Which place is cheaper, Hoi An or Mandalay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandalay or Hoi An?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Hoi An, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Mandalay or Hoi An?
Mandalay
Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.
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 Food and Culinary Tours in Vietnam, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in Vietnam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $15Hoi An $46
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $15, 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 Mandalay and Hoi An in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Hoi An $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Hoi An $42
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Hoi An
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay 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.Mandalay -Hoi An $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
- From Private Transfer to Bagan: $150
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
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:
- Ba Na Hills: Private Car Transfer from Hue, Hoi An & Da Nang: $28
- DAD airport : The private transfer to/from Hoian center: $15
- Da Nang Airport (DAD): Private Transfers to/from Hoi An: $25
- Da Nang Airport : transfer to Da Nang center / to Hoi An: $7.06
- Da Nang Airport : transfer to Da Nang center / to Hoi An: $7.06
- Da Nang Airport: Private Transfer to/from Hoi An City: $19
- Da Nang City: Private Transfer to/from Hoi An City: $19
- Da Nang/Market & Old Town Private Tour with Transfer: $41
- From Hoi An/Da Nang: Shuttle Bus Transfer to My Son: $9.00
- From My Son Sanctuary Day Trip With Transfer & Lunch: $41
- From One-Way Shared Bus Transfer to Da Nang: $8.82
- From Private Transfer to Hue with Photo Stops: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Hoi An?
Prices for flights to both Hoi An and Mandalay 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 dayMandalay $5.95Hoi An $9.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.
- Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
- Bamboo Bike Food Tour: $42
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45
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.Mandalay -Hoi An $13
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-night in Pyin Oo Lwin next day to Gokteik tour: $226
- Kayah Villages Full Day Tour (Pan Pet & Hta Nee La): $260
- 2 Days Private Tour in Mandalay: $176
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Adventure Road Trip from Mandalay to Monywa – Bagan : $174
- Amarapura,Mingun,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $85
- Ancient Capitals of Myanmar Tour: $106
- Around Mandalay Tour in 2 Days : $100
- Day Tour Of Mingun/Sagaing/Amarapura: $75
- Full Day Adventure: $153
- Half day to Mandalay city tour: $65
- Half-Day Private Tour to Mingun: $48
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:
- Hoi An Ancient Town - Free Walking Tour: $2.05
- Hoi An Ancient Town- Free Walking Tour with Local Guide: $2.05
- Experience Kim Bong Carpentry with Local Artisans: $6.57
- Experience Bamboo Basket Boat on Coconut village w Locals: $6.89
- Da Nang/Hoi An:Experience Basket Boat ride in Coconut Forest: $7.18
- Hoi An Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.65
- Bus to My Son Sanctuary with Entrance ticket: $8.00
- Experience the Art of Vietnamese Coffee Making: $11
- Mad Monkey Hoi An Bicycle Tour: $12
- Cam Thanh Tour with Bamboo Basket Boat: $12
- Hoi An : Bamboo Basket Boat Tour: $12
- Basket Boat Experience: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Hoi 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 Mandalay and Hoi An, we can see that Hoi An is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay 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 Hoi An would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hoi An than you might in Mandalay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandalay Expensive? and Is Hoi An Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Hoi An?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Hoi An. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay 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.