Which place is cheaper, Florence or Luang Prabang?
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 Luang Prabang or Florence?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Florence, 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 Florence?
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.
Florence
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and one of the most well known cities in Italy for its art and cultural scenes. The city is rooted in history and you can see this in the architecture, statues, gardens, and art that are everywhere around town. This city truly is a living museum. You should allow yourself at least a couple of days to explore Florence and if you can afford more, it is well worth the time. In particular, if art history is your passion then you will need a week or more to satisfy your interest as the museums and architecturally impressive buildings throughout the city are endless.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
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Luang Prabang Prices
Laos PricesFlorence Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuang Prabang $17Florence $205
The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $17, while the average daily cost in Florence is $205. 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 Florence in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuang Prabang $5.42Florence $99
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuang Prabang $11Florence $198
Compare Hotels in Luang Prabang and Florence
Looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang or Florence? 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 Florence Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luang Prabang $2.00Florence $25
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$2.23
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
- 2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- Luang Prabang 2 Days Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- Luang Prabang 2 Day Slow Boat Transfer to Houay Xay: $69
- 2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat: $60
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $20
- Luang Prabang Private Transfers: Hotel -Railway Station - Airport: $9.60
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Florence
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Florence:
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Taxi Ride Within City$9.11
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Taxi from Airport$28
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In City Parking (Full Day)$34
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Bus Pass (Full Day)$5.69
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Bus From Airport$5.69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florence
Also for Florence, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Milan to Private Transfer with Bologna Stop: $1,061
- Florence to Genoa hotels - Private Transfer: $300
- Accomodation to Meeting Point Pickup and Transfer Service: $289
- PRIVATE TRANSFER from Florence to Rome with Stops at THE MALL & PRADA OUTLET: $286
- PRIVATE TRANSFER from Florence to Roma with private chauffeur: $263
- Florence Airport Hotel transfer private driver English speaking: $263
- Private Transfer from Firenze (FLR) Airport to San Gimignano: $260
- Private Transfer from Florence Airport (FLR) to Livorno Port: $253
- Private Transfer from Firenze to Pisa (PSA) Airport: $252
- Private Transfer from Florence to Livorno Port: $234
- Bologna Airport Private Transfer from your Hotel in Florence: $229
- PRIVATE TRANSFER from Florence to Cinque Terre with stop in Pisa (2 hrs): $229
Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Florence?
Prices for flights to both Florence 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 $8.95Florence $71
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:
- The Namkhan - Kids Cooking Class: $40
- Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in: $44
- Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class: $44
- Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace: $45
- Luangprabang: Dinner with Lao Traditional Dance Performance: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Laos: Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Mekong Sunset Cruise & Lao Tasting Dinner: $49
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
- Home-cooked dinner & Baci ceremony with Villagers in Ban Nasang: $52
Typical Food Prices in Florence
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Florence:
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Panini Sandwich$7.40
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Florence
For Florence, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Italian Cooking Class Fresh Pasta and Traditional Tiramisu: $22
- Florence Pasta Cooking Class Tagliatelle Ravioli and Tortelloni: $22
- Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine: $26
- Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine: $27
- Pasta Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine in Florence: $29
- Florence Old City Street Food Tour and Guided Sightseeing: $33
- Florence Cooking Class: Vegetarian Pasta and Dessert Making: $33
- Hard Rock Cafe Florence with Set Lunch or Dinner: $34
- Florence Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Unlimited Wine: $34
- Fresh Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class +Lots of Good Wine: $45
- Florence Street Food Tour with Walking Sightseeing and Local Guide: $48
- Florence's Food Tour with Authentic Local Tastigs and Sightseeing: $48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luang Prabang $2.58Florence $34
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- 1 Day Mekong Pak Ou Caves Kuang Si Waterfalls Local Villages Tour: $80
- 6Days 5Nigths Luang Prabang city tour & Mekong River Cruise: $800
- Bike to Kuangsi Waterfall and Cruise the Mekong River Back - Luang Prabang 1 day: $170
- Classic tour in Luang Prabang (Private): $243
- Cultural Heart of Laos Private Tour in Luang Prabang: $253
- Cultural Treasures of Luang Prabang Group Exploration Tour: $214
- Discover Luang Prabang Heritage City Tour and Kuang Si Waterfalls: $127
- Experience Lao Authentic Cuisine at the Former Royal Palace: $55
- Experience Mekong Sunset Cruise in Luang Prabang: $90
- From Field to Table Half Day Rice Experience in Luang Prabang: $194
- From 8-Day Laos Tour with Accommodation: $1,241
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
Typical Entertainment Prices in Florence
For Florence, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Admission to Uffizi$13
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Phone Booking Fee for Uffizi$4.55
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Firenze Card (for Two)$114
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Audioguides at Uffizi (for Two)$23
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Giotto's Tower Entrance Fee$6.83
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Boboli Gardens Entrance Fee$7.97
Tours and Activities in Florence
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Florence.
