Which place is cheaper, Chongqing or Sapa?
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 Sapa or Chongqing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Sapa and Chongqing can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Sapa or Chongqing?
Sapa
Sapa is a beautiful town in the northern mountains of Vietnam by the border with China. Many travelers pass through the area on their way from China into Hanoi. Alternatively, some travelers head north from Hanoi to spend a few days in the beautiful mountains where tribal cultures are still alive and well. There are a good number of ethnic minorities that populate the area. The eight populations in the area include H'mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, Muong, Thai, Hoa, and Xa Pho, but the vast majority in the area are H'mong. Within the town of Sapa itself, there are about 7,000 people. The rest of the population lives in the surrounding countryside and are peasant farmers.
Chongqing
Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Sapa Prices
Vietnam PricesChongqing Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySapa $45Chongqing $106
The average daily cost (per person) in Sapa is $45, while the average daily cost in Chongqing is $106. 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 Sapa and Chongqing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSapa $11Chongqing $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSapa $22Chongqing $100
Compare Hotels in Sapa and Chongqing
Looking for a hotel in Sapa or Chongqing? 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: Sapa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sapa $8.93Chongqing $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sapa are as follows:
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Short Motorbike Ride$1.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
- Wulong 5-Day Tour with Hotel & Transfers: $687
- Wulong 3-Day Tour with Hotel & Transfers: $497
- 5-Day Private Tour with Hotel & Transfers: $497
- Chongqing Private Round Trip Transfer to Wulong National Park: $156
- Chongqing Private Round Trip Transfer to Dazu Rock Carvings: $134
- Private One Way Transfer (English Service) between Airport & Hotel & Cruise Port: $99
- Private Round-Trip Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) : $60
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $40
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier to Hotel: $39
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chongqing Chaotianmen Cruise Pier: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) to Hotel: $27
- Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) private round-trip transfer: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Sapa or Chongqing?
Prices for flights to both Chongqing and Sapa 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 daySapa $27Chongqing $43
Typical Food Prices in Sapa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sapa:
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Casual Dinner (for One)$2.58
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Quick Breakfast (for Two)$2.08
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Coffee (for Two)$2.27
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Western Dinner (for Two)$7.55
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Pho Soup$0.57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.
- Qingyu Banquet Experience with Show and Dinner: $51
- Half-Day Cultural Immersion with Cooking Class: $80
- Food Tour with Old Town and Magical Night Views: $93
- Chongqing Food Tour: $93
- 3 HR Chongqing Food Tour: $110
- Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner: $158
- Magical Chongqing Art Performance and Food Tour: $297
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sapa $5.82Chongqing $14
Typical Entertainment Prices in Sapa
For Sapa, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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CatCat Village Tax$1.52
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Ta Phin Village Tax$0.76
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Walking Stick$0.19
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Paddle Boat Rental on Sapa Lake (1 Hr)$3.03
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Chongqing Megacity Walking Tour: $117
- 1 Day Private Tour to UNESCO Dazu Rock Carvings from Chongqing: $156
- 1 Day Private tour to Chongqing Wulong National Geology Park: $168
- 1-Day Chongqing City Private Tour with the Hot pot Lunch: $157
- 1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch: $143
- 3Days Chongqing Cyber City✖ Wulong Karst Cave Adventure: $750
- 4D3N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Chongqing to Yichang: $628
- All-In-One Chongqing Trendy Spots Private Tour: $220
- ChongQing Guanyinqiao: A 3-Hour Urban Adventure: $80
- Chongqing 10 Hour Private Customized City Tour: $161
- Chongqing 1949 Ticket Epic Historical Spectacle: $41
- Chongqing Adventure: Underwater Museum,816 Cave&Wuling Gorge: $134
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySapa $7.76Chongqing $7.01
Typical Alcohol Prices in Sapa
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Sapa are as follows:
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Two Beers$0.95
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sapa and Chongqing, we can see that Chongqing is more expensive. And not only is Sapa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sapa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sapa 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 Chongqing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chongqing than you might in Sapa.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sapa Expensive? and Is Chongqing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sapa or Chongqing?
Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Sapa. When comparing the sizes of Sapa and Chongqing, 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.