Which place is cheaper, Luang Prabang or Koh Lanta?
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 Lanta or Luang Prabang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Koh Lanta and Luang Prabang can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Koh Lanta or Luang Prabang?
Koh Lanta
Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.
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 Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Koh Lanta Prices
Thailand PricesLuang Prabang Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lanta $64Luang Prabang $18
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lanta is $64, while the average daily cost in Luang Prabang is $18. 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 Lanta and Luang Prabang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lanta $28Luang Prabang $5.60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lanta $56Luang Prabang $11
Compare Hotels in Koh Lanta and Luang Prabang
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lanta 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: Koh Lanta Hotel Prices and Luang Prabang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lanta $6.52Luang Prabang $2.07
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:
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Ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta$19
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$2.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From 3-Day Oudomxay Town Trip with Transfers: $580
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $20
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- 2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- 2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lanta or Luang Prabang?
Prices for flights to both Luang Prabang and Koh Lanta 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 Lanta $21Luang Prabang $9.25
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Lanta:
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Casual Breakfast$5.02
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Casual Lunch$8.48
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Casual Dinner$14
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$53
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lanta $35Luang Prabang $2.66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Lanta
Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Emerald Cave Tour$22
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Yoga Session (1 Hour)$11
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lanta $4.36Luang Prabang $1.78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lanta and Luang Prabang, we can see that Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta Expensive? and Is Luang Prabang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Lanta or Luang Prabang?
Luang Prabang has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Koh Lanta. When comparing the sizes of Koh Lanta 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 Koh Lanta or Luang Prabang?
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 Lanta or Luang Prabang in the Summer?
Both Luang Prabang and Koh Lanta during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lanta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round.
June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta. Luang Prabang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta usually gets more rain in July than Luang Prabang. Koh Lanta gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Koh Lanta is generally around the same temperature as Luang Prabang. Daily temperatures in Koh Lanta average around 27°C (81°F), and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Lanta 27°C (81°F)Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Lanta or Luang Prabang in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lanta and Luang Prabang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lanta year-round. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Luang Prabang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Lanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Lanta usually receives more rain than Luang Prabang. Koh Lanta gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 126 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Koh Lanta is around the same temperature as Luang Prabang in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Lanta averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Lanta 27°C (81°F)Luang Prabang 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Koh Lanta or Luang Prabang in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Lanta as well as Luang Prabang. Koh Lanta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luang Prabang throughout the year.
Also, January to April in Koh Lanta is the dry season. Koh Lanta usually gets more rain in January than Luang Prabang. Koh Lanta gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Koh Lanta is a little warmer than Luang Prabang. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Lanta in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Luang Prabang averages at about 21°C (70°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Lanta 27°C (80°F)Luang Prabang 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Koh Lanta or Luang Prabang in the Spring?
Both Luang Prabang and Koh Lanta are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lanta throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Luang Prabang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Lanta is January to April. The rainy season in Koh Lanta is June to September. It rains a lot this time of the year in Luang Prabang. It's quite rainy in Koh Lanta. In April, Koh Lanta usually receives more rain than Luang Prabang. Koh Lanta gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Koh Lanta is generally around the same temperature as Luang Prabang. Daily temperatures in Koh Lanta average around 29°C (85°F), and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Lanta 29°C (85°F)Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Luang Prabang and Koh Lanta
| Koh Lanta | Luang Prabang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 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.