Which place is cheaper, Hanoi or Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu or Hanoi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kathmandu and Hanoi 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: Kathmandu or Hanoi?
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Tours for Seniors to Vietnam, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Vietnam.
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Kathmandu Prices
Nepal PricesHanoi Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKathmandu $59Hanoi $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $59, while the average daily cost in Hanoi 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 Kathmandu and Hanoi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $38Hanoi $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $76Hanoi $50
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Hanoi
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Hanoi? 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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Hanoi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.56Hanoi $6.54
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Chitwan to Pokhara Transfer by Private AC Car (One Way): $80
- Everest Scenic Flight By Buddha Air with Free Hotel Transfers: $165
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
- Pokhara:Paragliding & River Rafting Adventure with Transfers: $141
- Private Luxury Car Transfer all over Nepal: $89
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$1.14
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Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)$3.03
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Local Bus Ride (for Two)$0.38
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Short Taxi Ride$1.29
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Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)$0.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
- Hanoi Private Transfer Taxi with Vietnam SIM Card & Internet: $6.90
- Private Hanoi Airport (HAN) Transfer to Hotel/Accommodation: $9.00
- Hanoi Airport Departure Shared Transfer: $10
- Bus Transfer Hanoi to Halong Bay and Vice Versa : $11
- Private Car Ha Noi Airport Transfer : $12
- Private Transfer Between Hanoi Airport (han) And Hanoi City Center: $13
- Hanoi Airport Transfer: $13
- Noi Bai airport to Ha Noi city transfer by private car: $13
- Private Transfer from Hanoi Port to Hanoi Noi Bai Airport (HAN): $13
- Shuttle Limousine Bus Transfer to/from Cat Ba Island: $14
- Cat Ba: Shuttle Bus Transfer to/from Ninh Binh: $14
- Hanoi to Halong City Comfortable Shared Bus Transfer: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Hanoi?
Prices for flights to both Hanoi and Kathmandu 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 dayKathmandu $14Hanoi $23
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.28
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Dinner for Two$2.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights in Kathmandu: $27
- Half day cooking class in Thamel kathmandu: $28
- Local Cooking Class in Chitwan with Local Style Wood Fire: $65
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)$11
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.17
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Bowl of Pho$0.76
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Italian Dinner (for Food)$5.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
- Hanoi Old Quarter Cooking Class Tour With Local Market Shopping : $9.71
- Hanoi Walking Street Food Tour with Train-Street Visit: $18
- Hanoi Cooking Class: Pho/Bun Cha/Banh Xeo...+Free Egg/Salt Coffee: $19
- Hanoi local street food tour: $20
- Hanoi food tour-Local street food tour (food&guide included): $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour with Train Street Visit: $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $23
- Best Hanoi Day Street Food Tour with Real Foodie Tastings: $24
- Hanoi Street Food Tour with Local Delicacies (3 Hours): $24
- Ninh Binh Cooking Class at Buffalo Cave: $25
- Hanoi Street Food Tour with Small Group and Expert Local Guide: $25
- Street Food Tour Hanoi By Walking: $25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kathmandu $7.58Hanoi $8.07
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.42
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.54
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.42
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $5.00
- Kathmandu to Chitwan Tourist Bus Ticket or Back: $13
- Chitwan to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Tickets: $13
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $15
- Chitwan to Pokhara or Pokhara to Chitwan: Tourist bus Service: $16
- Pokhara to Kathmandu Luxury Tourist Bus Ticket: $19
- Patan & Bhaktapur Durbar Square Tour with Lunch – Private/Group: $20
- Zipline Adventure in Dhulikhel with Pickup & Lunch: $20
- Private Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour | UNESCO World Heritage sites: $25
- Kathmandu Food & Drink and Shopping Rickshaw Tour: $29
- Chitwan to Pokhara Luxury Bus Ticket Reservation : $29
- Pagoda Hill, Water Falls & Cave Private Day Tour on Pokhara: $30
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$1.52
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The Hanoi Hilton Entrance$1.52
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National History Museum$1.52
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Puppet Theater Ticket$2.65
Tours and Activities in Hanoi
Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Hanoi Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.52
- Ho Chi Minh Complex & Temple of Literature Tour (half day): $5.00
- Street Food Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
- Small-group Hanoi Highlights Weekend Walking Tour: $5.00
- Hanoi Street Food Experience: $5.00
- Hanoi Old Quarter Private Half Day Walking Tour : $5.00
- Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour Half Day: $5.00
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour in Vietnam: $5.00
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour : $5.00
- Private Walking City Tour in Hanoi : $5.00
- Hanoi Old Quarter Private Daily Street Food Experience: $5.00
- Vietnam Tour Package: Tailored Experiences, No Upfront Payment: $5.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKathmandu $5.45Hanoi $7.30
When comparing the travel costs between Kathmandu and Hanoi, we can see that Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu Expensive? and Is Hanoi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Hanoi?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 1% larger than the population of Hanoi. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Hanoi, 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.