A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hue vs. Siem Reap for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hue or Siem Reap?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hue and Siem Reap 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: Hue or Siem Reap?

Hue

Hue is a major city in central Vietnam and was historically the imperial capital. The city was the base for the imperial Nguyen Dynasty, which ruled from 1802 to 1945. During the Vietnam War the city faced many challenges. It was conquered by the Viet Cong and held for 24 days. During this time about 3,000 people were slaughtered for their political views, education level, or religious affiliation.

Siem Reap

Located in northern Cambodia, Siem Reap is the closest town to Cambodia's famous Angkor Wat. It is a comfortable and laid back town and most visitors use it as a base to explore the country's most visited destination. Although Siem Reap was once a quaint village, it has continued to grow and change to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit every year. Siem Reap has become a very touristy town with easy access to restaurants, hotels, and shops. It also has a large expatriate community and the western influences are unavoidable. Although prices remain quite low, they are higher than you might find elsewhere in Cambodia.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Vietnam, The Best Cultural Tours in Vietnam, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phnom Penh, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Siem Reap.


Which place is cheaper, Siem Reap or Hue?

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 Hue is $56, while the average daily cost in Siem Reap is $94. 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 Hue and Siem Reap in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hue $22
    Siem Reap $51
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hue $44
    Siem Reap $102
Compare Hotels in Hue and Siem Reap

Looking for a hotel in Hue or Siem Reap? 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.

Hotels in Hue


Hotels in Siem Reap


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: Hue Hotel Prices and Siem Reap Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hue $12
    Siem Reap $8.79
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hue

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hue:


  • Cyclo
    $0.45
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $0.83
  • Taxi Ride to Tombs
    $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hue

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hue:

  • Bus Transfer From Hue to Phong Nha 1 Way: $19
  • Bus Transfer From Hue - Phong Nha: $16
  • Da Nang Airport: Private Transfer to/from Hue City: $94
  • Deluxe Transfer Hue to Hoi An by Amazing way: $25
  • From Hue : Transfer Hue To Hoi An with Sightseeing Stops: $16
  • From Hue to Golden Bridge - Ba Na Via Hai Van Pass (Private Roundtrip Transfer): $85
  • From Bus Transfer to Hoi An with Sightseeing Stops: $15
  • From Hoi An Bus Transfer with 4 Sightseeing Stops: $13
  • From Hoi An Bus Transfer with Hai Van Pass & Marble …: $15
  • From Hoi An Bus Transfer with Hai Van Pass & Marble …: $16
  • From One-Way Shared Bus Transfer to Da Nang: $12
  • From Private Car Transfer to Da Nang: $45

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Siem Reap

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Siem Reap:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $13
  • Bike Rentals
    $1.93

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siem Reap

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siem Reap:

  • Angkor International Airport (SAI) Private/Shared Transfers: $9.00
  • Share One-Way Arrival/Departure Transfer: $10
  • Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers :Siem Reap: $10
  • Siem Reap International Airport Transfer (SIA): $12
  • Angkor Airport (SAI) Private or Shared Transfers: $14
  • Siem Reap Airport (SAI): Transfer to/from Siem Reap Hotel: $15
  • Airport (SAI) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $18
  • Kompong Phluk Floating Village with Transfers: $20
  • Private Transfers Siem Reap City to Airport: $20
  • Angkor National Museum Ticket with Transfer: $24
  • Siem Reap Airport Transfer to/from Siem Reap by Private Car: $25
  • Siem Reap Angkor International Airport private transfer: $25

Is it cheaper to fly into Hue or Siem Reap?

Prices for flights to both Siem Reap and Hue 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hue $25
    Siem Reap $28
Typical Food Prices in Hue

Some typical examples of dining costs in Hue are as follows:


  • River Night Market Dinner (for Two)
    $7.58
  • Two Sugarcane Drinks
    $0.76
  • Quick Lunch (for Two)
    $2.08
  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    $4.17

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hue

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hue.

