Which place is cheaper, Luang Prabang or Kaunas?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kaunas 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 Kaunas 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: Kaunas or Luang Prabang?
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second biggest city in Lithuania, located at the country's center. It is a city of medieval history as well as modern entertainment with castle ruins, churches, and cathedrals, as well as galleries, museums, theatres, and outdoor recreation.
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 Tours for Seniors to Lithuania, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Vilnius, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
-
Kaunas Prices
Lithuania PricesLuang Prabang Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKaunas €118Luang Prabang €15
The average daily cost (per person) in Kaunas is €118, while the average daily cost in Luang Prabang 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 Kaunas and Luang Prabang in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKaunas €44Luang Prabang €4.75
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKaunas €88Luang Prabang €9.50
Compare Hotels in Kaunas and Luang Prabang
Looking for a hotel in Kaunas 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: Kaunas Hotel Prices and Luang Prabang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kaunas €17Luang Prabang €1.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kaunas
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kaunas:
- CO2-Offset Departure Transfer Kaunas City to Kaunas Airport KUN: $68
- CO2-Offset Private Transfer from Kaunas to Kaunas Airport KUN: $60
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luang Prabang
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Luang Prabang are as follows:
-
Tuk Tuk Ride€1.96
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $20
- 2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat: $60
- 2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- From 3-Day Oudomxay Town Trip with Transfers: $580
Is it cheaper to fly into Kaunas or Luang Prabang?
Prices for flights to both Luang Prabang and Kaunas 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 dayKaunas €60Luang Prabang €7.85
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:
- Luang Prabang Local Market and Morning Food Tour with Drinks: $39
- Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class: $44
- Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in: $44
- Luangprabang: Dinner with Lao Traditional Dance Performance: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace: $45
- Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Laos: Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Evening Bamboo weaving & Cooking classes join-in: $47
- Mekong Sunset Cruise & Lao Tasting Dinner: $49
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kaunas €19Luang Prabang €2.26
Tours and Activities in Kaunas
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaunas are as follows:
- Kaunas : Sightseeing Walking Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $117
- Kaunas Old Town tour + IX Fort Museum (BONUS): $60
- Kaunas Old Town: 2-Hour Private Ghost Tour: $243
- Kaunas Private Tour: Love Stories: $243
- Kaunas Private Tour: Love Stories: $477
- Kaunas city center tour + IX Fort Museum (BONUS): $119
- Kaunas, Lithuania 2-Hour Sightseeing Tour: $176
- 1 day Self-Guided Bike Tour with Train Tickets: $69
- Old Town Private Ghost Tour: $477
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $54
- Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Kaunas: $84
- Recreational Tour in Kaunas - The City of Freedom: $70
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- Shuttle Bus ticket to Kuang Si Waterfalls: $8.00
- Farm Tour and Buffalo Buffet Adventure: $9.00
- Audio-Guided City Tour in Electric Car: $14
- Laos Railway: Train Tickets Easily - Skip the Lines - No worries : $30
- Kuang Si Waterfalls and Hmong Village Half-Day Tour: $30
- Small Group Half Day Luang Prabang city tour: $30
- UNESCO World Heritage City Highlights Tour: $35
- Unwind with a Sunset Cruise on the Mekong River: $35
- Afternoon Kuang Si Waterfalls & Sunset Cruise: $35
- Sunset Cruise Luang Prabang: $35
- Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise: $41
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKaunas €16Luang Prabang €1.51
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kaunas and Luang Prabang, we can see that Kaunas is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kaunas is in Europe and Luang Prabang 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 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 Kaunas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaunas 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 Kaunas Expensive? and Is Luang Prabang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kaunas or Luang Prabang?
Kaunas has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Luang Prabang. When comparing the sizes of Kaunas and Luang Prabang, 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 Kaunas or Luang Prabang?
Kaunas has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Luang Prabang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kaunas or Luang Prabang in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kaunas as well as Luang Prabang. Many visitors come to Kaunas in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luang Prabang throughout the year.
In the summer, Kaunas is much colder than Luang Prabang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kaunas in July average around 18°C (64°F), and Luang Prabang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
It's quite rainy in Luang Prabang. Kaunas usually gets less rain in July than Luang Prabang. Kaunas gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyKaunas 18°C (64°F)Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kaunas or Luang Prabang in the Autumn?
Both Luang Prabang and Kaunas are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Kaunas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Plenty of visitors come to Luang Prabang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Kaunas is generally much colder than Luang Prabang. Daily temperatures in Kaunas average around 8°C (46°F), and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Luang Prabang. In October, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Luang Prabang. Kaunas gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 126 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKaunas 8°C (46°F)Luang Prabang 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Kaunas or Luang Prabang in the Winter?
Both Luang Prabang and Kaunas during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Kaunas because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round.
The weather in Kaunas can be very cold. Kaunas is much colder than Luang Prabang in the winter. The daily temperature in Kaunas averages around -5°C (23°F) in January, and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
Kaunas usually gets more rain in January than Luang Prabang. Kaunas gets 39 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKaunas -5°C (23°F)Luang Prabang 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Kaunas or Luang Prabang in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kaunas and Luang Prabang. The activities around the city are the main draw to Kaunas this time of year. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Kaunas is much colder than Luang Prabang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kaunas in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Luang Prabang averages at about 28°C (82°F).
Luang Prabang receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Kaunas usually receives less rain than Luang Prabang. Kaunas gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilKaunas 7°C (44°F)Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Luang Prabang and Kaunas
| Kaunas | Luang Prabang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -5°C (23°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | -4°C (25°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 0°C (33°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 7°C (44°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 13°C (56°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 16°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 18°C (64°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 17°C (63°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 13°C (55°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 8°C (46°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (36°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (28°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.