Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
San Cristóbal de las Casas is easier to travel (3.0 vs 3.2). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling — Hanoi 4 vs San Cristóbal de las Casas 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
| Item | Hanoi | San Cristóbal de las Casas | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ₫ 70,000$2.66 | MX$ 100$5.38 | Hanoi −50% |
| Street food1 item | ₫ 50,000$1.9 | MX$ 45$2.42 | Hanoi −21% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ₫ 280,000$10.6 | MX$ 250$13.4 | Hanoi −21% |
| Coffeeone cup | ₫ 45,000$1.71 | MX$ 50$2.69 | Hanoi −36% |
| Beerone bottle | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | MX$ 45$2.42 | Hanoi −61% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ₫ 120,000$4.56 | MX$ 70$3.76 | San Cristóbal de las Casas −18% |
| Bottled water | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | MX$ 14$0.75 | Hanoi −60% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ₫ 12,000$0.46 | MX$ 22$1.18 | Hanoi −61% |
| Taxi5 km in town | ₫ 75,000$2.85 | MX$ 70$3.76 | Hanoi −24% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ₫ 25,000$0.95 | MX$ 50$2.69 | Hanoi −65% |
| Transitone ride | ₫ 8,000$0.3 | MX$ 10$0.54 | Hanoi −43% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ₫ 150,000$5.7 | MX$ 250$13.4 | Hanoi −58% |
| Hotel night3-star | ₫ 800,000$30.4 | MX$ 900$48.4 | Hanoi −37% |
| Studio rent (month) | ₫ 9,500,000$361 | MX$ 7,500$403 | Hanoi −10% |
| Laundry | ₫ 30,000$1.14 | MX$ 28$1.51 | Hanoi −24% |
| SIM card1 week data | ₫ 220,000$8.37 | MX$ 200$10.8 | Hanoi −22% |
| Haircutcut | ₫ 80,000$3.04 | MX$ 120$6.45 | Hanoi −53% |
| Massage1 hour | ₫ 300,000$11.4 | MX$ 450$24.2 | Hanoi −53% |
| Half-day tourper person | ₫ 650,000$24.7 | MX$ 450$24.2 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ₫ 70,000$2.66 | MX$ 300$16.1 | Hanoi −83% |
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 32% cheaper than San Cristóbal de las Casas. Daily budget $61.4 vs $94.1; a month $1,277 vs $1,817.
San Cristóbal de las Casas is easier: San Cristóbal de las Casas 3.0/5 vs Hanoi 3.2/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hanoi is about $1,277 and San Cristóbal de las Casas about $1,817 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.