Which place is cheaper, Halong Bay or Kathmandu?
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 Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu 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: Kathmandu or Halong Bay?
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam.
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Kathmandu Prices
Nepal PricesHalong Bay Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKathmandu $59Halong Bay $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Kathmandu is $59, 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 Kathmandu and Halong Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKathmandu $38Halong Bay $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKathmandu $76Halong Bay $54
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Halong Bay
Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kathmandu $6.56Halong Bay $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Chandragiri Hill Cable Car Tour with Hotel Transfers from Kathmandu: $60
- Chitwan to Pokhara Transfer by Private AC Car (One Way): $80
- Deluxe Toyota Coaster Mini Bus Transfer From Kathmandu to Pokhara or V. V. : $22
- Everest Scenic Flight By Buddha Air with Free Hotel Transfers: $165
- Kathmandu - Private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $15
- Kathmandu Airport Private Transfers: $16
- Kathmandu to Bandipur One Way Transfer by Private AC Car : $85
- Kathmandu to Besisahar One Way Transfer by Private AC Car : $80
- Kathmandu to Besisahar Private AC Luxury Transfer - One Way: $75
- Kathmandu to Chitwan Transfer by Private AC Car One Way: $70
- Kathmandu to Gorkha Transfer by Private AC Car One Way: $70
- Kathmandu to Lumbini or Sunauli Border Transfer by Luxury Private Vehicle: $300
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Transfer Ha Long and Ninh Binh by Limousine Bus: $18
- Bus Transfer From Cat Ba Island To Ninh Binh/Ninh binh To Cat Ba: $19
- Transfer from Cat Ba Island to Ninh Binh with D-Class Limousine: $20
- Transfer From Halong to Ninh Binh: $25
- Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi Super Limousine Morning Bus: $33
- From Hanoi with Expessway Transfer to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip: $42
- Halong Day Tour: Islands, Cave, Kayak. Lunch. Transfers: $45
- Best Seller Halong Full Day Tour All Included Expressway Transfer: $48
- Halong Bay 1 Day Tour Included Limousine Bus Transfer from Hanoi: $48
- Halong Bay Full Day With Cave, Kayaking,Swimming,Highway Transfer: $49
- Alova Premium Cruise to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip by Highway Transfer: $50
- Alova Premium Cruise Halong Deluxe Day Tour with Transfer & Meal: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Halong Bay?
Prices for flights to both Halong Bay and Kathmandu 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 dayKathmandu $14Halong Bay $26
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.28
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Dinner for Two$2.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $8.00
- Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
- Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights in Kathmandu: $27
- Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu in Peace & quiet place: $30
- Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
- Kathmandu Food Tour : $32
- Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $34
- Walking Street Food Tour in Kathmandu: $48
- Cooking Class with Vyas: $49
- Half Day Nepal Cooking Class in Thamel: $60
- Cooking Class with HSJ: $60
- Local Cooking Class in Chitwan with Local Style Wood Fire: $65
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.Kathmandu $7.58Halong Bay $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.42
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.54
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.42
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Full Day Guided Tour in Kathmandu: $5.00
- Full Day 7 UNESCO Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $5.00
- Full Day Private Tour of Seven World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu: $5.00
- Bhaktapur & Nagarkot Day Tour with Lunch - Private/Group: $5.00
- Scenic Swayambhunath & Chandragiri Cable Car Tour: $5.00
- Chandragiri Cable Car Ride & Monkey Temple Tour - Private/Group: $5.00
- Nepali Tea Tasting Lifetime Experience : $8.00
- Kathmandu Durbar Square Walking Tour: $10
- Private World Heritage Sites Tour/ 4 UNESCO Tour. : $10
- Walking Tour from Bazaar to Hippie Hub Ason and Freak Street: $10
- Privet Day Tours in Kathmandu Nepal : $10
- Private Kathmandu City Tour/ 7 UNESCO World Heritage Tour : $10
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City Sightseeing Ha Long Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $19
- Shared 6 Hours boat Tour With Cave Kayak Beach From Halong City: $20
- JADESAILS CRUISE-The Most Luxurious Day Tour in Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay: $20
- Sun World Halong Admission Ticket: $20
- Breathtaking Sunset Boat Tours to Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba Island : $27
- Majestic Sunset Boat Tour: Explore Lan Ha Bay’s Stunning Scenery: $27
- From Cat Ba Island: Majestic Sunset Boat Tour Explore Lan Ha Bay : $27
- Majestic Sunset Boat Tour Explore the Stunning Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba: $27
- From Cat Ba Island: Amazing Sunset Tour in Lan Ha Bay, Kayaking: $28
- Half-Day Lan Ha Bay Adventure: Boat Jumping, Kayaking, Sunset : $28
- Magical Sunset Tour: Kayaking & Swimming in Lan Ha Bay: $28
- From Cat Ba: Amazing Sunset Boat Tour in Lan Ha Bay: $28
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKathmandu $5.45Halong Bay $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:
- Local Food and Wine Tasting in Kathmandu : $65
When comparing the travel costs between Kathmandu and Halong Bay, we can see that Halong Bay 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 Kathmandu 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.