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Hanoi vs Kandy cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ป๐ณ Hanoi
๐ฑ๐ฐ Kandy
At a glance
- Where Kandy is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (58%โ), Transit (56%โ), Haircut (34%โ)
- Where Hanoi is clearly cheaper: Beer (71%โ), Entry ticket (60%โ), Coffee (43%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Kandy is easier to travel (2.4 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Hanoi 4 vs Kandy 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Hanoi | Kandy | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โซ 70,000$2.66 | Rs 900$3 | Hanoi โ11% |
| Street food1 item | โซ 50,000$1.9 | Rs 600$2 | Hanoi โ5% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โซ 280,000$10.6 | Rs 3,500$11.7 | Hanoi โ9% |
| Coffeeone cup | โซ 45,000$1.71 | Rs 900$3 | Hanoi โ43% |
| Beerone bottle | โซ 25,000$0.95 | Rs 1,000$3.33 | Hanoi โ71% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โซ 120,000$4.56 | Rs 2,000$6.67 | Hanoi โ32% |
| Bottled water | โซ 8,000$0.3 | Rs 80$0.27 | Kandy โ12% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โซ 12,000$0.46 | Rs 180$0.6 | Hanoi โ24% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โซ 75,000$2.85 | Rs 600$2 | Kandy โ30% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โซ 25,000$0.95 | Rs 350$1.17 | Hanoi โ19% |
| Transitone ride | โซ 8,000$0.3 | Rs 40$0.13 | Kandy โ56% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โซ 150,000$5.7 | Rs 3,000$10 | Hanoi โ43% |
| Hotel night3-star | โซ 800,000$30.4 | Rs 15,000$50 | Hanoi โ39% |
| Studio rent (month) | โซ 9,500,000$361 | Rs 45,000$150 | Kandy โ58% |
| Laundry | โซ 30,000$1.14 | Rs 500$1.67 | Hanoi โ32% |
| SIM card1 week data | โซ 220,000$8.37 | Rs 3,500$11.7 | Hanoi โ28% |
| Haircutcut | โซ 80,000$3.04 | Rs 600$2 | Kandy โ34% |
| Massage1 hour | โซ 300,000$11.4 | Rs 5,000$16.7 | Hanoi โ32% |
| Half-day tourper person | โซ 650,000$24.7 | Rs 7,500$25 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โซ 70,000$2.66 | Rs 2,000$6.67 | Hanoi โ60% |
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, Hanoi or Kandy?
Hanoi is 5% cheaper than Kandy. Daily budget $61.4 vs $83.3; a month $1,277 vs $966.
Which is easier to travel, Hanoi or Kandy?
Kandy is easier: Kandy 2.4/5 vs Hanoi 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Hanoi and Kandy?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hanoi is about $1,277 and Kandy about $966 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.