Which place is cheaper, Luang Prabang or Deqin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Deqin or Luang Prabang?
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 Deqin and Luang Prabang. 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: Deqin or Luang Prabang?
Deqin
Highly influenced by Tibet, Deqin is both a county and a town located in the Hengduanshan Mountains of China's Yunnan province. Most people visit the area as a home base from which to hike into the surrounding mountains, though the temples and traditional villages also add to the allure of the area.
Luang Prabang
Southeast Asia is a region full of mystical wonders and cultural charm, but nowhere is as charming as the city of Luang Prabang. As the former capital of Laos, Luang Prabang was reopened to tourism in 1989. With that move the city experienced an upswing in revenue and was able to restore and rebuild the beautiful colonial mansions to serve as guesthouses and hotels for the new swarm of tourists.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best G Adventures Tours to Laos, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDeqin $65Luang Prabang $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Deqin is $65, while the average daily cost in Luang Prabang is $14. 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 Deqin and Luang Prabang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeqin $36Luang Prabang $5.50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeqin $72Luang Prabang $11
Compare Hotels in Deqin and Luang Prabang
Looking for a hotel in Deqin or Luang Prabang? 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: Luang Prabang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Deqin $19Luang Prabang $2.03
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luang Prabang
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Luang Prabang are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$2.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $29
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Deqin or Luang Prabang?
Prices for flights to both Luang Prabang and Deqin 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 dayDeqin $16Luang Prabang $5.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luang Prabang
For Luang Prabang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class: $44
- Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in: $44
- Evening Bamboo weaving & Cooking classes join-in: $47
- Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner: $50
- Luang Prabang Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner: $51
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
- Laos Cooking Class in Luang Prabang: $55
- Luang Prabang Evening food tour by Tuktuk: $58
- Cooking Class: $58
- Luang Prabang Evening Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $59
- Full Day bamboo experience with cooking class & Kuang si waterfalls: $59
- Luang Prabang Evening Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk : $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Deqin $13Luang Prabang $2.62
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- UNESCO World Heritage City Highlights Tour: $32
- Sunset Cruise Luang Prabang: $35
- Luang Prabang Foodie Walking Tour and Monk Blessing: $40
- Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise: $41
- Morning local food Market experience option waterfall tour: $41
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
- Kayak Tour to Pak Ou Caves: $43
- Luang Prabang City Tour & Kuang Si Waterfalls: $44
- Sunset Cruise in Luang Prabang with Live Performance: $45
- Foodie Walking Tour & Monk Blessing: $45
- Luang Prabang Street Food and Biking Tour: $47
- 1 DAY Mekong Cruise to Pak Ou Caves. Kuang Si Waterfalls . Local Villages: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeqin $11Luang Prabang $1.75
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Deqin and Luang Prabang, we can see that Deqin is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Luang Prabang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luang Prabang 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 Deqin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Deqin than you might in Luang Prabang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Deqin Expensive? and Is Luang Prabang Expensive?.
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.