A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Halong Bay vs. Akureyri for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Halong Bay or Akureyri?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Halong Bay and Akureyri can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Halong Bay or Akureyri?

Halong Bay

Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.

Akureyri

Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland.


Which place is cheaper, Akureyri or Halong Bay?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $66, while the average daily cost in Akureyri is $189. 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 Halong Bay and Akureyri in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Halong Bay $27
    Akureyri $102
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Halong Bay $54
    Akureyri $204
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Akureyri

Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay or Akureyri? 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 Halong Bay


Hotels in Akureyri


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: Akureyri Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Halong Bay $13
    Akureyri $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:

  • 2 Day Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi by Expressway Transfer: $199
  • 2D/1N at 5 STAR CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $185
  • 2D/1N at AQUAMARINE CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $170
  • Alova Premium Cruise to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip by Highway Transfer: $50
  • Arcady Premium Cruise Halong Bay Day Tour with Optional Transfer: $60
  • Best Seller Halong Full Day Tour All Included Expressway Transfer: $48
  • Bus Transfer From Cat Ba Island To Ninh Binh/Ninh binh To Cat Ba: $19
  • Classic 2D1N Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi with Bus Transfer: $218
  • Dragon 5Star HaLong Cruise 2D1N Included Transfer from Hanoi: $195
  • From Hanoi with Expessway Transfer to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip: $42
  • Hai Phong airport transfer to Halong Bay with private car 7 seat from Hai Phong: $100
  • Halong Bay 06 Hours Dragon King Cruise From Halong with Transfer: $60

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Akureyri

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Akureyri:

  • Akureyri Airport (AEY): Transfer to/from Akureyri City: $32
  • Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Port: $141
  • From Godafoss Waterfall Guided Trip with Transfers: $129
  • Seamless Transfer from Akureyri Airport to Your Stay: $32
  • Transfer from Accommodation to Akureyri Airport: $30
  • Transfer to Akureyri Airport from your Stay: $32
  • Whale Watching from Akureyri with Roundtrip Transfer: $94
  • Whale and Puffin Watching in Hauganes from Akureyri with Transfer: $165

Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Akureyri?

Prices for flights to both Akureyri and Halong Bay 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
    Halong Bay $26
    Akureyri $70

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.

  • Sunset and Bioluminescent Kayaking Tour in Lan Ha Bay with Dinner: $37
  • Catherine Horizon - Top Luxury - The Best Day & Dinner Cruise: $70
  • Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $79
  • Cooking class on floating village: $100
  • Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $210

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Halong Bay $16
    Akureyri $18

Tours and Activities in Halong Bay

Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Đón bạn ở Cát Bà - Tour 3 tiếng, thăm quan làng chài, Vịnh Lan Hạ: $9.28
  • LiLy Cruise - Luxury 5 Star Overnight Cruise - 2D1N & 3D2N: $10
  • Cat Ba: Lan Ha Bay - Viet Hai Village - Kayaking Tours: $13
  • Shared 6 Hours boat Tour With Cave Kayak Beach From Halong City: $20
  • Ha Long Bay Cruise Day Tour - best selling: Kayaking, Swimming, hiking & Lunch: $23
  • Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise with Lunch, Cave & Kayaking: $25
  • Lan Ha Bay Sunset Tour with Scenic Cruise from Cat Ba Island: $26
  • Hanoi: Ha Long Bay Day Cruise: Cave Exploration - Swim and Kayak: $27
  • From Cat Ba Island: Majestic Sunset Boat Tour Explore Lan Ha Bay: $27
  • Majestic Sunset Boat Tour: Explore Lan Ha Bay’s Stunning Scenery: $28
  • From Cat Ba: Amazing Sunset Boat Tour in Lan Ha Bay: $28
  • Majestic Sunset Boat Tour Explore the Stunning Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba: $29

Tours and Activities in Akureyri

Here are a few actual costs in Akureyri for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Icelandic Aviation Museum Admission Ticket: $15
  • War and Peace Museum - Tour: $24
  • Godafoss Waterfall Short Day Tour from Akureyri: $69
  • From Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Tour for Cruise Ships (V): $77
  • Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Classic Tour & Viewpoint: $81
  • Forest Lagoon Admission Ticket with Towel and One Drink included: $85
  • Zipline Tour: $95
  • Zipline Adventure Through Glerárgil River Canyon in Akureyri Town: $95
  • Whale Watching and Sea Angling Tour: $100
  • Húsavík Whale Watching Tour with Heated Indoor Seating: $101
  • Boat Tours from Siglufjörður: $101
  • 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour by Ship: $108

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Halong Bay $12
    Akureyri $15


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Halong Bay and Akureyri, we can see that Akureyri is more expensive. And not only is Halong Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Halong Bay is in Asia and Akureyri is in Europe, 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 Halong Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halong Bay 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 Akureyri would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Akureyri than you might in Halong Bay.

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