Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Istanbul?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Istanbul or Vientiane?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Vientiane, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Istanbul or Vientiane?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
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 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $126Vientiane $15
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $126, while the average daily cost in Vientiane 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 Istanbul and Vientiane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $47Vientiane $6.00
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $94Vientiane $12
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Vientiane
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul 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: Istanbul Hotel Prices and Vientiane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $55Vientiane $2.08
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Ferry$0.09
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Local Bus$0.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Princes' Islands Tour with Lunch and Transfers: $13
- Istanbul City to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)-Departure Private Transfer: $20
- Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to City Center - Arrival Private Transfer: $20
- Airport - Otel Transfer and City Tours: $20
- Private One-Way New Istanbul Airport Transfer To/From Istanbul: $21
- Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) to Istanbul hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Hotels to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul Airport (SAW) to Istanbul - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- Istanbul to Istanbul Airport (SAW) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Princes' Islands Cruise with Lunch and Transfer Full-Day Tour: $23
- Princes' Islands Cruise w/Music, Lunch & Transfer: $24
- Private SAW Airport Arrival or Departure Transfer: $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
- Vientiane Private Airport and Hotel Transfers: $9.00
- Vientiane Airport Transfer: Wattay airport to hotel - Private transfer: $15
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Vientiane?
Prices for flights to both Vientiane and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $31Vientiane $6.30
Typical Food Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of dining costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Juice$0.06
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Turkish Delight$0.02
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Dessert$0.26
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Pastries$0.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Night Show from Istanbul: $16
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Turkish Night Show All inclusive: $16
- Dinner Cruise and Entertainment with Private Table: $17
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour With Turkish Night Show: $21
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise , Unlimited Drinks, & Show: $22
- Bosphorus Luxury Catamaran Cruise with Dinner Show: $25
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise and Turkish Night Show: $26
- Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise with All inclusive Dinner and Belly-Dancer Show : $27
- Bosphorus Boat Cruise with Dinner & Entertainment: $27
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Unlimited Drinks and Shows: $28
- Dinner Cruise Bosphorus with Hotel Transfer: $28
- 3 Hour Ottoman Dinner Cruise in Istanbul : $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Private Evening Food Tour of Laos: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $79Vientiane $3.53
Typical Entertainment Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Istanbul are as follows:
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Bosphurus Boat (for 2)$0.62
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Yerebatan Cistern for Two$0.62
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Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts for Two$0.31
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Hagia Sofia entrance$0.93
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- App self-guided tours Istanbul with multilingual audioguide: $2.15
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Highlights Self Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.38
- City Tour with Audio Guide in your smartphone: $5.38
- Hagia Sophia Exclusive Digital Audio Guided Tour: $5.38
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $6.46
- Istanbul Outdoor Escape Game: The Royal Adventure: $7.09
- Daytime or Sunset Sightseeing Cruise & Audio Guide: $8.12
- Guided Boat Tour on the Bosphorus: $8.44
- Bosphorus Sightseeing Cruise with Audio Guide: $9.69
- Self Guided Virtual Tour of Hagia Sophia The Highlights: $9.82
- Hagia Sophia & Hippdrome Tour with Local Expert: $11
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- Vientiane ATV and Canopy Walking Experience: $48
- Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $55
- From Hue: Hue to Vientiane Bus tickets: $61
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $67
- Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $69
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $81
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Vientiane: $82
- Vientiane City Day Tour and Buddha Park Visit with Lunch: $88
- 2 Days Private Tour in Vientiane and Vang Vieng: $90
- Private Vientiane Tour - include Buddha Park: $100
- Private Tour: Full-day Vientiane's Must-See Sights and River Sunset with Lunch: $101
- Private Tour: Half-day City Guided Tour of Vientiane: $113
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $15Vientiane $2.34
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul 7-Hour Pub Crawl: Big Night Out: $27
- Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $29
- Wine Tasting Experience in Istanbul : $50
- Istanbul Wine Tasting at Home with Local Family: $84
- 2-Day Wine Tasting Tour along the Thracian Wine Route: $180
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries : $246
- Istanbul Private and Guided, Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $430
- Luxury Wine Tasting on a Private Yacht: $849
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Vientiane, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul 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 Istanbul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Istanbul 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 Istanbul Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Vientiane?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul 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 Istanbul or Vientiane?
Istanbul 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 Istanbul or Vientiane in the Summer?
Both Vientiane and Istanbul are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Istanbul because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Istanbul is cooler than Vientiane in the summer. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 24°C (74°F) in July, and Vientiane fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Istanbul. Istanbul usually receives more sunshine than Vientiane during summer. Istanbul gets 333 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 141 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. In July, Istanbul usually receives less rain than Vientiane. Istanbul gets 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyIstanbul 24°C (74°F)Vientiane 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Vientiane in the Autumn?
Both Vientiane and Istanbul during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Istanbul this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.
In the autumn, Istanbul is much colder than Vientiane. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Istanbul in October average around 16°C (61°F), and Vientiane averages at about 28°C (83°F).
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Vientiane. Istanbul gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 222 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets less rain in October than Vientiane. Istanbul gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberIstanbul 16°C (61°F)Vientiane 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Vientiane in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Istanbul and Vientiane. Many travelers come to Istanbul for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Istanbul is generally much colder than Vientiane. Daily temperatures in Istanbul average around 6°C (43°F), and Vientiane fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. Istanbul usually receives less sunshine than Vientiane during winter. Istanbul gets 75 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Istanbul usually receives more rain than Vientiane. Istanbul gets 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryIstanbul 6°C (43°F)Vientiane 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Istanbul or Vientiane in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Istanbul as well as Vientiane. Many visitors come to Istanbul in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. Istanbul is much colder than Vientiane in the spring. The daily temperature in Istanbul averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Vientiane fluctuates around 31°C (88°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. In the spring, Istanbul often gets less sunshine than Vientiane. Istanbul gets 180 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 230 hours of full sun.
Istanbul usually gets less rain in April than Vientiane. Istanbul gets 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilIstanbul 13°C (55°F)Vientiane 31°C (88°F)
Typical Weather for Vientiane and Istanbul
| Istanbul | Vientiane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 6°C (43°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 8°C (47°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (71°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (74°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (74°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (69°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 12°C (54°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 9°C (47°F) | 122 mm (4.8 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.