  • Hue Food Tour by Walking or Cyclo or Motorbike with Driver: $21
  • Walking Street Food tour in Hue: $26
  • Hue Walking Street Food Tour: $27
  • Hue City: Cyclo, Market Tour & Cooking Class at Madam Thu: $27
  • Eat Like a Local with a Local Hue Food Tour : $30
  • Home Cooking Class and Dinner with Local Chef in Hue City: $31
  • HUE : NIGHT WALKING AND STREET FOOD TOUR: $31
  • Hue : Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
  • Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $33
  • Cooking Class with Local Family: $33
  • Hue : Night Street Food Tour with a Local Guide: $33
  • Guided Local Food Tour with Tastings: $33

Typical Food Prices in Siem Reap

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Siem Reap:


  • Breakfast for Two
    $5.59

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siem Reap

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siem Reap.

  • A Spectacular Show with Optional Dinner: $18
  • Apsara Dance Show with Dinner by Tuk-Tuk Roundtrip Transfer: $19
  • Apsara Performance with Dinner include Pick up & Drop off: $22
  • Apsara Performance Including Buffet Dinner & Hotel Pick up: $22
  • Buffet Dinner Apsara Show with hotel transfers: $22
  • Apsara Dance Show and Dinner with Hotel Pickup: $22
  • Apsara Show Including Dinner & Hotel Pickup: $23
  • Dinner and Traditional Show with Hotel Transfer: $24
  • Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner & Tuk-Tuk...: $26
  • A Night To Remember: Apsara Dance Show with Buffet Dinner: $27
  • Dinner Show Apsara Dance, Pickup round trip included: $27
  • Apsara Theatre Performance include Dinner & hotel pick up: $29

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hue $11
    Siem Reap $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hue

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hue are as follows:


  • Boat Ride
    $7.39
  • Bicycle Rental (One Day)
    $1.06
  • Imperial Citadel Entrance
    $3.03
  • Massage at Institute for the Blind
    $1.52

Tours and Activities in Hue

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hue are as follows:

  • Eat like a local with a local - Walking Tour: $2.00
  • Hue Imperial Ancient City Walking Tour: $2.00
  • Traditional Singing on Huong River Ticket: $4.03
  • Private City Tour By Car - English Speaking Driver: $4.72
  • Vietnam Song Lab Digital Art Center Entry Ticket: $7.66
  • Hue Imperial City 3 Hour Walking Tour for Budget Travelers: $8.00
  • City Tour with Driver - Customized Your Own Itinerary: $8.66
  • Experience Paper Flower Making in Hue for a Cause: $10
  • Private City Tour by Car with English-Speaking Driver: $10
  • Imperial City Walk, Motorbike Tour & Private Car Options: $10
  • Hue Royal Tombs Tour Visit 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda: $13
  • Royal Tombs Private Tour with 3 Best Tombs & Pagoda: $13

Typical Entertainment Prices in Siem Reap

Here are a few typical costs in Siem Reap for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Angkor Tour Guide
    $8.24

Tours and Activities in Siem Reap

Here are a few actual costs in Siem Reap for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • FREE Market & Local Temple Tour: $1.00
  • Satcha: Workshop Tour Guide incl. Free Soft Drink: $5.50
  • City Walking Tour: $6.00
  • Siem Reap Motorbike Rental - Temple and City Tours own drive: $9.00
  • Siem Reap Lotus Silk Farm Tour with Pick Up downtown: $10
  • Angkor Wat: Full-Day Guided Sunset Tour: $10
  • Small-Group Full Day Angkor wat Guide tour with Sun set: $11
  • Sunrise at Angkor Wat and Small Tour with Tours Guide: $12
  • Angkor Wat 1 Day with Sunrise Combined tour with (Tuk Tuk): $12
  • Angkor Wat Sunrise for Group or Private Tours: $12
  • Angkor Wat Sunrise and Full-Day Sightseeing Tour: $13
  • Angkor Wat Private Tour by Tuk Tuk: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hue $5.49
    Siem Reap $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hue

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hue:


  • Beer
    $0.95

Sample the Local Flavors in Siem Reap

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Siem Reap:

  • Mad Monkey Siem Reap Pub Crawl: $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hue and Siem Reap, we can see that Siem Reap is more expensive. And not only is Hue much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hue would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hue 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 Siem Reap would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Siem Reap than you might in Hue.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hue Expensive? and Is Siem Reap Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hue or Siem Reap?

Hue has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Siem Reap. When comparing the sizes of Hue and Siem Reap, 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.