Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan or Can Tho?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Can Tho and Gili Trawangan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?
Can Tho
Can Tho is the largest city of Vietnam's Mekong Delta, and is best known for its canal network of floating markets, restaurants, bars, and hotels, Buddhist pagodas, and the beauty of the delta, which is illuminated in the evenings.
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Vietnam, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayCan Tho $57Gili Trawangan $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Can Tho is $57, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan 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 Can Tho and Gili Trawangan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personCan Tho $27Gili Trawangan $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomCan Tho $54Gili Trawangan $48
Compare Hotels in Can Tho and Gili Trawangan
Looking for a hotel in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan? 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: Can Tho Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Can Tho $13Gili Trawangan $2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Can Tho
Also for Can Tho, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Can Tho Airport to/from Can Tho City Center: $43
- Private Transfer: Can Tho Airport - Can Tho City Center: $40
- Private Transfer from Vinh Long to Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport: $105
- Private Transfer from Thanh Thoi to Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport: $106
- Private Transfer from Can Tho City to Tan Son Nhat (SGN) Airport: $112
- Private Transfer from Can Tho City to Can Tho (VCA) Airport: $25
- Private Transfer from Can Tho (VCA) Airport to Ho Chi Minh: $112
- Private Transfer from Can Tho (VCA) Airport to Can Tho City: $25
- PRIVATE CAR: Can Tho AIRPORT <=> CanTho Hotels (one way transfer): $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan
Also for Gili Trawangan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Three Gili Island Lombok by Speedboat: $100
- Lombok Transfer From 3 Gilis to Airport or Hotel In Lombok: $45
- Airport private Transfer: $39
- Central Gili Island Bus Transfer Senggigi Mataram Kuta Lombok: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?
Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan and Can Tho 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 dayCan Tho $17Gili Trawangan $7.21
Typical Food Prices in Can Tho
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Can Tho:
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Restaurant Dinner (for Two)$5.19
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Coconut$0.28
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Mango$1.08
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Hot Pot Dinner (for Two)$6.95
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Two Vietnamese Iced Coffees$0.64
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Casual Lunch (for One)$2.80
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Can Tho
For Can Tho, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Boat tour on Mekong river see the sunset, small canal, Vegan dinner, street food: $29
- Explore Can Tho City tour combine Local Food tour - in afternoon: $35
- Can Tho food tour designed by local chef: $38
- Street food tour back of the bike in Can Tho: $39
- Eco Cooking Class and Market Tour: $47
- Walking street food tour designed by local chef: $47
- Full-Day Experience in Mekong Cycling and Authentic Home Cooking: $60
- Can Tho Cooking Class - Motorbike trip in the countryside: $69
- 2 Days Tour in Can Tho with Boat Trip and Cooking Class : $139
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sweet and Spicy - Indonesian Cooking Class in Gili Trawangan: $28
- Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes: $30
- Gili Trawangan Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise with snorkeling: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Can Tho $17Gili Trawangan $3.98
Typical Entertainment Prices in Can Tho
For Can Tho, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sunset Boat Ride$2.00
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Half Day Floating Market Tour$8.39
Tours and Activities in Can Tho
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Can Tho.
- 'Cai Rang' Floating Market 2-Day Tour With Biking & Boating: $140
- 3-DAY CA MAU CAPE TOUR IN MEKONG DELTA FROM SAI GON: $166
- A unique tour of the floating market includes a cacao plantation.: $48
- An Giang Full Day tour visit Tra Su bird sanctuary From Can Tho: $155
- Bicycle Tour Through Peaceful Villages: $40
- Boat tour visit 3 pagodas, Ancient house, see sunset on mekong river: $59
- CASA Authentic Bicycle Tour: $89
- CASA Authentic Mekong Motorbike Tour: $89
- Cai Rang Floating Market One Day Private Tour from Ho Chi Minh City: $145
- Cai Rang Floating Market Tour -Amazing Can Tho : $45
- Can Tho Sunset Tour : $35
- Cycling in the village in Can Tho - countryside bike tour: $55
Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5H All Inclusive Breakfast &Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $107
- 5H All Inclusive Sunset & Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $107
- Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Cruise: $72
- Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Sunset Cruise: $72
- Gili Nanggu Day Tour: $80
- Gili Trawangan 3 Island Half day Cruise with BBQ Lunch and Snorkeling : $91
- Shared Gili Islands Snorkeling Tour: $19
- Kuta Tour (South Of Lombok Beutiful Tour): $49
- Lombok Private Customize Tour: $85
- Lombok Private Tour Waterfall And Traditional Village Including Beach: $55
- Private Snorkeling Experience in Gili Trawangan: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayCan Tho $6.59Gili Trawangan $3.67
Typical Alcohol Prices in Can Tho
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Can Tho from other travelers:
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Beer$3.20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Can Tho and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Can Tho is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan 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 Can Tho would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Can Tho than you might in Gili Trawangan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Can Tho Expensive? and Is Gili Trawangan Expensive?.
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.