Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas 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.
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Should you visit Halong Bay or Saint Thomas?
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 Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas?
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.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi.
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Halong Bay Prices
Vietnam PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $66Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $66, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $27Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $54Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay or Saint Thomas? 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: Saint Thomas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Halong Bay $13Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Halong Bay 2D1N 5-Star Cruise–Transfer, Food & Island Adventures: $239
- Classic 2D1N Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi with Bus Transfer: $218
- PRIVATE TRANSFER BETWEEN HANOI and HAI PHONG CITY(DCAR LIMOUSINE): $200
- 2 Day Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi by Expressway Transfer: $199
- Dragon 5Star HaLong Cruise 2D1N Included Transfer from Hanoi: $195
- Halong Bay 2D1N Best-Selling Cruise with Transfer, Meals, Islands: $195
- Oasis Bay Party Cruise for Young Travelers with Transfer Included: $185
- 2D/1N at 5 STAR CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $185
- 2D/1N at AQUAMARINE CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $170
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi hotels: $142
- Private Transfer: From Ha Long Bay to Ninh Binh: $110
- Hanoi Private Transfer from Tuan Chau Island to Hanoi (HAN) airport: $101
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Cyril E. King Airport STT to Charlotte Amalie RoundTrip Transfer: $198
- Exclusive Airport Transfers (up to 4 persons) One-Way: $135
- Luxury Airport Transfer to or from St Thomas The Ritz Carlton: $189
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St. Thomas- Airport Transfer to Ritz Carlton Elysian: $174
- PARADISE TAXI & TOURS USVI-St.Thomas-Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St. Thomas - Airport Transfer to Red Hook Ferry: $174
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay / Limetree: $110
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St Thomas- Airport Transfer Sapphire / Crystal Cove: $174
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $174
- Prince Taxi & Tours St.Thomas Airport transfer to Redhook Ferry: $180
- Prince Taxi USVI ST.Thomas Airport transfer to Westin: $135
- Prince Taxi USVI- ST.Thomas Aiport Transfer to Crown bay ferry: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 $26Saint Thomas $94
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
- Authentic Hanoi Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $39
- Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $79
- Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $200
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- St. James Snorkel & Pizza Pi Lunch: $90
- St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $109
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $119
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to St. John with Open Bar & Hors D'oeuvres - Ritz-Carlton: $129
- Pizza Pi Shuttle (Official) - Jet Ski Trip St Thomas: $148
- Pizza Pi Party- Snorkel & Sunset Cruise: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $16Saint Thomas $60
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 07 Hours Explore Halong Bay on La Casta Cruises: $62
- 07 Hours Explore Halong Bay with Sea Octopus Cruise: $70
- 2 Days 1 Night Halong Bay Classic Wooden Cruise: $199
- 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure: $139
- 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure on Cruise from Halong: $245
- 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha, Ha Long Bay Tour With Licensed Guide: $129
- 2 Days 1 Night Luxury Cruise in Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi: $219
- 2 Days 1 Night Rita Cruise Best Luxury Cruise in Halong Bay: $219
- 2 Days 1 Night on Lan Ha Bay at Daiichi Boutique Cruise: $131
- 2 Days Amazing Halong Bay Cruise starting from Tuan Chau Harbor: $155
- 2 Days Bai Tu Long bay luxury cruise with kayaking and swimming: $210
- 2 Days Exploring Bai Tu Long Bay on Cruise: $221
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
- Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
- Cruise Ship Port Shuttle to St John Ferry: $34
- Rum Tasting Experience in the Old Barrel House: $35
- #1 St. Thomas Ghost Tour – Virgin Island's Original Haunted Tour: $41
- St. John Ghost Tour of Historic Cruz Bay: $45
- Cruise Ship Shuttle to Ferry going to St. John: $45
- Guided Kayak Tour from Elysian: $48
- Guided Stand Up Paddleboard Tour from Margaritaville: $48
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI - St. Thomas, Virgin Islands- Island Scenic Tour: $49
- High Speed Harbor Tour from Charlotte Amalie Cruise Port: $50
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours USVI-Scenic Island Tour ,St. Thomas: $50
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $12Saint Thomas $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Thomas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
- Da Conch Crawl- Walking Tour and Bar Crawl Downtown St. Thomas: $148
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Halong Bay and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas 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.