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

Should you visit Halong Bay or Zhangjiajie?

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 Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?

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.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

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 Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Halong Bay?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $58, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $63. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Halong Bay $28
    Zhangjiajie $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Halong Bay $56
    Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Zhangjiajie

Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Halong Bay $14
    Zhangjiajie $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:

  • Bhaya 2-Day Halong Bay Tour with Optional Hanoi Transfer by Bus: $203
  • 2D/1N at 5 STAR CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $185
  • 2 Day Halong Bay Cruise from Hanoi by Expressway Transfer: $175
  • 2D/1N at AQUAMARINE CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $170
  • Dragon 5Star HaLong Cruise 2D1N Included Transfer from Hanoi : $140
  • Cozy Bay Classic Cruise 2D1N from Hanoi by Expressway Transfer : $135
  • Halong Bay Luxury Day Tour From Hanoi With Limousine Transfer : $80
  • Amethyst Cruise Luxury Day Tour from Halong Bay Included Transfer: $70
  • Halong Wonder Bay Cruise 1 Day Tour from Hanoi with Limo Transfer: $68
  • Halong Deluxe Day Tour Small Group on Boat Transfer by Limousine: $66
  • Private Departure Transfer - Ha Long Bay to Hanoi Airport: $64
  • PRIVATE LIMOUSINE TRANSFER +Join Premium Day Cruise in Halong Bay: $55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie

Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Zhangjiajie?

Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $16
    Zhangjiajie $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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie

For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Halong Bay $16
    Zhangjiajie $23

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 Zhangjiajie

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.

  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
  • Tianmen Mountain day tour: $96
  • Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $115
  • Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $122
  • 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
  • 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
  • Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain Glass Bridge day tour: $150
  • 1 Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain and Glass Skywalk Tour: $154
  • Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Private All-inclusive Day Tour: $155
  • Glass Bridge,Zhangjiajie park Avatar Mountain day tour: $160

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Halong Bay $12
    Zhangjiajie $16


When comparing the travel costs between Halong Bay and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.