Which place is cheaper, Kao-hsiung or Hanoi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Hanoi or Kao-hsiung?
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 Kao-hsiung 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 Kao-hsiung?
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.
Kao-hsiung
Kaohsiung is the second-most populated city and also the largest port city in the country, located in the south of Taiwan. Compared to Taipei, the lifestyle in Kaohsiung is laid-back and noticeably slower, populated with friendly locals. However, with Taipei in the spotlight, Kaohsiung is often overlooked, though it offers so much in the way of art and culture, history, and delicious food.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best Historical Tours in Taiwan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Taiwan.
-
Hanoi Prices
Vietnam PricesKao-hsiung Prices
Taiwan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHanoi $57Kao-hsiung $129
The average daily cost (per person) in Hanoi is $57, while the average daily cost in Kao-hsiung is $129. 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 Kao-hsiung in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHanoi $25Kao-hsiung $58
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHanoi $50Kao-hsiung $116
Compare Hotels in Hanoi and Kao-hsiung
Looking for a hotel in Hanoi or Kao-hsiung? 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 Kao-hsiung Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hanoi $6.56Kao-hsiung $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:
-
Taxi to Bus Station$1.14
-
Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)$3.04
-
Local Bus Ride (for Two)$0.38
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.29
-
Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)$0.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
- Private Transfer from Noi Bai Airport to your Hotel: $7.40
- Hanoi Airport One Way Private Transfer HAN to Hanoi City Center: $8.00
- Noi Bai Airport transfer to Hanoi Center and more: $8.00
- Noi Bai Airport Transfer Service: $8.54
- Hanoi Private Transfer: $9.90
- Bus Transfer Hanoi to Halong Bay and Vice Versa: $11
- Private car transfer from Hanoi Airport to Hotels: $12
- Private Transfer Between Hanoi Airport and Hanoi Center: $12
- One Way Transfer From hotel to airport or vice versal: $13
- Noi Bai airport to Ha Noi city transfer by private car: $13
- Hanoi Airport Transfer: $13
- HaNoi City to Noi Bai Airport transfer by private car: $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $133
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $265
- Kaohsiung Airport Chauffeur service , Kaohsiung Airport Transfer: $50
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport to Kenting: $138
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Hanoi or Kao-hsiung?
Prices for flights to both Kao-hsiung 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 dayHanoi $23Kao-hsiung $56
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)$11
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.18
-
Bowl of Pho$0.76
-
Italian Dinner (for Food)$5.89
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
- Private Hanoi Old Quarter Street Food Tour with Student Guide: $1.87
- Private Hanoi Cycling Sightseeing & Street Food Tour By Bike: $1.87
- Best Hanoi Food Tour 7 Different Food Tasting Visit Train Street: $5.00
- (Group/Individual) HANOI STREET FOOD TOUR: $5.13
- Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour with Train-Street Visit: $18
- Hanoi Farm-to-Table Cooking Class with Village Cycling: $18
- Hanoi Cooking Class: Pho/Bun Cha/Banh Xeo...+Free Egg/Salt Coffee: $19
- Hanoi Street Food Tour with egg coffee making: $20
- Hanoi Street Food Tour with Train Street Visit: $20
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: Hidden Local Eats & Full Meal Experience: $21
- Walking food tour & Train Street visit small group: $21
- Hanoi Food Tour: Hidden Alleys, Tram Exhibit & Coffee Brewing: $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kao-hsiung
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kao-hsiung.
- Sunset Dinner on Monkey Mountain: $100
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hanoi $8.10Kao-hsiung $21
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$1.52
-
The Hanoi Hilton Entrance$1.52
-
National History Museum$1.52
-
Puppet Theater Ticket$2.66
Tours and Activities in Hanoi
Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full-Day Mai Chau Valley Tour from Hanoi with Cycling, Culture: $1.87
- Hanoi Old Quarter Sightseeing Tour by Traditional Cyclo Rickshaw: $1.87
- Hanoi Old Quarter City Sightseeing Walking Tour With Funny Guide: $1.87
- Ha Long Bay Cruise Tour with Canoe, Kayaking, Titov Island: $1.87
- Cat Ba National Park & Lan Ha Bay Cruise 2-Day Adventure Tour: $1.87
- 2-Day Ninh Binh Tour: Cuc Phuong, Van Long, Bai Dinh, Trang An: $1.87
- Hanoi City Private Tour With Street Food Experience & Aquarium: $1.87
- Ha Giang Loop Motorbike Adventure with Easy Rider, Round-Trip Bus: $1.87
- Cat Ba Island & Lan Ha Bay Cruise 2 Day Tour: National Park, Cave: $1.87
- Hanoi Old Quarter Customized City Sightseeing Private Tour: $1.87
- From Sapa Trek, Cat Cat Village & Fansipan Summit Tour: $1.87
- Hanoi City Cycling Tour: West Lake, Old Quarter & Cultural Sights: $1.87
Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kao-hsiung are as follows:
- Kenting Aquarium Admission Ticket in Taiwan: $28
- Suzuka Circuit Park Ticket in Kaohsiung: $33
- Kaohsiung Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
- Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: Fo Guang Shan x Lotus Pond x Pier-2: $62
- Kenting and Pingtung Popular Sightseeing Spot Tour From Kaohsiung: $65
- Kaohsiung City Walking and Night Market Tour: $70
- Kaohsiung Cultural Day: TourMoon World, Hakka Lei Cha DIY, Pier-2: $73
- Food and Culture Walking Tour in Tainan: $78
- Alishan Join-in Day Tour from Kaohsiung (Incl. Park Entrance): $86
- Tainan Romantic Escape: Qipao Experience & Love Match Ceremony: $114
- Private Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: $115
- Private Custom Kaohsiung Day Tour: $115
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayHanoi $7.32Kao-hsiung $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Hanoi
Also in Hanoi, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Hanoi Night Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Free Shots: $40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hanoi and Kao-hsiung, we can see that Kao-hsiung 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 Kao-hsiung would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kao-hsiung 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 Kao-hsiung Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hanoi or Kao-hsiung?
Kao-hsiung has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Hanoi. When comparing the sizes of Hanoi and Kao-hsiung, 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.
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.