Which place is cheaper, Vientiane 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 Vientiane?
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 Vientiane. 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 Vientiane?
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.
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 Greece, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Greece, The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos.
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Athens Prices
Greece PricesVientiane Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAthens €154Vientiane €19
The average daily cost (per person) in Athens is €154, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is €19. 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 Vientiane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAthens €63Vientiane €7.16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAthens €126Vientiane €14
Compare Hotels in Athens and Vientiane
Looking for a hotel in Athens 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.
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: Vientiane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Athens €27Vientiane €1.70
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:
- Private Transfer from Airport Athens to Centre Athens: $23
- One way Private Transfer Athens City Center to / from Piraeus Port: $24
- Athens Center To Piraeus Port Private Departure Transfer: $25
- Private Transfer from Piraeus Port to Athens City Center: $27
- Athens Airport Private Transfer to Piraeus Port with Meet & Greet: $27
- Athens Hotels to Piraeus Port Private Transfer: $28
- Piraeus port to Athens hotels Private arrival transfer: $28
- Piraeus Port to Athens Hotels Private Transfer with Meet & Greet: $29
- Mykonos Private Transfer Service–Airport, Port & Hotel Transfers: $29
- Departure Transfer from Athens City to Piraeus Port: $29
- Piraeus Port to and from Athens Airport Private Transfer: $29
- Athens hotels to Athens International Airport (ATH) - Departure Private Transfer: $34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride€3.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
Is it cheaper to fly into Athens or Vientiane?
Prices for flights to both Vientiane 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 €64Vientiane €10
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:
- Hard Rock Cafe Athens with Set Lunch or Dinner: $30
- Athens Food Tour (5+ Stops) - Full Meal Included by Do Eat Better: $64
- Ancient Roman and Greek Dinner With Ancient Wine Styles: $65
- Athens Food Tour and Local Tastings: $73
- Athens's original vegan food tour: $75
- Athens Traditional Food Tour: $79
- Athens Street Food Tour: Taste the best street food: $79
- Athens, Greek food tour including market visit: $80
- Cooking Class & Dinner at a Roof Garden in Athens: $80
- Athens at Night Enchanting Walking Tour and Dinner Delights: $81
- Small Group Greek Traditional Food Tour in Athens 20+ Tastings: $81
- Taste of Athens Small-Group Food Tour: $81
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour and Lunch: $70
- Vientiane classic Food tour ( Included Food ): $78
- Night Market, Dinner, and Nightclub: $90
- Small-Group Street Food Tour with Tastings: $91
- Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour: $122
- Cooking Class Garden House: $335
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Athens €36Vientiane €3.22
Tours and Activities in Athens
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Athens.
- Self Guided Walking Tour in Athens Hidden Gems: $3.46
- Self-Guided Tour In Athens With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.46
- A Neoclassical Capital: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- Athens Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.78
- Ancient Athens Scavenger Hunt & Self-Guided Walking Tour: $5.79
- Athens Audio Guided Walking Tour 3h20 and 29 Audio Reviews: $6.84
- Ancient Agora of A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- The Best of Piraeus: A Self-Guided Walking Tour: $7.99
- Athens Interactive City Tour: $8.11
- Temple of Olympian Zeus: Self-Guided Audio Tour on your Phone (without ticket): $9.26
- Acropolis of Athens Self-Guided Tour with 3D & Audio (No Ticket): $9.26
- Self-Guided Greece Grand Tour with Audio Guide: $9.27
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- 1-Day Tour to Vang Vieng with Private Guide: $200
- 1-Day Vientiane City Adventure: Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $110
- Explore Vientiane with Lao Art Museum Tour: $61
- From Plain of Jars Tour & Homestay: $1,650
- From Vang Vieng 2-Day Tour with Blue Lagoon: $443
- From Vang Vieng Tour with Cave Kayak & Zipline: $113
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $99
- Half Day Private Tour in City Highlights: $120
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour | Laos: $90
- Lao Arts Museum & City Highlights Tour with Lunch: $122
- Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $8.50
- Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAthens €23Vientiane €1.79
Sample the Local Flavors in Athens
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Athens:
- Polykala Distillery: 128 years of history & liqueur tasting.: $16
- Athens Party Pub Crawl w/ 1-hour Open Bar & VIP Nightclub Access: $17
- Athens Rooftop Pub Crawl Acropolis Views and Nightclub Fun: $17
- The NightCrawlers | Athens Bar Hopping | Pub Crawl: $22
- Athens Olive Oil and Herbs Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $23
- Experience Ouzo Tasting at Athens Oldest Distillery: $28
- Athens Exclusive Hellenic Wine Tasting Experience at Brettos: $37
- Organic and Vegan Indigenous Wine Tasting Private Experience: $46
- Athens Small Group Wine Tasting with a Sommelier: $52
- 2 Hours Wine Tasting Odyssey in Athens: $57
- Acropolis Private Wine Tasting @ Finewine store: $65
- Noble Greeks Acropolis Wine Tasting with Private Sommelier: $70
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Athens and Vientiane, we can see that Athens is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Athens is in Europe 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 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 Vientiane.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Athens Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Athens or Vientiane?
Athens has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Athens 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.
When is the best time to visit Athens or Vientiane?
Athens has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vientiane experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Athens or Vientiane in the Summer?
Both Vientiane and Athens during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Athens in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.
In the summer, Athens is around the same temperature as Vientiane. Typically, the summer temperatures in Athens in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Vientiane averages at about 30°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in Athens. In the summer, Athens often gets more sunshine than Vientiane. Athens gets 357 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 141 hours of full sun.
Vientiane gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Athens usually gets less rain in July than Vientiane. Athens gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAthens 27°C (81°F)Vientiane 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Athens or Vientiane in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Athens and Vientiane. Most visitors come to Athens for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Athens is generally cooler than Vientiane. Daily temperatures in Athens average around 19°C (67°F), and Vientiane fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In Athens, it's very sunny this time of the year. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vientiane during autumn. Athens gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Athens usually receives less rain than Vientiane. Athens gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAthens 19°C (67°F)Vientiane 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Athens or Vientiane in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Athens as well as Vientiane. The winter months attract visitors to Athens because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.
Athens is much colder than Vientiane in the winter. The daily temperature in Athens averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Vientiane fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. In the winter, Athens often gets less sunshine than Vientiane. Athens gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 254 hours of full sun.
Athens usually gets more rain in January than Vientiane. Athens gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAthens 10°C (51°F)Vientiane 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Athens or Vientiane in the Spring?
Both Vientiane and Athens are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to Athens this time of year. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Vientiane can become quite hot in the spring. In the spring, Athens is much colder than Vientiane. Typically, the spring temperatures in Athens in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Vientiane averages at about 31°C (88°F).
It's quite sunny in Vientiane. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Athens. Athens usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vientiane during spring. Athens gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 230 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Athens usually receives less rain than Vientiane. Athens gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAthens 16°C (60°F)Vientiane 31°C (88°F)
Typical Weather for Vientiane and Athens
| Athens | Vientiane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (51°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (60°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 20°C (68°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (76°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (67°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 16°C (60°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (54°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.