Which place is cheaper, Hoi An or Lhasa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lhasa or Hoi An?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Hoi An? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Lhasa or Hoi An?
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
Hoi An
Located just south of the city of Da Nang, Hoi An is famous for it's beautiful old town. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unfortunately, since its designation as a World Heritage Site in 1999, mass tourism has grown and the city has felt the growing pains. Most of the homes and shops in the old town are now used for commercial purposes. The city is still quaint, but the old town is lined with tailor shops, souvenir stores, and restaurants. Foreigners are required to purchase a ticket to enter the old town of Hoi An (120,000 VND, about $5).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Vietnam, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in Vietnam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $71Hoi An $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $71, while the average daily cost in Hoi An is $46. 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 Lhasa and Hoi An in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $39Hoi An $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $78Hoi An $42
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Hoi An
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Hoi An? 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: Hoi An Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.56Hoi An $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hoi An
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Hoi An are as follows:
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Taxi From Danang to Hoi An$8.79
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Bus From Hoi An Bus Station to Town$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hoi An
Also for Hoi An, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Tour/transfer to My Son sanctuary from Da Nang/HoiAn: $32
- Private transfer to Da Nang Hotels or to Hoi An City: $4.10
- Private Transfer To My Son Sanctuary From Hoi An or Da Nang: $45
- Private Transfer To Marble Mountains and My Son HolyLand: $76
- Private Transfer From Hue To Hoi An With A Sightseeing Tour: $39
- My Son Sanctuary & Hai Van Pass: Transfer Hoi An to/from Hue: $70
- Lady Buddha in Monkey Mountain: Transfer Hue to/from Hoi An: $57
- Hue: Transfer to/from Hoi An by Private Car via Hai Van Pass: $47
- Hue: Transfer to/from Airport, Hoi An, Danang by Private Car: $10
- Hue Private Transfer to Hoi An Via HaiVan Pass & Sightseeing: $41
- HoiAn city private trip with Guide, Lunch, tickets &Transfer: $91
- Hoi An:Private transfer To/From Hue with Sightseeing: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Hoi An?
Prices for flights to both Hoi An and Lhasa 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 dayLhasa $26Hoi An $9.95
Typical Food Prices in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner at Bamboo Village (for Two)$14
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$3.99
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bamboo Basket Boat Tour with Optional Lunch/Dinner: $14
- Hoi An:Traditional Cooking Class with Cam Thanh Local Family: $21
- Traditional Cooking Class & meal w Cam Thanh Family: $21
- Hoi An/Da Nang: Vietnamese Cooking Class with Transportation: $22
- From Cooking Class at Organic Farm: $22
- Mad Monkey Hoi An Cooking Class & Bamboo Boats: $23
- Traditional Vietnamese Cooking Class in Leina Cookery: $23
- Evening Tra Que Cooking Class with Locals in Herb Village: $24
- Hoi An : Basket Boat Ride & Cooking Class with Market Tour: $24
- Vietnamese Cooking Class with Local Family in Hoi An: $24
- Cooking Class with Traditional Vietnamese Meals: $24
- Hoi An : Cooking Class W Optional Basket Boat & Market Tour: $25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Hoi An $13
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $745
- 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $760
- 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
- Private Full-Day Tour w/ Lunch: $800
- Nepal Tibet Tour 8 Days: $2,729
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hoi An
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Hoi An's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Golf (for Two)$148
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Short Boat Ride$1.60
Tours and Activities in Hoi An
For Hoi An, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3-Hour Sunrise or Sunset Photography Tour in Hoi An: $59
- Amazing My Son Sunset & River Cruise Tour From Hoi An/DaNang: $27
- Amazing My Son Sunset Tour With Banh My & Cruise By Group: $28
- BUFFALO RIDING ADVENTURE AND BASKET BOAT TOUR: $28
- Ba Na Hills and Golden Bridge Private Tour: $120
- Basket Boat Experience: $13
- Big Experiences Water Wheel Tour - Tra Que Island: $56
- Bike and Bite Tour: $42
- Cam Thanh Bike Tour from Hoi An: $86
- Cam Thanh Coconut Forest Basket Boat Tour by Private Car: $13
- Cam Thanh Coconut Jungle Eco Tour From Hoi An: $30
- Cham Island - Snorkeling Tour from Hoi An/DaNang: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $6.90Hoi An $9.06
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hoi An
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Hoi An are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$9.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Hoi An
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Hoi An:
- Pub Crawl by Bus with Shots at Each Bar: $8.21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Hoi An, we can see that Lhasa is more expensive. And not only is Hoi An much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hoi An would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hoi An 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 Lhasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lhasa than you might in Hoi An.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lhasa Expensive? and Is Hoi An Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Hoi An?
Lhasa has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Hoi An. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Hoi An, 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.