Which place is cheaper, Hue 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 Hue?
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 Hue 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 Hue?
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.
Hue
Hue is a major city in central Vietnam and was historically the imperial capital. The city was the base for the imperial Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945. During the Vietnam War the city faced many challenges. It was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During this time about 3,000 people were slaughtered for their political views, education level, or religious affiliation.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Vietnam.
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Kathmandu Prices
Nepal PricesHue Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKathmandu $54Hue $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $54, while the average daily cost in Hue 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 Hue in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $35Hue $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $70Hue $44
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Hue
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Hue? 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 Hue Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.04Hue $12
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$1.30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Kathmandu - Arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $12
- Airport Transfers in Kathmandu – Pickup OR Drop-Off Service: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfer: Arrival or Departure Service: $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
- Kathmandu Airport Transfer — Private Pickup or Drop: $17
- Tribhuvan International Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Rent a Private Car with Driver for Kathmandu City Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel: $25
- Tribhuvan International Airport KTM Private Transfer to Kathmandu: $28
- Kathmandu to Pokhara or Pokhara to Kathmandu Private Transfer: $30
- Nagarkot to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $40
- Kathmandu to Namobuddha Transfer by Private AC Car One Way: $50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hue
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hue:
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Cyclo$0.46
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Short Taxi Ride$0.84
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Taxi Ride to Tombs$13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hue
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hue:
- Hue Airport: Private Transfer to/or from Hue City Center: $4.72
- Phu Bai Airport to Hue City: Private Transfer: $5.90
- Transfer from Hue airport to Hue city center or vice versa: $6.81
- Airport Transfer to/from City Center: $7.68
- Private transfer from Phu Bai Airport to Hue city center: $9.30
- Hue city Airport transfer - All Inclusive: $9.60
- Shared Car Transfer from Phu Bai Airport to City Center: $9.84
- Hue Car Rental with Driver for Transfer Trip and Sightseeing: $11
- Hue Airport Phu bai Airport to Hue Hotel by Private Transfer: $11
- Private Transfer: Hue City Center - Hue Train Station: $11
- HUI: Transfer Phu Bai airport to Hue city center: $11
- Phu Bai Airport Arrival Or Departure by Private Transfer: $12
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Hue?
Prices for flights to both Hue 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 $13Hue $25
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.17
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Dinner for Two$2.61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Saturday Hidden Kathmandu Walk and Food Tour: $10
- Local Foodie Food Tour around Durbar Square: $15
- Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $20
- Authentic Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu: $23
- Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $24
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking Class: $30
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights Kathmandu 14+ Tastings: $35
- Walking Food Tour in Hidden Local Eateries of Kathmandu: $36
- Kathmandu Kitchens Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
- Everest Eats Kathmandu Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
Typical Food Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hue are as follows:
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River Night Market Dinner (for Two)$7.66
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Two Sugarcane Drinks$0.77
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Quick Lunch (for Two)$2.11
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$4.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hue
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hue.
- Eat Like a Local with a Local - Hue City Food Tour: $1.81
- VIP Dragon Boat Dinner Cruise on the Perfume River: $18
- Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorbike with Driver: $21
- Hue Walking Street Food Tour: $27
- Hue City: Cyclo, Market Tour & Cooking Class at Madam Thu: $27
- Hue Night Walking And Street Food Tour: $30
- Hue Food Tour 5 Delicious Stops for Culinary Exploration: $31
- Home Cooking Class and Dinner with Local Chef in Hue City: $31
- HUE : NIGHT WALKING AND STREET FOOD TOUR: $31
- Hue : Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
- Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
- Hue : Night Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kathmandu $6.98Hue $11
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$1.30
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.26
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.30
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Chandragiri Cable Car Ride and Monkey Temple Tour - Private/Group: $5.00
- Kathmandu Heritage Highlights: Best of Kathmandu Private Day Tour: $8.00
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $8.00
- Kathmandu City Tour: UNESCO World Heritage Sites Private/Group: $8.00
- Chitwan to Pokhara Tourist Bus Sofa seater: $9.00
- Kathmandu to Chitwan Tourist Bus Tickets: $9.50
- Private sightseeing Day Tour | Top 4 UNESCO Heritage: $10
- Chitwan to Kathmandu Tourist Bus Tickets: $10
- Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square Day Tour with Lunch.: $10
- Private Kathmandu Sightseeing Tour | UNESCO World Heritage sites: $10
- Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha Hike & Tour - Private/Group: $10
- Chitwan to Bandipur Tourist Bus Luxury Sofa Seater: $10
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hue are as follows:
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Boat Ride$7.46
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$1.07
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Imperial Citadel Entrance$3.06
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Massage at Institute for the Blind$1.53
Tours and Activities in Hue
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hue are as follows:
- Eat like a local with a local - Walking Tour: $2.00
- Hue Imperial Ancient City Walking Tour: $2.00
- Hue Imperial Ancient City Walking Tour (Group Tour): $2.35
- Traditional Singing on Huong River Ticket: $4.03
- Private City Tour By Car - English Speaking Driver: $4.72
- Imperial City Walk, Motorbike Tour & Private Car Options: $7.00
- Palaces, Pagodas, and Train Tracks: A Hidden Huế Audio Tour: $7.99
- City Tour with Driver - Customized Your Own Itinerary: $8.66
- Private City Tour by Car with English-Speaking Driver: $10
- Experience Paper Flower Making in Hue for a Cause: $10
- Hue Royal Tombs Tour Visit 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda: $13
- Royal Tombs Private Tour with 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKathmandu $4.97Hue $5.55
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Bar Tour & Pub Crawl -Sip, Stroll, Repeat Thamel's Night: $75
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hue
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hue:
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Beer$0.96
When comparing the travel costs between Kathmandu and Hue, we can see that Hue 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 Hue Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Hue?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Hue. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Hue, 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.