Which place is cheaper, Vang Vieng or Koh Lipe?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Lipe or Vang Vieng?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Koh Lipe and Vang Vieng can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Vang Vieng?
Koh Lipe
Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, 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 dayKoh Lipe $85Vang Vieng $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $85, while the average daily cost in Vang Vieng 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 Koh Lipe and Vang Vieng in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lipe $44Vang Vieng $4.34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lipe $88Vang Vieng $8.68
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Vang Vieng
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Vang Vieng? 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 Lipe Hotel Prices and Vang Vieng Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lipe $18Vang Vieng $3.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:
- Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Vang Vieng?
Prices for flights to both Vang Vieng and Koh Lipe 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 Lipe $26Vang Vieng $6.31
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lipe $23Vang Vieng $4.87
Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Tour Sunset Cruise Around Lipe: $15
- Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $111
- Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $21
- Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $25
- Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $24
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Half-Day Nam Song River Kayak Tour with Zipline or Tham None: $27
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $35
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $39
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Train ticket Vang vieng to Luang prabang: $50
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $50
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Discover Vang Vieng Private Tour- Trekking, Kayaking and Caving: $102
- Vang Vieng Tour A - Blue lagoon 3 with Caves and Zipline: $110
- Jungle & Caves Full-Day Private Trekking Tour: $120
- Full Day Private Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave Tour: $156
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lipe $8.18Vang Vieng $1.14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Vang Vieng, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng 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 Lipe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lipe than you might in Vang Vieng.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Lipe Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe or Vang Vieng?
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 Lipe or Vang Vieng in the Summer?
Both Vang Vieng and Koh Lipe during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in July than Vang Vieng. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In July, Koh Lipe is generally a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Vang Vieng 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Vang Vieng in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Vang Vieng. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Vang Vieng. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
Koh Lipe is a little warmer than Vang Vieng in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Vang Vieng 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Vang Vieng in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Vang Vieng. Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.
Koh Lipe usually gets less rain in January than Vang Vieng. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the winter, Koh Lipe is a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Lipe in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 24°C (75°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Lipe 27°C (80°F)Vang Vieng 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Vang Vieng in the Spring?
Both Vang Vieng and Koh Lipe are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Lipe is December to April. The rainy season in Koh Lipe is May to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In April, Koh Lipe usually receives less rain than Vang Vieng. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In April, Koh Lipe is generally a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 29°C (85°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Lipe 29°C (85°F)Vang Vieng 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Vang Vieng and Koh Lipe
| Koh Lipe | Vang Vieng | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.