Which place is cheaper, Dewa Sanzan or Luang Prabang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan, 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: Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan?
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.
Dewa Sanzan
Dewa Sanzan, Japan is a picturesque city in the Tohoku region which consists solely of the three sacred mountains: Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. The mountains are considered holy to the Japanese Shinto religion and are a popular pilgrimage site, especially since many ascetic pilgrims live in the mountains and are occasionally spotted throughout the various hiking trails.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuang Prabang $14Dewa Sanzan $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $14, while the average daily cost in Dewa Sanzan is $65. 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 Luang Prabang and Dewa Sanzan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuang Prabang $5.72Dewa Sanzan $28
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuang Prabang $11Dewa Sanzan $56
Compare Hotels in Luang Prabang and Dewa Sanzan
Looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan? 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: Luang Prabang Hotel Prices and Dewa Sanzan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luang Prabang $2.11Dewa Sanzan $22
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$2.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Tortola island to Tortola Cruise Port: $81
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan?
Prices for flights to both Dewa Sanzan and Luang Prabang 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 dayLuang Prabang $5.47Dewa Sanzan $24
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:
- Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class: $44
- Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in: $44
- Evening Bamboo weaving & Cooking classes join-in: $47
- Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner: $50
- Luang Prabang Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner: $51
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
- Laos Cooking Class in Luang Prabang: $55
- Cooking Class: $55
- Luang Prabang Evening food tour by Tuktuk: $56
- Luang Prabang Evening Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $57
- Luang Prabang Evening Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk : $58
- Full Day bamboo experience with cooking class & Kuang si waterfalls: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luang Prabang $2.72Dewa Sanzan $9.23
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- 1 DAY Mekong Cruise to Pak Ou Caves. Kuang Si Waterfalls . Local Villages: $48
- Bike to Kuangsi Waterfall and Cruise the Mekong River Back - Luang Prabang 1 day: $170
- Biking & Kayaking through Nam Khan River Valley - Luang Prabang full day tour: $73
- Dine and Cruise on Mekong River: $66
- Elephant keeper experience option waterfall day tour: $115
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
- Full Day Kuang Si Warerfalls & Rice Farming Experience in Living Land: $95
- Full Day Private Tour in Luang Prabang: $164
- Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise: $41
- Full-Day Luang Prabang Highlights Tour Including Kuangsi Waterfall: $85
- Full-Day Private Guided Pak Ou Caves & Ethnic Village Tour: $159
- Full-Day Private Tour in Luang Prabang with Vintage Jeep: $170
Tours and Activities in Dewa Sanzan
For Dewa Sanzan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Tsuruoka & Dewa-Sanzan Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide: $228
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuang Prabang $1.82Dewa Sanzan $7.27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luang Prabang and Dewa Sanzan, we can see that Dewa Sanzan 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 Dewa Sanzan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dewa Sanzan 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 Luang Prabang Expensive? and Is Dewa Sanzan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan?
Dewa Sanzan 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 Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Luang Prabang and Dewa Sanzan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Dewa Sanzan because of the hiking.
In the summer, Luang Prabang is a little warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Luang Prabang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about 23°C (74°F).
Dewa Sanzan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Luang Prabang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Luang Prabang usually receives more rain than Dewa Sanzan. Luang Prabang gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 191 mm (7.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Dewa Sanzan 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Luang Prabang as well as Dewa Sanzan. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the hiking trails are the main draw to Dewa Sanzan this time of year.
In October, Luang Prabang is generally much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Daily temperatures in Luang Prabang average around 26°C (79°F), and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
It's quite rainy in Dewa Sanzan. Luang Prabang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Luang Prabang usually gets less rain in October than Dewa Sanzan. Luang Prabang gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 152 mm (6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLuang Prabang 26°C (79°F)Dewa Sanzan 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan in the Winter?
Both Dewa Sanzan and Luang Prabang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luang Prabang throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Dewa Sanzan for the museums and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Dewa Sanzan. Luang Prabang is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan in the winter. The daily temperature in Luang Prabang averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and Dewa Sanzan fluctuates around -1°C (30°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Dewa Sanzan. In January, Luang Prabang usually receives less rain than Dewa Sanzan. Luang Prabang gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLuang Prabang 21°C (70°F)Dewa Sanzan -1°C (30°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Dewa Sanzan in the Spring?
Both Dewa Sanzan and Luang Prabang during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Luang Prabang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Luang Prabang is much warmer than Dewa Sanzan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Luang Prabang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Dewa Sanzan averages at about 9°C (47°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in April than Dewa Sanzan. Luang Prabang gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Dewa Sanzan receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Dewa Sanzan 9°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Dewa Sanzan and Luang Prabang
| Luang Prabang | Dewa Sanzan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 151 mm (6 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 231 mm (9.1 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.