Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai or Vientiane?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pai and Vientiane. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Pai or Vientiane?
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
Vientiane
You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.
While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Vientiane $15
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is $15. 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 Pai and Vientiane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Vientiane $6.01
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Vientiane $12
Compare Hotels in Pai and Vientiane
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Vientiane? 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: Pai Hotel Prices and Vientiane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Vientiane $2.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $29
- Vientiane Private Airport and Hotel Transfers: $9.00
- Vientiane Airport Transfer: Wattay airport to hotel - Private transfer: $15
- Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Vientiane?
Prices for flights to both Vientiane and Pai 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 dayPai $21Vientiane $6.32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Private Evening Food Tour of Laos: $70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Vientiane $3.54
Tours and Activities in Pai
For Pai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Tipsy Tubing Experience with Shots: $6.76
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- 2 Days Private Tour in Vientiane and Vang Vieng: $90
- Explore Vientiane and Local Villages Biking Tour: $184
- From Hue: Hue to Vientiane Bus tickets: $62
- Full Day Private Tour in Vientiane with Pickup: $142
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $81
- Half Day Private Tour in City Highlights: $120
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $67
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Vientiane: $82
- Private Tour: Full-day Cycling The City Streets Vientiane with Buddha Park: $174
- Private Tour: Full-day Vientiane's Must-See Sights and River Sunset with Lunch: $101
- Private Tour: Half-day City Guided Tour of Vientiane: $113
- Private Tour: Vientiane City Tour Full Day with Buddha Park: $145
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Vientiane $2.35
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Vientiane, we can see that Pai is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vientiane would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vientiane 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 Pai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pai than you might in Vientiane.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Vientiane?
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 Pai or Vientiane in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Pai as well as Vientiane. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Vientiane. Pai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai usually gets less rain in July than Vientiane. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vientiane. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 141 hours of full sun.
Pai is around the same temperature as Vientiane in the summer. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (85°F) in July, and Vientiane fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Vientiane 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Pai or Vientiane in the Autumn?
Both Vientiane and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Pai. In October, Pai usually receives more rain than Vientiane. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in Vientiane. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vientiane during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Pai is around the same temperature as Vientiane. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pai in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Vientiane averages at about 28°C (83°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Vientiane 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Pai or Vientiane in the Winter?
Both Vientiane and Pai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.
Pai usually gets more rain in January than Vientiane. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the winter, Pai often gets more sunshine than Vientiane. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 254 hours of full sun.
In January, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Vientiane. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 24°C (74°F), and Vientiane fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Vientiane 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Pai or Vientiane in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Vientiane. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Vientiane. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Vientiane during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 230 hours of full sun in the spring.
The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. It's very hot in Pai this time of the year. Pai is around the same temperature as Vientiane in the spring. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 32°C (89°F) in April, and Vientiane fluctuates around 31°C (88°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Vientiane 31°C (88°F)
Typical Weather for Vientiane and Pai
| Pai | Vientiane | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 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.