World's 4th most beautiful city no longer cheapest destination for long-haul travelers

By Hoang Phong November 28, 2024 | 07:33 pm PT

Foreign tourists walk in Hoi An ancient city, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh

Hoi An in central Vietnam, voted the fourth most beautiful city in the world for 2024, has lost its crown as the world's best-value destination for long-haul travelers after dropping to third place in a new report due to price increase.

The average total cost of popular tourist items in Hoi An now stands at £64.80 (US$82.34), marking a 21% increase compared to 2023, according to the latest annual Holiday Money Report released by Post Office, the U.K.'s leading currency exchange agency.

Cape Town in South Africa has regained its position as the cheapest destination for the first time in six years with prices falling by 12% to £52.66.

The ranking was compiled based on the average local prices of 10 popular tourist items at 32 destinations worldwide.

These items include a cup of filter coffee, a 330ml bottle of local lager, a 330ml bottle of cola, a 175ml glass of wine, a cocktail, a small chocolate bar, a 1.5-liter bottle of supermarket mineral water, a 200ml bottle of sunscreen, a 50ml tube of insect repellent, and a three-course evening meal for two adults, including a bottle of house wine.

Tokyo in Japan, moved up to second place after seeing a 13.5% drop in prices, bringing the average cost to £64.07.

World's cheapest destinations	Total cost	% rise/fall from 2023
1. Cape Town, South Africa	£52.66	-12.0%
2. Tokyo, Japan	£64.07	-13.5%
3. Hoi An, Vietnam	£64.80	+21.1%
4. Bali, Indonesia	£67.70	-7.9%
5. Mombasa, Kenya	£68.53	+13.8%
6. Delhi, India	£74.90	-1.0%
7. Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt	£76.47	-16.4%
8. Colombo, Sri Lanka	£78.14	-14.8%
9. Santiago, Chile	£88.92	-14.3%
10. Montego Bay, Jamaica	£93.74	-9.4%

The rest of the top 10 list includes Bali (Indonesia), Mombasa (Kenya), Delhi (India), Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Santiago (Chile), and Montego Bay (Jamaica).

"Although prices have increased in some places, many destinations have also seen price reductions year on year, largely due to a stronger British pound. As a result, British travelers can expect to pay less for winter holidays in more than half of the destinations surveyed," the report states.

According to the annual World's Best Awards announced in July by American travel magazine Travel & Leisure, Hoi An surpassed Chiang Mai and Bangkok to rank fourth in the category of the 25 most beautiful cities in the world for 2024.