Which place is cheaper, Fraser Island or Luang Prabang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Luang Prabang or Fraser Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Fraser Island, 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 Fraser Island?
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.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuang Prabang $14Fraser Island $206
The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $14, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $206. 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 Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuang Prabang $5.72Fraser Island $102
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuang Prabang $11Fraser Island $204
Compare Hotels in Luang Prabang and Fraser Island
Looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang or Fraser Island? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luang Prabang $2.11Fraser Island $92
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luang Prabang
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Luang Prabang are as follows:
-
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:
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $29
- Private Transfer from Tortola island to Tortola Cruise Port: $81
Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island 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
-
Food Meals for one dayLuang Prabang $5.47Fraser Island $47
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luang Prabang $2.72Fraser Island $44
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- Small Group Half Day Luang Prabang city tour: $30
- UNESCO World Heritage City Highlights Tour: $32
- Sunset Cruise Luang Prabang: $35
- Luang Prabang Mountain Bike Cycling Tour: $39
- Guided Meditation Experience in Luang Prabang: $40
- Luang Prabang Foodie Walking Tour and Monk Blessing: $40
- Morning local food Market experience option waterfall tour: $40
- Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise: $41
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
- Luang Prabang City Tour & Kuang Si Waterfalls: $42
- Kayak Tour to Pak Ou Caves: $43
- Sunset Cruise in Luang Prabang with Live Performance: $45
Tours and Activities in Fraser Island
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:
- 2 Hours Hervey Bay Funset Cruise: $52
- Hervey Bay Ultimate Whale Watching Cruise: $72
- Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise: $98
- Hervey Bay: Best Value Half Day Whale Watching Cruise : $79
- Hervey Bay: Half Day Whale watching & Island Stop Tour: $109
- K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour: $180
- K'gari/2-Day Tagalong Tour from Hervey Bay: $340
- Remote Fraser Island Experience: $164
- Remote K'gari (Fraser Island) & Whale Experience: $164
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuang Prabang $1.82Fraser Island $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luang Prabang and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island is in Pacific, 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 Fraser Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Luang Prabang or Fraser Island?
Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island in the Summer?
Both Fraser Island and Luang Prabang during the summer 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 visitors come to Fraser Island in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Luang Prabang is around the same temperature as Fraser Island. Typically, the summer temperatures in Luang Prabang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Fraser Island averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
Fraser Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in July than Fraser Islandin January. Luang Prabang gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Fraser Island 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Fraser Island in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Luang Prabang and Fraser Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round. Also, most visitors come to Fraser Island for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months.
In October, Luang Prabang is generally a little warmer than Fraser Islandin April. Daily temperatures in Luang Prabang average around 26°C (79°F), and Fraser Island fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Luang Prabang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Luang Prabang usually receives more rain than Fraser Islandin April. Luang Prabang gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilLuang Prabang 26°C (79°F)Fraser Island 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Fraser Island in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Luang Prabang as well as Fraser Island. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Fraser Island because of the cuisine.
Luang Prabang is a little warmer than Fraser Island in the winter. The daily temperature in Luang Prabang averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in July.
Luang Prabang usually gets less rain in January than Fraser Islandin July. Luang Prabang gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyLuang Prabang 21°C (70°F)Fraser Island 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Fraser Island in the Spring?
Both Fraser Island and Luang Prabang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luang Prabang throughout the year. Also, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Fraser Island this time of year.
In the spring, Luang Prabang is a little warmer than Fraser Island. Typically, the spring temperatures in Luang Prabang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Fraser Island averages at about 21°C (71°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Luang Prabang. In April, Luang Prabang usually receives more rain than Fraser Islandin October. Luang Prabang gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Fraser Island 21°C (71°F)
Typical Weather for Fraser Island and Luang Prabang
| Luang Prabang | Fraser Island | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.