Which place is cheaper, Hanoi or Mount Kailash?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Mount Kailash or Hanoi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Mount Kailash or Hanoi? 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: Mount Kailash or Hanoi?
Mount Kailash
The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.
Hanoi
Hanoi is the chaotic capital of Vietnam, and it serves as a great introduction to the country for many travelers. It's the second largest city in the country after Saigon and is an interesting combination of East meets West. There's traditional Vietnamese culture with subtle influences brought by the French. The city continues to grow and change rapidly and it's easy to get lost amidst the chaos.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Tours for Seniors to Vietnam, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Vietnam.
-
Mount Kailash Prices
China PricesHanoi Prices
Vietnam Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMount Kailash $90Hanoi $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $90, while the average daily cost in Hanoi is $57. 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 Mount Kailash and Hanoi in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMount Kailash $27Hanoi $25
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMount Kailash $54Hanoi $50
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Hanoi
Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Hanoi? 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: Hanoi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mount Kailash $32Hanoi $6.54
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hanoi:
-
Taxi to Bus Station$1.14
-
Shuttle Bus From Airport (for Two)$3.03
-
Local Bus Ride (for Two)$0.38
-
Short Taxi Ride$1.29
-
Short Motorbike Ride (10 Minutes)$0.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hanoi
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hanoi:
- Deluxe Cabin Doris Cruise 2days1night with roundtrip transfer : $250
- Luxury Halong Bay Day Tour - 6 hours cruising - Limousine transfers: $119
- Private Transfer From Hanoi to Mai Chau: $100
- 1 Day Halong Cruise Tour with Transfer and early return to Hanoi: $36
- 1 Day Tour to Halong Bay Cruise from 3 - 5 star Cruise & Transfer: $38
- 2 Days 1 night Ba Be Lake BEST ADVENTURE: transfer,homestay,boat,kayak,swim,cave: $153
- 2 Days Halong Bay With Budget Cruise - Including Transfer From Hanoi: $148
- 2-Day Halong Bay & Ninh Binh Tour With Transfer - Best Seller: $120
- 2-Day Hanoi - Ninh Binh - Ha Long Bay With Transfer: $190
- 2-day Ha Long Bay Cruise included Transfer, Kayking and Swimming: $180
- 25 Minutes Scenic Halong Seaplane from Hanoi Transfer Expressway: $280
- Afternoon Limousine Transfer Mai Chau to Hanoi 5 hours from Mai Chau: $19
Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Hanoi?
Prices for flights to both Hanoi and Mount Kailash 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 dayMount Kailash $43Hanoi $23
Typical Food Prices in Hanoi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hanoi:
-
High End Dinner (for Two)$11
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.17
-
Bowl of Pho$0.76
-
Italian Dinner (for Food)$5.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hanoi
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hanoi.
- Hanoi Cooking Class: Pho/Bun Cha/Banh Xeo...+Free Egg/Salt Coffee: $19
- Hanoi local street food tour: $20
- Hanoi food tour-Local street food tour (food&guide included): $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour with Train Street Visit: $22
- Hanoi Street Food Tour: $23
- Hanoi Street Food Tour with Local Delicacies (3 Hours): $24
- Best Hanoi Day Street Food Tour with Real Foodie Tastings: $24
- Hanoi Food Tours: $24
- Best Seller Hanoi Street Food Tour with Train Street Visit: $25
- Hanoi Street Food Tour - Best Price: $25
- Ninh Binh Cooking Class at Buffalo Cave: $25
- Half Day Street Food Tours in Hanoi: $25
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mount Kailash $16Hanoi $8.07
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hanoi
Here are a few typical costs in Hanoi for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Puppet Theater$1.52
-
The Hanoi Hilton Entrance$1.52
-
National History Museum$1.52
-
Puppet Theater Ticket$2.65
Tours and Activities in Hanoi
Here are a few actual costs in Hanoi for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-day Private Walking Tour of Hanoi's Old Quarter: $5.00
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour in Vietnam: $5.00
- Street Food Walking Tour in Hanoi: $5.00
- Private Walking City Tour in Hanoi : $5.00
- Half Day Hanoi Old Quarter Private Walking Tour : $5.00
- Iconic Landmarks Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.00
- Hanoi Old Quarter Private Daily Street Food Experience: $5.00
- Hanoi Old Quarter Half Day Private Walking Tour : $5.00
- (Evening) HANOI CUSTOMIZED Walking Tour: $5.00
- Hanoi Street Food Experience: $5.00
- Hanoi Private Walking Tour with Egg Coffee Making Experience: $5.00
- Hanoi Old Quarter Private Half Day Walking Tour : $5.00
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMount Kailash $2.80Hanoi $7.30
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Kailash and Hanoi, we can see that Mount Kailash is more expensive. And not only is Hanoi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hanoi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hanoi 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 Mount Kailash would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mount Kailash than you might in Hanoi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mount Kailash Expensive? and Is Hanoi 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.