Which place is cheaper, Cebu or Hanoi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hanoi or Cebu?
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 Cebu 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 Cebu?
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.
Cebu
Cebu Island is an important island in the Visayas region of the Philippines, characterized by its main port at Cebu City as well as many natural features. The most-visited areas include islands of Mactan, Bantayan, Badian, Malapascua and Camotes, all which have resorts and hotels. Scuba diving and snorkeling are common activities along the shoreline, while hiking the mountainous spine of the island is popular inland.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHanoi $49Cebu $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Hanoi is $49, while the average daily cost in Cebu is $65. 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 Cebu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHanoi $25Cebu $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHanoi $50Cebu $50
Compare Hotels in Hanoi and Cebu
Looking for a hotel in Hanoi or Cebu? 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: Hanoi Hotel Prices and Cebu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hanoi $6.89Cebu $26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:
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Taxi to Bus Station$1.20
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Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)$3.20
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Local Bus Ride (for Two)$0.40
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Short Taxi Ride$1.36
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Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)$0.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
- Amazing Hanoi Private TransferTaxi-Cheap Vietnam SimCard Internet: $6.90
- Hanoi Private Car Airport Transfer To Hotel: $7.18
- Hanoi Private Departure Transfer: City Center Hotel to Airport: $8.00
- Noi Bai International Airport Private Transfer: $8.21
- Hanoi City Center to Noi Bai Airport - Private Transfer: $8.43
- Noi Bai Airport Transfer Service: $8.54
- Hanoi Airport Departure Shared Transfer: $10
- Private Noi Bai International Airport Transfer: $11
- Bus Transfer Hanoi to Halong Bay and Vice Versa : $11
- Private Car Ha Noi Airport Transfer : $12
- Private Transfer from Hanoi Airport HAN to Old Quarter : $13
- HaNoi City to Noi Bai Airport transfer by private car: $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cebu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cebu:
- Bohol Day Tour with Round-Trip Transfers from Cebu: $190
- Cebu Airport Transfer within Mactan Island, Cebu or Mandaue City: $64
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Lapu-Lapu city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $40
- Cebu Departure Transfer from Mandaue city to Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB): $40
- Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB) to Lapu-Lapu city: $40
- Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu Airport (CEB) to Mandaue city: $40
- Cebu Private Transfer from Mactan Cebu International Airport (CEB) to Cebu city: $40
- Cebu Seaport - Mactan Hotel (Any Hotel) - One Way Transfer: $22
- Cebu Whale Shark Snorkeling & Tumalog Falls w/ Meals and Transfer: $95
- Private One-Way Airport Transfer: $25
- Danasan Eco Adventure Park Including Round-Trip Hotel Transfer: $161
- Hotel Private Transfer Airport to Cebu, Mandaue, LapuLapu: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Hanoi or Cebu?
Prices for flights to both Cebu 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
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Food Meals for one dayHanoi $13Cebu $21
Typical Food Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:
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High End Dinner (for Two)$12
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.39
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Bowl of Pho$0.80
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Italian Dinner (for Food)$6.19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $5.00
- Private Traditional Vietnamese Food Cooking Class in Hanoi : $5.00
- Hanoi free food tour - Old Quarter food walking tour: $5.00
- Street Food Tour (Group/Individual): $5.13
- Hanoi Street Food Tour Visit Train Street Add Old Quarter: $19
- Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour: $20
- Hanoi local street food tour: $20
- Hanoi food tour-Local street food tour (food&guide included): $21
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $22
- Hanoi street food tour small group tour: $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $23
- Ngon ngon & Authentic Hanoi Food Tour: $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cebu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cebu.
