Which place is cheaper, Vang Vieng or Athens?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Athens or Vang Vieng?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Athens and Vang Vieng. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Athens or Vang Vieng?
Athens
Athens is the capital city of Greece and is home to a population of over 3.7 million people. It's most famous as the birthplace of Classical Greece and the history in the city is incomparable to that found anywhere. It became the national capital of the modern Greek State in the 1830s, before which it was just a small village with a very impressive history. The city was redesigned by architects and city planners and incorporated large public squares, lots of green space, and wide avenues. The city has had its ups and downs both economically and politically, but it remains a beautiful and impressive place to explore.
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, and The Best Budget Tours to Laos.
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Athens Prices
Greece PricesVang Vieng Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €154Vang Vieng €15
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Vang Vieng is €15. 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 Athens and Vang Vieng in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Vang Vieng €3.52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Vang Vieng €7.04
Compare Hotels in Athens and Vang Vieng
Looking for a hotel in Athens or Vang Vieng? 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.
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: Athens Hotel Prices and Vang Vieng Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Vang Vieng €2.58
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Athens:
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Airport Bus for Two€6.40
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Metro€1.50
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Metro€2.00
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Metro from Airport to City Center€8.00
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Taxi from Airport€35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Athens
Also for Athens, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Paros Private Helicopter Transfer Service: $3,439
- Private Transfer From Athens To Meteora - Kalabaka: $298
- Combo Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket and Airport Transfer: $297
- Athens Transfers: $297
- Private Transfer from Athens to Kalabaka with 2h Sightseeing Stop: $297
- Athens to Costa Navarino / Kalamata Private Luxury Transfer: $285
- Private Transfer from Athens to Costa Navarino with 2h Stop: $282
- Athens to Larissa private Transfer: $279
- Private Transfer from Athens city hotels to Nafplio Cruise Port: $278
- Private Transfer from Athens Airport (ATH) to Nafplio Cruise Port: $278
- VIP Ferry Ticket From Piraeus Port To Santorini & Private Transfer Included: $272
- Athens Airport Transfer From/To Nafplio: $261
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vang Vieng
Also for Vang Vieng, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared transfer from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang city: $20
- Vang Vieng Private Transfer: Hotel - Railway Station - Vientiane: $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Vang Vieng?
Prices for flights to both Vang Vieng and Athens 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
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Food Meals for one dayAthens €64Vang Vieng €8.87
Typical Food Prices in Athens
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Athens:
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Ice cream€3.00
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Souvlaki€2.20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Athens
For Athens, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Greek Orange Pie (Portokalopita) Cooking Workshop in Athens: $47
- Foodies’ Favorite Food tour: $50
- Authentic Athens Food Tour: $59
- Athens Small Group Food Tour with Private Lunch: $60
- Athens Food Tour (5+ Stops) - Full Meal Included by Do Eat Better: $65
- Cooking Class & Meal at a Roof Garden in Athens: $70
- Street Food Tour - Sample the Food the Locals Love: $70
- Athens Cooking Class with Central Market Visit and City Views: $73
- Athens's original vegan food tour: $77
- Traditional Greek Cooking Class and Organic Lunch on Poros: $77
- Athens Street Food Tour: Taste the best street food: $81
- Athens Walking Food Tour with Visit to Varvakios Central Market: $82
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Vang Vieng €3.96
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- "A Must-See" Anc. Epidaurus, Mycenae & Nafplion Premium Full Day Tour By Locals: $214
- "All day tour of Athens-8h:Exploring its most popular landmarks": $258
- "Athens Night Experience - 4Hours": $169
- "Athens in a Day: A Full-Day Tour of the City’s Top Highlights": $258
- 1 Day Parnitha Athens Private Hiking Tour with Hotel Pickup: $178
- 2 Day Meteora Monasteries Tour with Sunset Off Road Buggy: $208
- 2 Day Tour To The Best Places Of Peloponnese: $297
- 2 Days Private Tour at Delphi and Meteora: $255
- 2 Hour Express Athens City Tour (Private): $172
- 2 days Spanish guided tour in Delphi and Meteora: $297
- 2-Day Delphi & Meteora Tour from Athens with Hotel & Guided Tour: $273
- 2-Day Guided Tour to Meteora from Athens with Accommodation: $142
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- BBQ Lunch Cruise on Nam Ngum Lake: $50
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour in Vang Vieng: $180
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike and Blue Lagoon Tour: $79
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng: $50
- Paramotor Experience in Vang Vieng Laos: $165
- Vang Vieng 1-Day Cave Exploration Tour with Guide: $175
- Vang Vieng 2 Day Shared Hot Air Balloon Tour: $269
- Vang Vieng Adventure Day Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Cave Tubing: $75
- Vang Vieng Ballooning Adventures: $260
- Vang Vieng Day Tour - Longtail boat, Paragliding: $175
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Vang Vieng €0.92
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- The Original Athens Pub Crawl: $17
- Athens Exclusive Hellenic Wine Tasting Experience at Brettos: $37
- Athens Small Group Wine Tasting with a Sommelier: $53
- Greek Wine Tasting with Acropolis view: $58
- Best rated Acropolis Wine Tasting: $58
- Athens bar crawl: $59
- Athens Olive oil Honey and Wine Tasting with Snacks Experience: $90
- Small-Group Wine Tour in Athens with Tasting: $93
- Wine tasting tour of Athens Greece: $125
- Santorini Wine Tasting Journey: $148
- Athens Private Wine Tasting Tour - Dionysian Grapes: $164
- Private 4x4 Wine Tour from Athens to Marathon Lake and a Winery: $178
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Vang Vieng, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe and Vang Vieng 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 Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng 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 Athens would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Athens than you might in Vang Vieng.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Vang Vieng?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Athens and Vang Vieng, 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.
When is the best time to visit Athens or Vang Vieng?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vang Vieng experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Athens or Vang Vieng in the Summer?
Both Vang Vieng and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Athens is a little warmer than Vang Vieng in the summer. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives more sunshine than Vang Vieng during summer. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 141 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Athens usually receives less rain than Vang Vieng. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Vang Vieng 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Athens or Vang Vieng in the Autumn?
Both Vang Vieng and Athens during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.
In the autumn, Athens is cooler than Vang Vieng. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Athens in October average around 19°C (67°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Athens. In the autumn, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vang Vieng. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 222 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets less rain in October than Vang Vieng. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Vang Vieng 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Athens or Vang Vieng in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Vang Vieng. Many visitors come to Athens in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Athens is generally much colder than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 10°C (51°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. Athens usually receives less sunshine than Vang Vieng during winter. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Athens usually receives less rain than Vang Vieng. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Vang Vieng 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Athens or Vang Vieng in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Athens as well as Vang Vieng. Most visitors come to Athens for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.
Athens is cooler than Vang Vieng in the spring. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 16°C (60°F) in April, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Athens this time of the year. In the spring, Athens often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vang Vieng. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 230 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. Athens usually gets less rain in April than Vang Vieng. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Vang Vieng 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Vang Vieng and Athens
| Athens | Vang Vieng | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.