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Hanoi vs Luang Prabang cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇻🇳 Hanoi
🇱🇦 Luang PrabangHanoi and Luang Prabang cost about the same
Living on $1,422 a month in Hanoi feels like about $1,362 in Luang Prabang — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$57.8 vs $63.2
Per month
$1,422 vs $1,362
Local meal
â‚« 50,000 vs â‚ 55,000
$1.9 vs $2.5
Taxi 5 km
â‚« 85,000 vs â‚ 55,000
$3.23 vs $2.5
At a glance
FoodHanoi 18% cheaper
Cafés & drinksHanoi 24% cheaper
TransportHanoi 13% cheaper
Staysimilar
Funsimilar
- Where Luang Prabang is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (23%↓), Taxi (23%↓), Laundry (18%↓)
- Where Hanoi is clearly cheaper: Transit (33%↓), Scooter rental (26%↓), Cocktail & wine (24%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Hanoi | Luang Prabang | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 50,000$1.9 | ₠55,000$2.5 | Hanoi −24% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 23,000$0.87 | ₠25,000$1.14 | Hanoi −23% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | â‚« 230,000$8.75 | â‚ 200,000$9.09 | similar |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 40,000$1.52 | ₠44,000$2 | Hanoi −24% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 30,000$1.14 | ₠33,000$1.5 | Hanoi −24% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 78,000$2.97 | ₠86,000$3.91 | Hanoi −24% |
| Bottled water | â‚« 8,000$0.3 | â‚ 6,600$0.3 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | â‚« 20,000$0.76 | â‚ 17,000$0.77 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 85,000$3.23 | ₠55,000$2.5 | Luang Prabang −23% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 39,000$1.48 | ₠38,000$1.73 | Hanoi −14% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 7,000$0.27 | ₠8,800$0.4 | Hanoi −33% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₠180,000$8.18 | Hanoi −26% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 800,000$30.4 | ₠770,000$35 | Hanoi −13% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 12,000,000$456 | ₠7,700,000$350 | Luang Prabang −23% |
| Laundry | ₫ 32,000$1.22 | ₠22,000$1 | Luang Prabang −18% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 160,000$6.08 | ₠110,000$5 | Luang Prabang −18% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 91,000$3.46 | ₠70,000$3.18 | Luang Prabang −8% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 260,000$9.89 | ₠200,000$9.09 | Luang Prabang −8% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 660,000$25.1 | ₠630,000$28.6 | Hanoi −12% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | â‚« 130,000$4.94 | â‚ 110,000$5 | similar |
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 Luang Prabang?
Hanoi and Luang Prabang cost about the same. Daily budget $57.8 vs $63.2; a month $1,422 vs $1,362.
How do monthly costs compare between Hanoi and Luang Prabang?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hanoi is about $1,422 and Luang Prabang about $1,362 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.