Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Koh Chang?
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 Koh Chang or Vientiane?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Chang 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: Koh Chang or Vientiane?
Koh Chang
Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.
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 Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos.
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Koh Chang Prices
Thailand PricesVientiane Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Chang $70Vientiane $24
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Chang is $70, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is $24. 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 Koh Chang and Vientiane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Chang $28Vientiane $8.45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Chang $56Vientiane $17
Compare Hotels in Koh Chang and Vientiane
Looking for a hotel in Koh Chang 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: Koh Chang Hotel Prices and Vientiane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Chang $15Vientiane $2.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang
Also for Koh Chang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $30
- Koh Chang to BKK or DMK Airport Private Transfers : $161
- Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $229
- Private Transfer from Trat to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $236
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
- Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
- Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Chang or Vientiane?
Prices for flights to both Vientiane and Koh Chang 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 dayKoh Chang $33Vientiane $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Vientiane classic Food tour ( Included Food ): $78
- Night Market, Dinner, and Nightclub: $90
- Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour and Lunch: $95
- Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour: $122
- Cooking Class Garden House: $335
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Chang $6.28Vientiane $3.80
Tours and Activities in Koh Chang
For Koh Chang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Kayak Experience in Bang Bao Bay with Lunch: $25
- Snorkeling Adventure at Koh Chang – Departing from Koh Chang: $32
- PADI Discover Scuba Dive Experience: $175
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- Vientiane Cultural Tour with Private Guide: $110
- 1-Day Tour to Vang Vieng with Private Guide: $200
- 1-Day Vientiane City Adventure: Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $110
- From Plain of Jars Tour & Homestay: $1,650
- From Vang Vieng 2-Day Tour with Blue Lagoon: $354
- 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: $90
- Lao Arts Museum & City Highlights Tour with Lunch: $122
- Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
- Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Chang $5.38Vientiane $2.12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Chang and Vientiane, we can see that Koh Chang is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Koh Chang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Chang 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 Koh Chang Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Chang or Vientiane?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Koh Chang or Vientiane in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Chang as well as Vientiane. Koh Chang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Vientiane. Koh Chang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Chang usually gets more rain in July than Vientiane. Koh Chang gets 440 mm (17.3 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Koh Chang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vientiane. Koh Chang gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 141 hours of full sun.
Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Vientiane in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Vientiane fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Chang 28°C (82°F)Vientiane 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Vientiane in the Autumn?
Both Vientiane and Koh Chang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Chang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Chang is November to February. The rainy season in Koh Chang is June to October. It's quite rainy in Koh Chang. In October, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Vientiane. Koh Chang gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in Vientiane. Koh Chang usually receives less sunshine than Vientiane during autumn. Koh Chang gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Vientiane. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Chang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Vientiane averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Chang 27°C (81°F)Vientiane 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Vientiane in the Winter?
Both Vientiane and Koh Chang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Chang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.
November to February is the dry season in Koh Chang. Koh Chang usually gets more rain in January than Vientiane. Koh Chang gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Koh Chang. In the winter, Koh Chang often gets more sunshine than Vientiane. Koh Chang gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 254 hours of full sun.
In January, Koh Chang is generally around the same temperature as Vientiane. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 26°C (79°F), and Vientiane fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Chang 26°C (79°F)Vientiane 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Koh Chang or Vientiane in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Chang and Vientiane. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Chang year-round. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, June to October is the rainy season in Koh Chang. Koh Chang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Vientiane. Koh Chang gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In Koh Chang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Chang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vientiane during spring. Koh Chang gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 230 hours of full sun in the spring.
The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Vientiane in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Vientiane fluctuates around 31°C (88°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Chang 29°C (84°F)Vientiane 31°C (88°F)
Typical Weather for Vientiane and Koh Chang
| Koh Chang | Vientiane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 27°C (81°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 356 mm (14 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 513 mm (20.2 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 440 mm (17.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 514 mm (20.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 476 mm (18.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 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.