Which place is cheaper, Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso?
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.
Valparaiso
Valparaiso, often referred to as Valpo, is an attractive city on the Pacific Coast in Chile. The city has a population of about 300,000 and is only 120 kilometers west of Santiago. The city's main industries aside from tourism include shipping and petroleum refining.
Valparaiso is popular with travelers because of its bohemian culture and brightly colored homes. It also offers some wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Although the city is short on specific sights, the atmosphere and beautiful setting make it a wonderful place to visit.
Valparaiso has a mild Mediterranean climate that is comparable to San Francisco or Santa Barbara. The summer is dry but fog is common year around. Rain can be heavy during the winter season and snow falls occasionally in the highest parts of the city. Winds can also be strong during the winter months.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Chile, and The Best Luxury Tours to Chile.
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Luang Prabang Prices
Laos PricesValparaiso Prices
Chile Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLuang Prabang $17Valparaiso $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $17, while the average daily cost in Valparaiso is $87. 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 Valparaiso in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLuang Prabang $5.50Valparaiso $38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLuang Prabang $11Valparaiso $76
Compare Hotels in Luang Prabang and Valparaiso
Looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang or Valparaiso? 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 Valparaiso Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Luang Prabang $2.03Valparaiso $5.11
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:
- From 3-Day Oudomxay Town Trip with Transfers: $580
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $20
- Luang Prabang 2 Day Slow Boat Transfer to Houay Xay: $70
- Luang Prabang 2 Days Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- Luang Prabang Private Transfers: Hotel -Railway Station - Airport: $9.60
- 2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- 2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat: $60
- Luang Prang 1 Day with Laos Railway Private Transfer: $180
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$3.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Valparaiso
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Valparaiso:
- Private Valparaiso Port Visit El Cuadro Winery & Transfer: $270
- Private Transfer from Viña del Mar to Arturo Merino Benítez (SCL) Airport: $254
- Private Transfer Cruise Port to Santiago with Wine tour & tasting: $209
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Cruise Port to Santiago Hotels: $204
- Private Transfer Viña del Mar to Santiago Airport: $170
- Valparaiso to Santiago Private Transfer or Santiago to Valparaiso: $142
- Private transfer from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to San Antonio: $133
- Transfers from Valparaiso or Viña del Mar to Santiago: $120
- Private Transfer from Valparaiso Hotel or port To Santiago Airport or Hotel: $110
- Private Transfer from Viña Del Mar or Valparaiso City Hotel To Santiago City: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Valparaiso?
Prices for flights to both Valparaiso 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 $9.10Valparaiso $41
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
- The Namkhan - Kids Cooking Class: $40
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Valparaiso
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Valparaiso:
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Empanada$1.99
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Valparaiso
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Valparaiso.
- Cooking Classes in Viña del Mar Learn to Make Tapas and Desserts: $75
- 3hr Viña del Mar Cooking Class with local : Ceviche & Leche Asada: $85
- Learn to Cook Like a Local: Cooking Class in a Viña del Mar Home: $132
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Luang Prabang $2.62Valparaiso $19
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- Luang Prabang to Train Station Shared Minivan Ticket Or Private: $5.00
- Luang Prabang to Kuang Si Waterfalls Shared Minivan Ticket: $8.00
- Farm Tour and Buffalo Buffet Adventure: $9.00
- Laos Buffalo Dairy Tours Interact, Learn and Taste Fresh Flavors: $14
- Audio-Guided City Tour in Electric Car: $14
- Laos–China Railway: Easy Train Tickets, No Queues, No Worries: $28
- Luang Prabang Half Day Tour with Mekong River Sunset Cruise: $29
- Laos Railway: Train Tickets Easily - Skip the Lines - No worries: $30
- Small Group Half Day Luang Prabang city tour: $30
- Unwind with a Sunset Cruise on the Mekong River: $35
- Sunset Cruise Luang Prabang: $35
- Afternoon Kuang Si Waterfalls & Sunset Cruise: $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Valparaiso
Here are a few typical costs in Valparaiso for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Boat Tour$4.43
Tours and Activities in Valparaiso
Here are a few actual costs in Valparaiso for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- A Romantic Journey Through Viña del Mar - Private Tour: $219
- Cultural Tour of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar: $40
- Explore Valparaíso and Viña del Mar Tour: $58
- Famous Valparaíso! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Famous Viña del Mar! Premium Walking Tour with a Native Guide: $40
- Full Day Private Walking Tour with a Native Guide & Public Transport: $120
- Full-Day Tour of Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Reñaca & Concón: $180
- Gastronomic Tour in Valparaiso: $189
- Guided Panoramic Tour in Valparaíso: $40
- Guided tour Vina del Mar Reñaca beaches music and nature: $45
- Jewels of Viña del Mar – Private Walking Tour: $219
- Mamalluca Astronomical Stargazing Experience - La Serena: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLuang Prabang $1.75Valparaiso $8.24
Typical Alcohol Prices in Valparaiso
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Valparaiso are as follows:
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Beer$1.05
Sample the Local Flavors in Valparaiso
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Valparaiso:
- From Santiago: Aconcagua Valley Wine Tour: $129
- Private Wine Tour in Valparaiso: $273
- A Valparaíso 100% Private Tour + Casablanca Wine Tasting: $320
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luang Prabang and Valparaiso, we can see that Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso is in South America, 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 Valparaiso would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Luang Prabang or Valparaiso?
Valparaiso has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Luang Prabang. When comparing the sizes of Luang Prabang and Valparaiso, 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.
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.