- Cebu City: Historical Street and Food Tour: $67
- Cebu City Historical Street and Food Tour: $69
- Panoramic View of Cebu and Dinner with Night View: $89
- Traditional Filipino Bamboo Cooking Class: $108
- Private Panoramic Tour with Dinner: $131
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hanoi $8.51Cebu $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi
Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Puppet Theater$1.60
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The Hanoi Hilton Entrance$1.60
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National History Museum$1.60
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Puppet Theater Ticket$2.80
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
- Skip the Line: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Entrance Tickets: $4.90
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour: $5.00
- Sightseeing Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
- (Evening) HANOI CUSTOMIZED Walking Tour: $5.00
- Street Food Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
- Private Walking Tour of Hanoi City: $5.00
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour : $5.00
- Half-day Private Walking Tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter: $5.00
- Skip the line: Thang Long Water Puppet Theater Entrance Tickets: $5.00
- Hanoi Old Quarter Free walking tour: $5.00
- Museum Tour - Unveiling Stories of the Past: $5.13
Tours and Activities in Cebu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cebu are as follows:
- Moalboal Sardines Run Private Tour: $20
- Cebu City Tour: Temple of Leah and many more: $36
- 3-Hour Small Group Cebu City Tour: $38
- Cebu City: Cebu Heritage & Uphill Tour on Two Wheels: $40
- Cebu City Tour (Joiners Tour): $41
- Guided Heritage City Tour: $44
- Highlands Guided Tour w/ Hotel Pickup: $45
- Cebu Highlands Tour(Cebu Taoist, Temple of Leah and Sirao Garden): $46
- Land Tour | Bantayan Island - Sightseeing - Guided Tour: $46
- Cebu Half Day City Tour (Private Tour): $52
- Canyoneering Experience in Kawasan Falls with Lunch: $55
- Cebu City with Sirao Garden Half Day Tour: $57
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHanoi $7.70Cebu $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi
Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Hanoi Beer and Brewery Tour: $48
- Pub Crawl Party & Hanoi's nightlife: $65
- Half-Day Guided Tour Australian Beef with Wine Tasting & Rickshaw in Hanoi: $106
Sample the Local Flavors in Cebu
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cebu:
- Cebu City Light's Pub Crawl: $99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hanoi and Cebu, we can see that Cebu is more expensive. And not only is Hanoi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hanoi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hanoi 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 Cebu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cebu than you might in Hanoi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hanoi Expensive? and Is Cebu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hanoi or Cebu?
Hanoi has a larger population, and is about 79% larger than the population of Cebu. When comparing the sizes of Hanoi and Cebu, 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.
When is the best time to visit Hanoi or Cebu?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Hanoi or Cebu in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Hanoi and Cebu. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hanoi year-round. Cebu attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, May to September is the rainy season in Hanoi. Cebu receives a lot of rain in the summer. Hanoi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Hanoi usually receives more rain than Cebu. Hanoi gets 210 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Hanoi is generally around the same temperature as Cebu. Daily temperatures in Hanoi average around 29°C (84°F), and Cebu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHanoi 29°C (84°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Hanoi or Cebu in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Hanoi as well as Cebu. Hanoi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Cebu throughout the year.
Also, November to April in Hanoi is the dry season. It's quite rainy in Cebu. Hanoi receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Hanoi usually gets less rain in October than Cebu. Hanoi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Hanoi is cooler than Cebu in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hanoi averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Cebu fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHanoi 25°C (77°F)Cebu 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Hanoi or Cebu in the Winter?
Both Cebu and Hanoi are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hanoi throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Cebu because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Hanoi usually receives less rain than Cebu. Hanoi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Hanoi is much colder than Cebu. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hanoi in January average around 17°C (63°F), and Cebu averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHanoi 17°C (63°F)Cebu 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Hanoi or Cebu in the Spring?
Both Cebu and Hanoi during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hanoi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Cebu year-round.
November to April is the dry season in Hanoi. May to September is the rainy season in Hanoi. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hanoi. Hanoi usually gets more rain in April than Cebu. Hanoi gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Cebu receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Hanoi is generally cooler than Cebu. Daily temperatures in Hanoi average around 24°C (75°F), and Cebu fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHanoi 24°C (75°F)Cebu 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Cebu and Hanoi
| Hanoi | Cebu | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 17°C (63°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (63°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Mar | 21°C (70°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 210 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Nov | 22°C (72°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Dec | 18°C (64°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
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.