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Cairns vs Hanoi cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฆ๐บ Cairns
๐ป๐ณ Hanoi
At a glance
- Where Hanoi is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (93%โ), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (86%โ), Bottled water (85%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Cairns is easier to travel (1.8 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Cairns 2 vs Hanoi 4. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Cairns | Hanoi | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | A$ 25$16.7 | โซ 70,000$2.66 | Hanoi โ84% |
| Street food1 item | A$ 15$10 | โซ 50,000$1.9 | Hanoi โ81% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | A$ 55$36.7 | โซ 280,000$10.6 | Hanoi โ71% |
| Coffeeone cup | A$ 5.5$3.67 | โซ 45,000$1.71 | Hanoi โ53% |
| Beerone bottle | A$ 9$6 | โซ 25,000$0.95 | Hanoi โ84% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | A$ 15$10 | โซ 120,000$4.56 | Hanoi โ54% |
| Bottled water | A$ 3$2 | โซ 8,000$0.3 | Hanoi โ85% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | A$ 4.5$3 | โซ 12,000$0.46 | Hanoi โ85% |
| Taxi5 km in town | A$ 19$12.7 | โซ 75,000$2.85 | Hanoi โ77% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | A$ 10$6.67 | โซ 25,000$0.95 | Hanoi โ86% |
| Transitone ride | A$ 0.5$0.33 | โซ 8,000$0.3 | Hanoi โ9% |
| Scooter rentalper day | A$ 35$23.3 | โซ 150,000$5.7 | Hanoi โ76% |
| Hotel night3-star | A$ 145$96.7 | โซ 800,000$30.4 | Hanoi โ69% |
| Studio rent (month) | A$ 2,100$1,400 | โซ 9,500,000$361 | Hanoi โ74% |
| Laundry | A$ 10$6.67 | โซ 30,000$1.14 | Hanoi โ83% |
| SIM card1 week data | A$ 30$20 | โซ 220,000$8.37 | Hanoi โ58% |
| Haircutcut | A$ 30$20 | โซ 80,000$3.04 | Hanoi โ85% |
| Massage1 hour | A$ 80$53.3 | โซ 300,000$11.4 | Hanoi โ79% |
| Half-day tourper person | A$ 180$120 | โซ 650,000$24.7 | Hanoi โ79% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | A$ 55$36.7 | โซ 70,000$2.66 | Hanoi โ93% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Cairns or Hanoi?
Hanoi is 75% cheaper than Cairns. Daily budget $227 vs $61.4; a month $5,741 vs $1,277.
Which is easier to travel, Cairns or Hanoi?
Cairns is easier: Cairns 1.8/5 vs Hanoi 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Cairns and Hanoi?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Cairns is about $5,741 and Hanoi about $1,277 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.