Which place is cheaper, Halong Bay or Surat Thani?
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 Surat Thani or Halong Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Surat Thani and Halong Bay 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: Surat Thani or Halong Bay?
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam.
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Surat Thani Prices
Thailand PricesHalong Bay Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurat Thani $71Halong Bay $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $71, while the average daily cost in Halong Bay is $66. 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 Surat Thani and Halong Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurat Thani $27Halong Bay $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurat Thani $54Halong Bay $54
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Halong Bay
Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Halong Bay? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surat Thani $27Halong Bay $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Donsak pier to Krabi,Phuket,Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $127
- From URT Airport: Shared Transfer to Koh Samui/Koh Phangan: $3.10
- Koh Samui: Zipline Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $62
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $16
- Private Transfer Koh Samui Airport to The Ritz Carlton Koh Samui: $22
- Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $39
- Samui Airport Transfer: $33
- Surat Thani Airport to/From Ratchaprapa Dam Private Transfer: $81
- Surat Thani Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khao Sok: $90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Premium 2-Day Halong & Lan Ha Bay Cruise with Meals & Transfer: $299
- Halong Bay 2D1N 5-Star Cruise–Transfer, Food & Island Adventures: $239
- 2D/1N at 5 STAR CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $185
- Dragon 5Star HaLong Cruise 2D1N Included Transfer from Hanoi : $176
- 2D/1N at AQUAMARINE CRUISES: Transfer,Meals, Cave, Island & Beach: $170
- Oasis Bay Party Cruise for Young Travelers with Transfer Included: $170
- Halong Bay 2 Days Cruise from Hanoi with Transfer and Meals: $149
- Private Transfer from Halong Bay Cruise Port to Hanoi hotels: $145
- Hanoi Private Transfer from Tuan Chau Island to Hanoi (HAN) airport: $104
- Halong Bay transfer to Hai Phong airport with private car 7 seats from HalongBay: $100
- Private Transfer From Ha Long Bay To Hanoi: $90
- Hai Phong airport transfer to Halong Bay with private car 4 seat from Hai Phong: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Halong Bay?
Prices for flights to both Halong Bay and Surat Thani 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 daySurat Thani $28Halong Bay $26
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Koh Samui: Evening Thai Cooking Class with Organic Garden: $121
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Cat Ba Paradise Cave Experience with Dinner and Live Music: $41
- Paradise Cave Dinner with Live Music and Tasting in Cat Ba: $42
- Halong's Hidden Gem: Dragon Pearl Cave Tour with Dinner: $47
- Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $51
- Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surat Thani $5.72Halong Bay $16
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- Private Taxi Services and Tourism in Koh Samui: $13
- Samui Go-Karting Experience – Sodikart RT10 Outdoor Race: $22
- Koh Tao 5 Best Snorkeling Sunset Tour by Big Boat: $32
- Pig Island Koh Taen Snorkeling Tour by Speedboat from Koh Samui: $47
- Pig Island & Koh Tan Tour by Speed Boat (Snorkeling & Kayaking): $49
- Koh Samui Island Hopping Adventure in Coral and Pig Island: $53
- Khao Sok ATV Jungle Trail Adventure Experience: $57
- Koh Samui: Feed & Shower with Elephants Experience: $65
- Pink Dolphin and Pig Island Snorkeling Tour from Koh Samui: $65
- Dolphin Watching Tan and Pig Island Tour from Koh Samui : $65
- Full-Day Speedboat Tour to Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan with Lunch: $69
- Koh Phangan: Quad ATV Jungle Adventure with Scenic Views: $73
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Halong Orchid Cruise: $235
- Alisa Premier Luxury 5-Star Cruise in Halong Bay 2 Days 1 Night: $215
- Ha Long Bay Day Tour by 5 Stars Luxury Cruise (07 Hours on Bay): $60
- La Regina Overnight Cruise - Queen of Lan Ha Bay - 2 day/1 night: $199
- Luxury Cruise - Top Tier Ha Long bay 2D1N/3D2N: $185
- 07 Hours Explore Halong Bay with Sea Octopus Cruise: $70
- 1 Day Boat Tour Lan Ha Bay & Viet Hai Ancient Village from Cat Ba: $59
- 1 Day Boat Tour: HaLong Bay, Lan Ha Bay, Natural Beach and Full Moon Party: $29
- 1-Day Halong Luxury Cruise,Buffet Meal,Sunset Party,Cave & Island: $53
- 2 Day 1 Night Halong & Lan Ha Bay Luxury Rosy Cruise from Ha Long: $215
- 2 Day Guided Cruise Tour in Halong Bay and Lan Ha Bay from Hanoi: $201
- 2 Days 1 Night Lan Ha Bay Adventure: $129
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurat Thani $5.71Halong Bay $12
When comparing the travel costs between Surat Thani and Halong Bay, we can see that Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani Expensive? and Is Halong Bay Expensive?.
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.