A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Petra vs. Halong Bay for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Petra or Halong Bay?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Halong Bay can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Petra or Halong Bay?

Petra

Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.

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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam.


Which place is cheaper, Halong Bay or Petra?

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 Petra is $153, 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 Petra and Halong Bay in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Petra $59
    Halong Bay $27
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Petra $118
    Halong Bay $54
Compare Hotels in Petra and Halong Bay

Looking for a hotel in Petra 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.

Hotels in Petra


Hotels in Halong Bay


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: Petra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Petra $23
    Halong Bay $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:

  • Airport Transfer to and from Petra: $92
  • Comfortable and Reliable Private Transfer: Petra to Wadi Rum: $100
  • From Eilat: Petra Full-Day Guided Tour with Transfers: $219
  • Petra Private Transfer To Multiple Destinations: $115
  • Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
  • Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
  • Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
  • Private Transfer from Ma'in Hotel to Aqaba Airport: $120
  • Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $140

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
  • Halong Bay Full Day Cruise from Hanoi by Transfer Expressway: $42
  • From Hanoi with Expessway Transfer to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip: $42
  • Halong Bay Day Tour Roundtrip Transfer by Expressway 2024 - 2025: $43
  • Halong Bay 1 Day Tour Included Limousine Bus Transfer from Hanoi: $48
  • Full-Day Halong Bay Islands and Cave Tour by Transfer Expressway: $48
  • Best Seller Halong Full Day Tour All Included Expressway Transfer: $48
  • Halong Bay Full Day With Cave, Kayaking,Swimming,Highway Transfer: $49

Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Halong Bay?

Prices for flights to both Halong Bay and Petra 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
    Petra $66
    Halong Bay $26
Typical Food Prices in Petra

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


  • Dinner for Two
    $12
  • Juice
    $1.76

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra

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

  • Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $50
  • Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $150

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Petra $47
    Halong Bay $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra

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


  • Entry to Petra for One
    $71

Tours and Activities in Petra

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

  • Hike Tour of Petra: $10
  • 3-Hour Private Petra Tour: Exclusive Classical Guided Experience: $55
  • Private Guided Tour in Petra with licensed guide: $70
  • 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
  • Amman: Petra by Night Tour with Optional Day Visit: $99
  • Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $100
  • Petra Highlight Tour with Private Guide Sami Nawafleh | 2.5 Hours: $120
  • Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
  • 6 Hours Private Tour in Petra: $125
  • Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
  • Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
  • From Petra Wadi Rum Private 8 hours roundtrip tour : $140

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
  • JADESAILS CRUISE-The Most Luxurious Day Tour in Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay: $20
  • Sun World Halong Admission Ticket: $20
  • Ha Long Bay Cruise Day Tour - best selling: Kayaking, Swimming, hiking & Lunch: $25
  • 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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Petra $15
    Halong Bay $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Halong Bay, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Halong Bay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Halong Bay is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Halong Bay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Halong Bay 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra than you might in Halong Bay.

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


Related Articles for Petra
Related Articles for Halong Bay