Which place is cheaper, Hobart or Sapa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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 Hobart can help you decide which place is right for you.
Sapa is a fascinating, picturesque, and cultural town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Many visitors also come to Sapa because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the shopping, nightlife, and food. See Sapa travel costs.
Hobart is a fascinating, quaint, and historical city. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Hobart travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Hobart. Although Sapa and Hobart are popular destinations, Hobart has more sights and attractions for tourists. Hobart is very popular for its museums and attractions, while Sapa attracts visitors for its hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Sapa is famous for its stunning village and mountain trekking, beautiful rice paddies, and colorful weekly markets. Hobart is famous for its quaint historical center, fresh seafood, and nearby hiking and biking trails. It is also well known for Battery Point.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hobart and Sapa. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Hobart is great for its historical sights. However, Sapa is not a good destination for its sights and museums.
Many visitors head to Hobart specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The town has many landmarks and museums such as Port Arthur, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Mawson's Huts Replica Museum, and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. A highlight of the city is Battery Point, which is like an open-air museum. Make sure you explore the Battery Point Sculpture Trail.
Sapa offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. While the many nearby villages are filled with markets and culture and have the feel of living museums, there are few actual museums in the area.
Foodies will find both Sapa and Hobart both to be superb destinations.
The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Sapa. The area's food highlights the local agricultural scene with lots of meat, fish, and vegetables. If you want to check out traditional Hmong cuisine, Thang Co is one of the most common dishes. It's a soup that has a strong smell and is prepared with local herbs and meats.
Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Hobart. The town has seen a surge in its culinary scene in recent years. Local chefs like to highlight the regional flavors and ingredients such as octopus, kingfish, abalone, and leatherwood honey.
The vibe at night is nice in both Sapa and Hobart.
If you're looking for night time activities Sapa has a few options to choose from. While you don't visit the area for its nightlife, there's a big backpacker scene here so you'll likely find a crowd looking for a good time. The town has a night market and there are plenty of bars that cater to the tourists.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Hobart. While it's a smaller city, there is still a good mix of local bars, trendy lounges, and elegant wine bars. you'll also find some great venues for live music.
Sapa is renowned for hiking. Also, Hobart is not as popular, but is still a nice city for the nearby hiking options.
Around Sapa visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Trekking is, by far, one of the best ways to experience the area's beauty. You'll pass by scenic rice paddies, walk along mist covered mountains, and stumble into fascinating villages. Many people hire a local guide to guide them. This helps the local economy and offers insider information.
Hobart is a popular spot for hiking. The city is surrounded by bushland reserves as well as nearby Mount Wellington. The area offers many diverse hiking and walking trails and there are a wide range to choose from so whatever your hiking level, you'll find something of interest.
If you're looking to go shopping, Sapa and Hobart both offer plenty of superb spots.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Sapa. Many villages have a weekly market that is very fascinating to explore. In addition to local food items, there are often locally made handicrafts that make great souvenirs from your travels.
Hobart is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. It has some of the best shopping in Tasmania. You'll find a great shopping experience along Elizabeth Street, which is lined with boutiques and quirky shops. The city also has a couple of outdoor flea markets that offers a unique shopping experience.
Sapa is renowned for its scenery and beauty. However, Hobart is not a destination known for its beauty.
Many visitors also come to Sapa because of it's amazing beauty. The region is filled with dramatic mountains and rice paddies that give it a truly Vietnamese beauty.
Hobart is not a destination known for its beauty.
You'll find superb kid-friendly activities in either Sapa or Hobart.
Sapa is a very family-friendly destination. Many people arrive via an overnight train, which is an adventure for the whole family. Once you arrive, your kids will experience a local culture that is uniquely its own. You can participate in a homestay and enjoy meals prepared by a local family. There are also many kid-friendly hikes through the surrounding mountains.
Hobart is a very kid-friendly town. Kids who love animals will enjoy a visit to the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary. There are also fruit farms to visit and vineyards to explore in the area, as well as great hiking. For an interactive museum, head to the Tasmanian Transport Museum and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery has some toddler-friendly displays.
Both Sapa and Hobart are superb destinations to visit as a couple.
Sapa is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy experiencing unique cultures and hiking through stunning mountain settings will love a trip to this mountain town. While the tourists have definitely discovered the area, there are still places that have a local vibe with traditional Vietnamese markets and homesteads.
Hobart is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples will enjoy exploring the waterfront and Sullivans Cove. There are also outdoor markets and breweries around town. Botanical gardens and quaint neighborhoods also make this a lovely town to visit.
Sapa is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Hobart is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.
Many backpackers visit Sapa. Like much of Southeast Asia, this town and the surrounding areas are solidly on the backpacker trail. You'll find cheap places to stay and tours that cater specifically to the budget and backpacker crowd.
Plenty of backpackers visit Hobart. There are a handful of hostels around town and many great hiking trails.
Sapa and Hobart both offer nice public transit to get you around.
While Sapa offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are public buses through the region. If you're hoping to visit nearby towns for their market days, an organized tour or private guide is a good option.
Hobart has a few public transit options. There's a public bus system and many of the buses leave from Elizabeth Street (between Macquarie and Collins Streets) or Franklin Square.
Sapa and Hobart are superb when it comes to walkability.
Sapa is very walkable. Trekking is, by far, the best way to experience the area and all of the beauty and culture that it has to offer.
Hobart is a very walkable town. It has a compact city center that many people enjoy exploring on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is Sapa Worth Visiting? and Is Hobart Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Sapa and Hobart. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Sapa than in Hobart. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Sapa, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hobart.
Families should spend more time in Hobart than Sapa. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Hobart, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sapa than Hobart if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sapa.
Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Sapa. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Hobart. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
Sapa is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Hobart is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sapa. Don't miss the hiking, as that's what most people do. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical destination of Hobart. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the picturesque destination of Sapa. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
The quaint city of Hobart offers nightlife and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Walking Tours in Australia, and The Best Eco Tours in Australia.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Sapa is $45, while the average daily cost in Hobart is $156. 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 Hobart in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Sapa or Hobart? 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.
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Some typical examples of transportation costs in Sapa are as follows:
Also for Hobart, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Hobart 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Sapa:
For Sapa, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hobart.
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Sapa are as follows:
Also in Hobart, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sapa and Hobart, we can see that Hobart is more expensive. And not only is Sapa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Sapa is in Asia and Hobart is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Hobart would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hobart 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 Hobart Expensive?.
Sapa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hobart. When comparing the sizes of Sapa and Hobart, 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.