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Hanoi vs Varanasi cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ป๐ณ Hanoi
๐ฎ๐ณ Varanasi
At a glance
- Where Varanasi is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (70%โ), Street food (69%โ), Bottled water (61%โ)
- Where Hanoi is clearly cheaper: Beer (68%โ), Entry ticket (25%โ), Massage (20%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Hanoi is easier to travel (3.2 vs 3.6). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Hanoi 4 vs Varanasi 5. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Hanoi | Varanasi | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โซ 70,000$2.66 | โน 150$1.79 | Varanasi โ33% |
| Street food1 item | โซ 50,000$1.9 | โน 50$0.6 | Varanasi โ69% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โซ 280,000$10.6 | โน 450$5.36 | Varanasi โ50% |
| Coffeeone cup | โซ 45,000$1.71 | โน 150$1.79 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | โซ 25,000$0.95 | โน 250$2.98 | Hanoi โ68% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โซ 120,000$4.56 | โน 450$5.36 | Hanoi โ15% |
| Bottled water | โซ 8,000$0.3 | โน 10$0.12 | Varanasi โ61% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โซ 12,000$0.46 | โน 30$0.36 | Varanasi โ22% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โซ 75,000$2.85 | โน 140$1.67 | Varanasi โ42% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โซ 25,000$0.95 | โน 80$0.95 | similar |
| Transitone ride | โซ 8,000$0.3 | โน 20$0.24 | Varanasi โ22% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โซ 150,000$5.7 | โน 500$5.95 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | โซ 800,000$30.4 | โน 3,000$35.7 | Hanoi โ15% |
| Studio rent (month) | โซ 9,500,000$361 | โน 9,000$107 | Varanasi โ70% |
| Laundry | โซ 30,000$1.14 | โน 100$1.19 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | โซ 220,000$8.37 | โน 600$7.14 | Varanasi โ15% |
| Haircutcut | โซ 80,000$3.04 | โน 120$1.43 | Varanasi โ53% |
| Massage1 hour | โซ 300,000$11.4 | โน 1,200$14.3 | Hanoi โ20% |
| Half-day tourper person | โซ 650,000$24.7 | โน 1,000$11.9 | Varanasi โ52% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โซ 70,000$2.66 | โน 300$3.57 | Hanoi โ25% |
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 Varanasi?
Varanasi is 31% cheaper than Hanoi. Daily budget $61.4 vs $54.9; a month $1,277 vs $633.
Which is easier to travel, Hanoi or Varanasi?
Hanoi is easier: Hanoi 3.2/5 vs Varanasi 3.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Hanoi and Varanasi?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Hanoi is about $1,277 and Varanasi about $633 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.