A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aswan vs. Vientiane for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Aswan or Vientiane?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Aswan or Vientiane? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Aswan or Vientiane?

Aswan

Lounging along the Nile like Egyptian royalty is a fantasy for most world travelers. If you want to do it without the hustle and bustle of Cairo, there's always Aswan. This city in the south of Egypt is the smallest of the three major cities on the Nile. Located just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, Aswan's 275,00 people include a large portion of Nubians – mostly resettled from their flooded homeland.

Vientiane

You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.

While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Egypt, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Egypt, The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos.


Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Aswan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Aswan Prices
    Egypt Prices
    Vientiane Prices
    Laos Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Aswan $31
    Vientiane $24

The average daily cost (per person) in Aswan is $31, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is $24. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Aswan and Vientiane in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Aswan $10
    Vientiane $8.45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Aswan $20
    Vientiane $17
Compare Hotels in Aswan and Vientiane

Looking for a hotel in Aswan or Vientiane? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Aswan


Hotels in Vientiane


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Aswan Hotel Prices and Vientiane Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Aswan $5.70
    Vientiane $2.01

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aswan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aswan:

  • Private Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Transfer: $7.00
  • Airport Arrival/Departure One Way Private Transfer: $7.00
  • Private Airport Transfer in Aswan: $7.00
  • Private transfer from/to Aswan train station: $7.00
  • Arrival Transfer from Aswan Airport to Hotels or Nile Cruise in Aswan: $8.00
  • Private transfer from Aswan to Aswan Airport: $8.00
  • Aswan Airport Transfer To Hotel: $11
  • Private Airport Transfer in Aswan: $13
  • Aswan Airport Arrival Transfer: $16
  • Aswan Airport Transfers: $18
  • Aswan Airport Private Departure Transfer: $19
  • Aswan Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer: $19

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $4.15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:

  • Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
  • Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
  • Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
  • Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Aswan or Vientiane?

Prices for flights to both Vientiane and Aswan change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Aswan $16
    Vientiane $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aswan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aswan.

  • Savor Nubian Cuisine: Lunch or Dinner in a Local Village: $50
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $51
  • Nubian Dinner at Nubian Village: $60
  • Private 3-Hour Nubian Party with Dinner and Pickup in Aswan: $77
  • Aswan Sunset Dinner Cruise: $80
  • Your Grandmothers Cooking Class In Aswan : $90
  • Experience the Magic of Aswan in One Day Food Tour with Guide: $177

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.

  • Vientiane classic Food tour ( Included Food ): $78
  • Night Market, Dinner, and Nightclub: $90
  • Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour and Lunch: $95
  • Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour: $122
  • Cooking Class Garden House: $335

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Aswan $9.77
    Vientiane $3.80
Typical Entertainment Prices in Aswan

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Aswan are as follows:


  • Temple Kom Ombo for Two
    $1.26

Tours and Activities in Aswan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Aswan are as follows:

  • Shared Half-Day tour of The Nubian Village: $10
  • Felucca Nile Cruise in Aswan: $10
  • Nubian Museum Tour: $15
  • Private 2 Hour Guided Tour to Philae Temple from Aswan: $15
  • Day Trip to Nubian Village with Camel Tour: $15
  • Nubian Museum Magic: Private Tour in Aswan's Heart: $15
  • Half Day Philae Temple and High-Dam Private Tour in Aswan: $18
  • 2 Hours Tour in Philae Temple: $19
  • Philae Temple Secrets: Private Aswan Adventure: $20
  • Private Day tour to High Dam&Unfinished Obelisk&Philae From Aswan: $20
  • Nubian Village Tour from Ancient Tombs to Botanical Beauty: $20
  • Aswan full day tour phile temple unfinished obelisk high dam : $20

Tours and Activities in Vientiane

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:

  • Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
  • Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $30
  • Art, Culture, & Inspiration Guided Half-Day Tour: $52
  • Half-Day City Tour with Patuxai and Buddha Park: $52
  • Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $55
  • Vientiane Landmarks and Cultural Immersion Tour: $56
  • Cultural Tour with Buddha Park and Patuxay: $58
  • Vientiane IG tour & Patuxay monument: $59
  • Half-Day City Tour - Morning or Afternoon: $65
  • Vientiane Half Day City Tour: $80
  • Vientiane : Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $88
  • Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Aswan $1.12
    Vientiane $2.12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aswan and Vientiane, we can see that Aswan is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aswan is in Africa and Vientiane is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Vientiane would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vientiane and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Aswan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aswan than you might in Vientiane.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aswan Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Aswan or Vientiane?

Aswan has a larger population, and is about 23% larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Aswan and Vientiane, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.