A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chumphon vs. Sapa for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chumphon or Sapa?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Chumphon or Sapa? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Chumphon or Sapa?

Chumphon

Sometimes tourism has a tendency to spoil the natural beauty of a place. This is not the case in the magical city of Chumphon, Thailand. As the gateway to the Chumphon Archipelago, this city has maintained natural, untouched beauty. Its miles of coastline are full of fine beaches with fishing, swimming and a number of other activities.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, and The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam.


Which place is cheaper, Sapa or Chumphon?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Chumphon is $41, 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 Chumphon and Sapa in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chumphon $18
    Sapa $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chumphon $36
    Sapa $24
Compare Hotels in Chumphon and Sapa

Looking for a hotel in Chumphon 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.

Hotels in Chumphon


Hotels in Sapa


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: Chumphon Hotel Prices and Sapa Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chumphon $7.16
    Sapa $9.58

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sapa

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sapa are as follows:


  • Short Motorbike Ride
    $1.22

Is it cheaper to fly into Chumphon or Sapa?

Prices for flights to both Sapa and Chumphon 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Chumphon $15
    Sapa $17
Typical Food Prices in Chumphon

For Chumphon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Ice Cream
    $0.19
  • Fruit at the Market
    $0.62
  • Breakfast
    $1.24

Typical Food Prices in Sapa

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sapa:


  • Casual Dinner (for One)
    $2.76
  • Quick Breakfast (for Two)
    $2.23
  • Coffee (for Two)
    $2.44
  • Western Dinner (for Two)
    $8.10
  • Pho Soup
    $0.61

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chumphon $12
    Sapa $6.24

Typical Entertainment Prices in Sapa

For Sapa, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • CatCat Village Tax
    $1.63
  • Ta Phin Village Tax
    $0.81
  • Walking Stick
    $0.20
  • Paddle Boat Rental on Sapa Lake (1 Hr)
    $3.25

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chumphon $13
    Sapa $8.32
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chumphon

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chumphon are as follows:


  • Beer (2)
    $4.32

Typical Alcohol Prices in Sapa

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Sapa are as follows:


  • Two Beers
    $1.02


When comparing the travel costs between Chumphon and Sapa, we can see that Chumphon is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chumphon Expensive? and Is Sapa Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Chumphon or Sapa?

Sapa has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Chumphon. When comparing the sizes of Chumphon 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.