Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
Galápagos is easier to travel (2.8 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling — Galápagos 2 vs Hanoi 4. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
| Item | Galápagos | Hanoi | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 7$7 | ₫ 70,000$2.66 | Hanoi −62% |
| Street food1 item | $ 8$8 | ₫ 50,000$1.9 | Hanoi −76% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 30$30 | ₫ 280,000$10.6 | Hanoi −65% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 3.5$3.5 | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | Hanoi −51% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 5$5 | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | Hanoi −81% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 9$9 | ₫ 120,000$4.56 | Hanoi −49% |
| Bottled water | $ 1$1 | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | Hanoi −70% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 1.5$1.5 | ₫ 12,000$0.46 | Hanoi −70% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 2$2 | ₫ 75,000$2.85 | Galápagos −30% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 1.5$1.5 | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | Hanoi −37% |
| Transitone ride | $ 1$1 | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | Hanoi −70% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 10$10 | ₫ 150,000$5.7 | Hanoi −43% |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 100$100 | ₫ 800,000$30.4 | Hanoi −70% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 550$550 | ₫ 9,500,000$361 | Hanoi −34% |
| Laundry | $ 2$2 | ₫ 30,000$1.14 | Hanoi −43% |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 15$15 | ₫ 220,000$8.37 | Hanoi −44% |
| Haircutcut | $ 10$10 | ₫ 80,000$3.04 | Hanoi −70% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 50$50 | ₫ 300,000$11.4 | Hanoi −77% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 45$45 | ₫ 650,000$24.7 | Hanoi −45% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 10$10 | ₫ 70,000$2.66 | Hanoi −73% |
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%+.
Hanoi is 56% cheaper than Galápagos. Daily budget $169 vs $61.4; a month $2,516 vs $1,277.
Galápagos is easier: Galápagos 2.8/5 vs Hanoi 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
With a short-term studio and living costs, Galápagos is about $2,516 and Hanoi about $1,277 per month.
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.