Which place is cheaper, Qingdao or Halong Bay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Halong Bay or Qingdao?
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 Qingdao 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 Qingdao?
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.
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
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 Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $58Qingdao $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $58, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $58. 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 Qingdao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $28Qingdao $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $56Qingdao $52
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Qingdao
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay or Qingdao? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Halong Bay $14Qingdao $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi Super Limousine Morning Bus: $33
- Transfer From Halong to Ninh Binh: $25
- Sunworld Halong theme park ticket with roundtrip transfer: $32
- Small Group Halong Day Tour: Islands, Cave, Kayak. Lunch. Expressway Transfers: $45
- Rosa Eco Bus Luxury Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi: $27
- Private Transfer from Tuan Chau to Haiphong (HPH) Airport: $51
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong city hotels: $46
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Port to Haiphong Airport (HPH): $51
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi hotels: $46
- Private Departure Transfer - Ha Long Bay to Hanoi Airport: $64
- PRIVATE LIMOUSINE TRANSFER +Join Premium Day Cruise in Halong Bay: $55
- Halong Wonder Bay Cruise 1 Day Tour from Hanoi with Limo Transfer: $68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Qingdao?
Prices for flights to both Qingdao 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
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Food Meals for one dayHalong Bay $16Qingdao $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Ambassador Luxury Dinner Cruise in Halong Bay: $46
- 1-day private Hanoi city tour with fun and night street walking food tour: $101
- Luxury Aspira Cruise from Halong with kayaking,cave,cooking class: $175
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $16Qingdao $20
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Day Halong Experience with Seaplane and Overnight Cruise: $295
- 2-Day Halong Orchid Cruise: $235
- Alisa Premier Luxury 5-Star Cruise in Halong Bay 2 Days 1 Night: $175
- La Regina Overnight Cruise - Queen of Lan Ha Bay - 2 day/1 night: $230
- (All Inclusive 5-STAR) Amanda Cruise 2 Days 1 Night - Ha Long Bay: $189
- (All Inclusive 5-STAR) Amanda Luxury Cruise 2D1N Trip - LanHa Bay: $168
- (All Inclusive 5-STAR) Amanda Premium Cruise 2D1N Trip-HaLong Bay: $199
- (Official) Signature Halong Cruise - 02 days 01 night program: $160
- (Official) Signature Royal Cruise - 02 days 01 night program: $164
- 1 Day Cruise in Halong Bay - Top Luxury & Small Cruise Tour 2024: $50
- 1 Day Halong Bay Deluxe Cruise with Wego Halong: $40
- 1 Day Small Group Luxury Cruise in Halong with Better Care : $60
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $12Qingdao $14
When comparing the travel costs between Halong Bay and Qingdao, we can see that Qingdao 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 Halong Bay Expensive? and Is Qingdao 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.