa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24Sapa $9.41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to Aqaba from Amman or Queen Alia Airport: $360
- Wadi Rum transfer from - to Amman: $323
- Amman Or Airport Private Transfer To Petra By Kings Way: $260
- Queen Alia International Airport Transfers To Amman, Petra.: $257
- transfers Queen Alia Airport or Amman from/to Petra: $242
- Petra Full Day Tour with Hotel Transfer: $204
- Transfer Amman To/From Petra: $200
- Private Transfer From Amman Airport To Petra: $190
- Private Transfer from Allenby King Hussein Bridge to Aqaba Airport: $173
- Petra or WadiRum transfer to/from Amman, Airport, Madaba, Deadsea: $167
- Amman Private Transfer To Jerusalem With VIP Service: $160
- Amman to Jerusalem Private Transfer: $160
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sapa are as follows:
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Short Motorbike Ride$1.20
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Sapa?
Prices for flights to both Sapa and Amman change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAmman $34Sapa $16
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Amman:Home resturant lunch and dinner: $37
- Private Day or Night Amman Sightseeing - Optional Cooking or Wine Tasting Tour : $51
- 3 course dinner with a sommelier: $56
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $71
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience : $109
- 3-Hours Guided Food Tour in Amman: $130
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience : $173
Typical Food Prices in Sapa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sapa:
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Casual Dinner (for One)$2.72
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Quick Breakfast (for Two)$2.20
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Coffee (for Two)$2.40
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Western Dinner (for Two)$7.96
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Pho Soup$0.60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32Sapa $6.13
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Amman :Private day tour to Jerash and Ajloun: $81
- Tour to the hidden Kingdom of the north: $300
- 01 Day Tour to Dead Sea From Amman: $220
- 1 Day Tour to Amman Jerash and Ajloun castle : $150
- 1 Day Tour: Amman and Jerash: $176
- 1-Day Tour: Amman and Dead Sea: $161
- 1-Night Private Overnight Madaba Independent Tour from Amman: $170
- 1-Night Private Overnight Wadi Mujib Independent Tour from Amman: $271
- 1Day Private spiritual Tour to Amman Madaba Baptism site Dead Sea: $150
- 2 Day Tour Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman: $300
- 2 Days Group Tour From Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba Dead sea: $264
- 2 Days Tour of Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea from Amman: $245
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sapa
For Sapa, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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CatCat Village Tax$1.60
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Ta Phin Village Tax$0.80
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Walking Stick$0.20
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Paddle Boat Rental on Sapa Lake (1 Hr)$3.20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14Sapa $8.18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Sapa are as follows:
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Two Beers$1.00
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Sapa, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Sapa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East and Sapa is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Sapa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sapa and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Sapa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Sapa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or Sapa?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Sapa. When comparing the sizes of Amman and Sapa, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.