A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hanoi vs. Boracay for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hanoi or Boracay?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hanoi and Boracay 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: Hanoi or Boracay?

Hanoi

Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam, and it serves as a great introduction to the country for many travelers. It's the second largest city in the country after Saigon and is an interesting combination of East meets West. There's traditional Vietnamese culture with subtle influences brought by the French. The city continues to grow and change rapidly and it's easy to get lost amidst the chaos.

Boracay

A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Vietnam, The Best G Adventures Tours to Vietnam, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Philippines, and The Best Adventure Tours to Philippines.


Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Hanoi?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Hanoi is $49, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $57. 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 Hanoi and Boracay in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hanoi $25
    Boracay $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hanoi $50
    Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Hanoi and Boracay

Looking for a hotel in Hanoi or Boracay? 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 Hanoi


Hotels in Boracay


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: Hanoi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hanoi $7.01
    Boracay $28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:


  • Taxi to Bus Station
    $1.22
  • Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)
    $3.25
  • Local Bus Ride (for Two)
    $0.41
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $1.38
  • Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)
    $0.81

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:

  • Hanoi Airport Private Transfer (Danny Phan Travel): $15
  • Luxury Halong Bay Day Tour - 6 hours cruising - Limousine transfers: $119
  • Shared Transfer Hanoi - Halong (And Vice Versa) By Limousine Car: $17
  • ( Deluxe & Small Group ) Bai Dinh Trang An Mua Cave Tour with Limousine Transfer: $54
  • 1 Day Halong Cruise Tour with Transfer and early return to Hanoi: $36
  • 1 day Halong Bay with Superior Wego Cruise with Lunch & Transfer: $36
  • 1-Way Transfer between Hanoi and Ha Long via Limousine Bus: $22
  • 2 Days 1 night Ba Be Lake BEST ADVENTURE: transfer,homestay,boat,kayak,swim,cave: $153
  • 2-Day Adenture Pu Luong Motorbike Tour with Transfer from HANOI : $125
  • 2-Day Halong Bay Tou & Ninh binh Tour With Transfer: $120
  • 2-Day Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay With Transfer: $190
  • 2-Day In Halong Bay Cruise With Transfer From Hanoi: $180

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:

  • Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $30
  • Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
  • Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $71
  • Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $45
  • Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
  • Caticlan: Ferry Boat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $35
  • Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $56
  • Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer to Boracay: $51
  • Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $31
  • PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $108
  • Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $84

Is it cheaper to fly into Hanoi or Boracay?

Prices for flights to both Boracay and Hanoi 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
    Hanoi $13
    Boracay $14
Typical Food Prices in Hanoi

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:


  • High End Dinner (for Two)
    $12
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $4.47
  • Bowl of Pho
    $0.81
  • Italian Dinner (for Food)
    $6.30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi

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

  • Private Traditional Vietnamese Food Cooking Class in Hanoi : $5.00
  • (Group/Individual) HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR : $5.13
  • Street Food Tour (Group/Individual): $5.29
  • Street Food Tour with Train Street and Old Quarter: $14
  • Best Hanoi Food Tour Visit Train Street Add Old Quarter: $18
  • Guided Street Food Tour with Train Street Experience: $19
  • Hanoi Street Food Tour with Train Street Visit Experience: $19
  • Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour: $20
  • Hanoi local street food tour: $20
  • Hanoi Food Tour with Train Street Visit: $20
  • Hanoi food tour-Local street food tour (food&guide included): $21
  • Hanoi street food tour small group tour: $22

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hanoi $8.65
    Boracay $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi

Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Puppet Theater
    $1.63
  • The Hanoi Hilton Entrance
    $1.63
  • National History Museum
    $1.63
  • Puppet Theater Ticket
    $2.84

Tours and Activities in Hanoi

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

  • Bus Ticket Cat Ba - Hanoi ( Bus+ Ferry ) - Best Selling: $0.02
  • Hanoi Vegan Street Food & Train Street Tour: $0.03
  • Hanoi Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.21
  • Skip the Line: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Entrance Tickets: $4.90
  • (Evening) HANOI CUSTOMIZED Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Hanoi Old Quarter Private Daily Street Food Experience: $5.00
  • Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour in Vietnam: $5.00
  • Hanoi Private Walking Tour inside Old Quarter: $5.00
  • Hanoi Street Food Experience: $5.00
  • Half-day Private Walking Tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter: $5.00
  • Street Food Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
  • Hanoi Old Quarter Street Food Experience: $5.00

Tours and Activities in Boracay

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

  • Crystal Kayak Photo-op Experience: $6.51
  • Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.30
  • Flying Donut Water Tubing Experience: $15
  • Boracay Sunset Cruise: $16
  • Boracay UFO Adventure: $17
  • Sunset Cruise with Water Activities: $17
  • Island and Beach-Hopping Boat Tour with Snorkeling: $20
  • Boracay Island Rhythm Sunset Cruise: $21
  • Stand-up Paddleboard Experience: $22
  • Helmet Diving Experience with Photos and Videos: $23
  • All-Terrain Vehicle or Buggy Car Experience: $23
  • Boracay Optional Tours and Packages: $24

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hanoi $7.83
    Boracay $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi

Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Guided Bar Crawl with Drinks and Nightclub Entry: $63
  • Half-Day Guided Tour Australian Beef with Wine Tasting & Rickshaw in Hanoi: $109


When comparing the travel costs between Hanoi and Boracay, we can see that Boracay 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 Hanoi Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hanoi or Boracay?

Hanoi has a larger population, and is about 620 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Hanoi and Boracay, 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.