Which place is cheaper, Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Saint Croix, 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 Saint Croix?
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.
Saint Croix
Sometimes all you want out of a vacation is the warmth of the sun, the sound of the waves and the taste of a cold drink. No more. No less. That's exactly what you can expect in St. Croix.
The largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is a place of our leisure and relaxation. It's a bit of an expensive lifestyle for its 50,000 residents and daily visitors, but when you're living on island time, money is never a worry. There are no worries on island time.
This once volcanic island is covered in incredible beaches, stunning mountains, palm tress in the wind and historic colonial towns. While they may be a bit old and rundown, the Danish architecture still stands as a unique part of this island's legacy. Don't expect much window-shopping, though. That was not a feature incorporated in this style of architecture. If you want to know if a store is open, just step on in, but remember, shop hours are also running on island time.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Luang Prabang Prices
Laos PricesSaint Croix Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuang Prabang $18Saint Croix $277
The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $18, while the average daily cost in Saint Croix is $277. 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 Saint Croix in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuang Prabang $5.60Saint Croix $149
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuang Prabang $11Saint Croix $298
Compare Hotels in Luang Prabang and Saint Croix
Looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang or Saint Croix? 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 Saint Croix Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luang Prabang $2.07Saint Croix $35
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$2.31
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: $20
- 2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat: $60
- 2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- From 3-Day Oudomxay Town Trip with Transfers: $580
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Croix
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Saint Croix:
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St. Croix : $180
- Private Transfer from St.Croix hotels to St. Croix Cruise Port : $175
- Private Transfer from St.Croix Cruise Port to St.Croix hotels: $175
- Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Round-Trip Transfer: $167
- St. Croix to St. Croix Airport (STX) - Departure Private Transfer: $91
- St.Croix Airport (STX) to St.Croix - Arrival Private Transfer: $91
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Airport to St. Croix Cruise Port : $87
- Private Transfer from St. Croix Port to St. Croix Airport (STX): $87
- St. Croix to Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) - Departure Transfer: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Saint Croix?
Prices for flights to both Saint Croix 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 $9.25Saint Croix $97
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
- Luangprabang: Dinner with Lao Traditional Dance Performance: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace: $45
- Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Laos: Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Evening Bamboo weaving & Cooking classes join-in: $47
- Mekong Sunset Cruise & Lao Tasting Dinner: $49
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Croix
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Croix.
- A Evening Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- A Morning Cultural Experience Through Food Cooking Class St. Croix: $90
- C'sted Sip & Savor Mixology Class with VI Food Tours: $131
- Taste of Twin City Food Tour with VI Food Tours: $145
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luang Prabang $2.66Saint Croix $58
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- Shuttle Bus ticket to Kuang Si Waterfalls: $8.00
- Farm Tour and Buffalo Buffet Adventure: $9.00
- Audio-Guided City Tour in Electric Car: $14
- Laos Railway: Train Tickets Easily - Skip the Lines - No worries : $30
- Kuang Si Waterfalls and Hmong Village Half-Day Tour: $30
- Small Group Half Day Luang Prabang city tour: $30
- UNESCO World Heritage City Highlights Tour: $35
- Unwind with a Sunset Cruise on the Mekong River: $35
- Afternoon Kuang Si Waterfalls & Sunset Cruise: $35
- Sunset Cruise Luang Prabang: $35
- Full day / Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with optional sunset cruise: $41
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
Tours and Activities in Saint Croix
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Saint Croix are as follows:
- Christiansted's Artisan Shopping Tour: $33
- Frederiksted Moke Tour: $75
- Guided Kayak Tour of Salt River Bay Ecology and History: $115
- Horseback Riding Experience: $160
- Parasail Experience in St Croix: $132
- Private Sailing Tour of Pirate Waters and Shipwrecks: $175
- St Croix Island Tour: $118
- St. Croix Ghost Tour of Historic Christiansted: $45
- The Frederiksted St. Croix Sea Turtles Snorkeling Tour: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuang Prabang $1.78Saint Croix $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Croix
Also in Saint Croix, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Farm to Bottle Tour at Prosperity Farm Distillery: $35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luang Prabang and Saint Croix, we can see that Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint Croix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Croix 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 Saint Croix Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Luang Prabang or Saint Croix?
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 Luang Prabang or Saint Croix in the Summer?
Both Saint Croix 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint Croix year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in July than Saint Croix. Luang Prabang gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Luang Prabang is around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Typically, the summer temperatures in Luang Prabang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Saint Croix 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Saint Croix in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Luang Prabang and Saint Croix. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round. Saint Croix attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Saint Croix receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Luang Prabang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Luang Prabang usually receives less rain than Saint Croix. Luang Prabang gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Luang Prabang is generally around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Daily temperatures in Luang Prabang average around 26°C (79°F), and Saint Croix fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLuang Prabang 26°C (79°F)Saint Croix 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Saint Croix in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Luang Prabang as well as Saint Croix. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint Croix throughout the year.
Luang Prabang usually gets less rain in January than Saint Croix. Luang Prabang gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Luang Prabang is cooler than Saint Croix in the winter. The daily temperature in Luang Prabang averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and Saint Croix fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLuang Prabang 21°C (70°F)Saint Croix 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Luang Prabang or Saint Croix in the Spring?
Both Saint Croix 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. Plenty of visitors come to Saint Croix because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Luang Prabang. In April, Luang Prabang usually receives more rain than Saint Croix. Luang Prabang gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Saint Croix receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Luang Prabang is around the same temperature as Saint Croix. Typically, the spring temperatures in Luang Prabang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Saint Croix averages at about 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLuang Prabang 28°C (82°F)Saint Croix 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint Croix and Luang Prabang
| Luang Prabang | Saint Croix | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 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.