Which place is cheaper, Hue or Lhasa?
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 Lhasa or Hue?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Lhasa or Hue? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Lhasa or Hue?
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Vietnam, and The Best Cultural Tours in Vietnam.
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Lhasa Prices
China PricesHue Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLhasa $91Hue $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $91, while the average daily cost in Hue is $56. 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 Lhasa and Hue in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLhasa $40Hue $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLhasa $80Hue $44
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Hue
Looking for a hotel in Lhasa or Hue? 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: Hue Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lhasa $2.60Hue $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hue
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Hue:
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Cyclo$0.45
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Short Taxi Ride$0.83
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Taxi Ride to Tombs$13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hue
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hue:
- Transfer from Hue to Hoi An by Motorbike: $67
- Transfer from Hue to Da Nang or Hoi An via Bach Ma National Park: $81
- Transfer from Hue airport to Hue city center or vice versa: $6.81
- Transfer between Hue Hotels and Hue Airport: $7.11
- Transfer Hue city to Da Nang by limousine: $19
- Roundtrip Transfer to Ba Na Hills - Golden Bridge via Hai Van Pass from Hue City: $85
- Rental of a Scooter from Hue to Hoi An with Bag Transfer: $30
- Privated Hue Airport Transfer-Airport to Hotel or vice versa: $14
- Privated Hue Airport Transfer - Airport to Hotels or vice versa: $6.75
- Private transfer from Hue to Hoi An with fabulous stops: $125
- Private transfer between Hue - Hoi An: with stop at Hai Van Pass: $63
- Private car transfer from Hue to Hoi An via the Hai Van Pass.: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Hue?
Prices for flights to both Hue and Lhasa 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 dayLhasa $46Hue $25
Typical Food Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hue are as follows:
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River Night Market Dinner (for Two)$7.58
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Two Sugarcane Drinks$0.76
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Quick Lunch (for Two)$2.08
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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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lhasa $17Hue $11
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299
- 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
- 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hue
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hue are as follows:
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Boat Ride$7.39
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Bicycle Rental (One Day)$1.06
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Imperial Citadel Entrance$3.03
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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:
- Bach Ma National Park Adventure Trekking Day Trip from Hue: $56
- Hoi An Guided Bus Tour via 4 Stops from Hue with entry ticket : $18
- 12 Hours Experience Different Hue: $179
- 13 Days Private Tour Highlights of Cambodia & Vietnam: $4,980
- 2 Day Nature Tour in Tam Giang Lagoon & Bach Ma National Park: $245
- 2025 Journey to Paradise Cave — An Adventure's Paradise : $57
- 3,5-Hours Hue Imperial Walking Tour with Guide with Local Gifts: $28
- 3-Hour Hue Royal Palace Small Group Guided Walking Tour: $23
- 6 Hours All Inclusive Hue Green Biking Private Tour: $98
- All Inclusive Deluxe Hue City Group Tour - Max 12 pax: $63
- Bach Ma National Park Day Trek Private Tour from Hue: $95
- Bach Ma National Park Tour From Hue City : $39
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLhasa $7.01Hue $5.49
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hue
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hue:
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Beer$0.95
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Hue, we can see that Lhasa 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 Lhasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lhasa 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 Lhasa Expensive? and Is Hue Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Hue?
Hue has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa and Hue, 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.