- 2 hours sunset walking tour: $217
- 2-Hour Private Evening Walking Guided Tour of Florence Culture: $183
- 3 Hours Private Tour with Personal Photographer in Florence: $159
- 4 WINES TASTING in a Chianti Classico Farm (Visit/tour at the winery included): $32
- 4 Wines & 2 Olive Oils Tasting in Chianti Winery with Tour: $41
- 4 Wines Tasting with 2 Tuscan Cheeses & Tour at the winery: $42
- 90 min Footbike tour in Florence: $29
- Academia Gallery Timed- Entry Tickets: $48
- Academia Gallery VIP Private Guided Tour with 5 Star EXPERT: $172
- Accademia & Uffizi: Entry tickets & self-guided visit app: $100
- Accademia David & Florence Tour for Kids & Families: $262
- Accademia Florence Entry Tickets with Audio Guide: $90
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuang Prabang $1.72Florence $21
Typical Alcohol Prices in Florence
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florence from other travelers:
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Glass of Chianti$4.78
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Bottle of Wine$8.54
Sample the Local Flavors in Florence
Also in Florence, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Winery tour and wine tasting of organic Chianti wines and extra virgin oil: $23
- Wine Tasting Activity at Chianti Rufina: $24
- Super Tuscan Wine Tour by Carus Vini: $29
- Florence Nightlife Pub Crawl 3 Bars and 1 Club with Games: $29
- Florence Wine Tasting Experience with Three Types of Tuscan Wine: $30
- From Florence to Chianti Rufina: Wine Tasting Experience: $33
- Classic Wine Tasting in Montalcino: $34
- Cellar Wine Tour: $34
- Wine Tasting of Brunello in a Historic Cellar: $39
- Biodynamic Wine Tasting with Producer in Vinci: $39
- Montefioralle Winery - Tour and Wine Tasting in Chianti: $40
- Chianti Wine Tour: Tuscan Reds: $41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luang Prabang and Florence, we can see that Florence is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Luang Prabang is in Asia and Florence is in Europe, 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 Florence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florence 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 Florence Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Luang Prabang or Florence?
Florence has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Luang Prabang. When comparing the sizes of Luang Prabang and Florence, 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 Luang Prabang or Florence?
Florence 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 Florence in the Summer?
Both Florence and Luang Prabang are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luang Prabang throughout the year. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Florence this time of year.
In the summer, Luang Prabang is a little warmer than Florence. Typically, the summer temperatures in Luang Prabang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Florence averages at about 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Luang Prabang. In July, Luang Prabang usually receives more rain than Florence. Luang Prabang gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Florence receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Florence 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Florence in the Autumn?
Both Florence and Luang Prabang during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Luang Prabang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Florence for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Luang Prabang is generally much warmer than Florence. Daily temperatures in Luang Prabang average around 26°C (79°F), and Florence fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in October than Florence. Luang Prabang gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Florence receives 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLuang Prabang 26°C (79°F)Florence 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Florence in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Luang Prabang and Florence. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round. Also, many visitors come to Florence in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Luang Prabang is much warmer than Florence in the winter. The daily temperature in Luang Prabang averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and Florence fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).
In January, Luang Prabang usually receives less rain than Florence. Luang Prabang gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Florence receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLuang Prabang 21°C (70°F)Florence 7°C (45°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Florence in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Luang Prabang as well as Florence. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Florence for the natural beauty during these months.
In the spring, Luang Prabang is much warmer than Florence. Typically, the spring temperatures in Luang Prabang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Florence averages at about 14°C (57°F).
Luang Prabang receives a lot of rain in the spring. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in April than Florence. Luang Prabang gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Florence receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Florence 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Florence and Luang Prabang
| Luang Prabang | Florence | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 96 mm (3.8 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 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.