Which place is cheaper, Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Reykjavik, 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 Reykjavik?
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.
Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city in the country of Iceland. The city is where the vast majority of the country's population resides and the urban area has about 200,000 residents. The city is sprawling, with a large area covered in suburbs. The the city center is quite compact, with many interesting and colorful houses. There are a lot of things that attract tourists to this city, including an interesting culture and history as well as plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.
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 Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.
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Luang Prabang Prices
Laos PricesReykjavik Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuang Prabang $17Reykjavik $298
The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $17, while the average daily cost in Reykjavik is $298. 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 Reykjavik in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuang Prabang $5.50Reykjavik $155
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuang Prabang $11Reykjavik $310
Compare Hotels in Luang Prabang and Reykjavik
Looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang or Reykjavik? 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 Reykjavik Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luang Prabang $2.03Reykjavik $51
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$2.27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Luang Prang 1 Day with Laos Railway Private Transfer: $180
- 2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat: $60
- 2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- Luang Prabang Private Transfers: Hotel -Railway Station - Airport: $9.60
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- Luang Prabang 2 Days Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- Luang Prabang 2 Day Slow Boat Transfer to Houay Xay: $69
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $20
- From 3-Day Oudomxay Town Trip with Transfers: $580
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Reykjavik
Also for Reykjavik, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private 7-hour Airport/Cruise Transfer & Tour: $1,831
- Landmannalaugar Super Jeep All Year Transfer: $1,702
- Silver Circle Tour & Roundtrip Airport Transfer: $1,386
- Private 4-Hour Airport/Cruise Transfer & Tour: $1,221
- Private 3-Hour Airport/Cruise Transfer & Tour: $977
- Blue Lagoon with Private Roundtrip Transfer: $613
- From Skarfabakki: Blue Lagoon Round-Trip Transfer: $524
- Blue Lagoon Luxury Spa with Private Transfer: $400
- From ATV Ride and Blue Lagoon Tour with Transfer: $395
- Keflavik Airport (KEF): Transfer to Skarfabakki Cruise Port: $361
- Hvammsvik Hot Springs: Private Return Transfer with Entrance: $343
- Premium Private Transfer from Reykjavik to Keflavik Airport!: $289
Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Reykjavik?
Prices for flights to both Reykjavik 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 $9.10Reykjavik $58
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
- Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Luangprabang: Dinner with Lao Traditional Dance Performance: $45
- Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Laos: Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Mekong Sunset Cruise & Lao Tasting Dinner: $49
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
- Luang Prabang Mekong Sunset Cruise and Hot Pot Dinner: $55
Typical Food Prices in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner (Fish Market)$198
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Harbor Cruise with 3-Course Dinner: $137
- Food Tour by locals: $140
- Authentic Reykjavik Food Tour with Flea Market Delights: $146
- Icelandic Food Tour: $147
- The Reykjavik Harbor Food Tour: $147
- 3-Hour Shared Christmas Food Tour with Guide in Reykjavik: $149
- Reykjavík Food Tour with 5 Authentic Local Tastings & Secret Dish: $151
- Food Tour with 6+ Tastings of Icelandic Classics: $154
- The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $171
- Christmas Food Tour with Tastings and Drinks: $171
- Reykjavík All In One Food Tour - Eat, Drink & Explore with Locals: $203
- Private Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour: $241
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luang Prabang $2.62Reykjavik $80
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- 1 Day Kayaking Adventure and Whiskey Village Tour: $248
- 1 Day Mekong Pak Ou Caves Kuang Si Waterfalls Local Villages Tour: $80
- 6Days 5Nigths Luang Prabang city tour & Mekong River Cruise: $800
- Best of Luang Prabang City Day Tour - Secrets of LPQ World Heritage: $82
- Best of Luang Prabang Shared Group City Tour: $214
- Bike to Kuangsi Waterfall and Cruise the Mekong River Back - Luang Prabang 1 day: $170
- Classic Tour in Luang Prabang: $90
- 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
- Experience Lao Authentic Cuisine at the Former Royal Palace: $55
- Experience Mekong Sunset Cruise in Luang Prabang: $90
Typical Entertainment Prices in Reykjavik
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Reykjavik's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Art Museum$12
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Wine and Spa$32
Tours and Activities in Reykjavik
For Reykjavik, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Hour ATV Quad Tour : Pick up from Reykjavik (2 persons per ATV): $139
- 1+ hour Private Horse riding tour from Reykjavík/Mosfellsbær: $168
- 1-Hour Helicopter Tour in Iceland: The Geothermal Tour: $553
- 1-Hour Small Group Sightseeing Boat Tour in Vestmannaeyjar: $162
- 2 Hours Whale Watching Express Adventure: $94
- 2-Hour Buggy Adventure Tour out off Reykjavik: $264
- 2-Hour RIB Boat Whale Watching Tour from Reykjavik: $191
- 2hr ATV adventure with Pick up from Reykjavik (2 persons per ATV): $162
- 3-Hour Volcanic Springs ATV Adventure From Reykjavik: $339
- A Self-Guided Thingvellir National Park Walking Tour: $8.99
- Aurora by Boat Reykjavik Adventure: $85
- Become the Hunter Live Self Drive Aurora Hunting Experience: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuang Prabang $1.75Reykjavik $31
Typical Alcohol Prices in Reykjavik
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Reykjavik are as follows:
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Beer$9.77
Sample the Local Flavors in Reykjavik
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Reykjavik:
- Flóki Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting in Reykjavík: $48
- Craft Beer and Brewery Tour in Iceland: $48
- Eimverk Distillery Guided Tour with Tasting: $48
- Icelandic Bar Crawl and Karaoke Experience: $169
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luang Prabang and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Luang Prabang or Reykjavik?
Reykjavik has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Luang Prabang. When comparing the sizes of Luang Prabang and Reykjavik, 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 Reykjavik?
Reykjavik 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 Reykjavik in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Luang Prabang and Reykjavik. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round. Furthermore, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Reykjavik this time of year.
Luang Prabang is much warmer than Reykjavik in the summer. The daily temperature in Luang Prabang averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Reykjavik fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Luang Prabang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Luang Prabang usually receives more rain than Reykjavik. Luang Prabang gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Reykjavik 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Reykjavik in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Luang Prabang as well as Reykjavik. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Reykjavik for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Reykjavik. In the autumn, Luang Prabang is much warmer than Reykjavik. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Luang Prabang in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Reykjavik averages at about 5°C (41°F).
Luang Prabang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in October than Reykjavik. Luang Prabang gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLuang Prabang 26°C (79°F)Reykjavik 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Reykjavik in the Winter?
Both Reykjavik 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 visitors come to Reykjavik in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Reykjavik can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Luang Prabang is generally much warmer than Reykjavik. Daily temperatures in Luang Prabang average around 21°C (70°F), and Reykjavik fluctuates around -0°C (32°F).
In January, Luang Prabang usually receives less rain than Reykjavik. Luang Prabang gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLuang Prabang 21°C (70°F)Reykjavik -0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Reykjavik in the Spring?
Both Reykjavik 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. Also, most visitors come to Reykjavik for the natural beauty during these months.
Reykjavik can be very cold during spring. Luang Prabang is much warmer than Reykjavik in the spring. The daily temperature in Luang Prabang averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Reykjavik fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in April than Reykjavik. Luang Prabang gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Reykjavik 3°C (38°F)
Typical Weather for Reykjavik and Luang Prabang
| Luang Prabang | Reykjavik | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 1°C (33°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 1°C (35°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 79 mm (3.1 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.