Which place is cheaper, Vang Vieng or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phuket or Vang Vieng?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Vang Vieng, 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: Phuket or Vang Vieng?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the tourist mecca of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, 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 dayPhuket $105Vang Vieng $14
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $105, while the average daily cost in Vang Vieng is $14. 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 Phuket and Vang Vieng in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $56Vang Vieng $4.34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $112Vang Vieng $8.68
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Vang Vieng
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Vang Vieng? 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: Phuket Hotel Prices and Vang Vieng Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $11Vang Vieng $3.18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.18
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$6.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- From Krabi: Phuket Transfer with Phi Phi Longtail Boat Tour: $362
- From Krabi Transfer with Phi Phi Longtail Boat Tour: $362
- Phuket Jet Ski Tour to 7 Islands with Pickup and Transfer: $213
- Phuket any hotel to Koh lanta Private transfer: $165
- Flying Hanuman Ziplining Experience in Phuket with Return Transfer: $150
- Phuket Airport to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $150
- ATV Bike 1 hr + ziplines 30 platforms with Roundtrip Transfer : $139
- Private Transfer from Phuket to Krabi: $137
- Flying Hanuman Ziplines 42 platforms with Transfer RoundTrips: $136
- Morning Blue Sky Spa Package with Private Transfer: $125
- Private Airport Arrival Transfer : Airport to Hotel in Krabi: $117
- Private Transfer from Phuket to Krabi with 2h of Sightseeing: $113
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Vang Vieng?
Prices for flights to both Vang Vieng and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $22Vang Vieng $6.31
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.88
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.64
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Thai Noodles$2.45
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Bananas$0.68
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Pizza (for Two)$8.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $43
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 4 Dishes Menu): $47
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Twilight Stylish Sky Set Dinner - The SIS Kata Resort : $54
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $55
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $42Vang Vieng $4.87
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$25
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$68
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Thai Oil Massage$17
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Surfboard Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
- Activities In & Around Full Day Customizable Tour: $90
- Amazing Krabi Private 1 day tour from Phuket by VAN: $219
- Khai Island Half Day Tour by Speedboat from Phuket (SHA Plus): $61
- Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Tour with Seaview Lunch from Phuket: $68
- Private Tour: Amazing Phuket Island Tour with Big Buddha : $66
- Water Rafting 5 km Tour & ATV 1 hour - Real Adventure: $100
- Whitewater Rafting & ATV Adventure Tour from Phuket including Lunch: $119
- Zipline Adventure 32 Platforms + Roller + Skywalk: $108
- 2 Hours Phuket Old Town Street Food Walking Tour: $45
- 2-Hour ATV Tour from Phuket: $77
- 2x Snorkelling Phi Phi, Maiton, Maya Bay, khai islands tour: $58
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Half-Day Nam Song River Kayak Tour with Zipline or Tham None: $27
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $35
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $39
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Train ticket Vang vieng to Luang prabang: $50
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $50
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Discover Vang Vieng Private Tour- Trekking, Kayaking and Caving: $102
- Vang Vieng Tour A - Blue lagoon 3 with Caves and Zipline: $110
- Jungle & Caves Full-Day Private Trekking Tour: $120
- Full Day Private Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave Tour: $156
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.35Vang Vieng $1.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.46
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Beer$2.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl Tour: $25
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $78
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $97
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $97
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Vang Vieng, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket than you might in Vang Vieng.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Vang Vieng?
Phuket has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Vang Vieng, 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 Phuket or Vang Vieng?
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 Phuket or Vang Vieng in the Summer?
Both Vang Vieng and Phuket during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than Vang Vieng. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the summer, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Vang Vieng. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 141 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Phuket is a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Typically, the summer temperatures in Phuket in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Vang Vieng 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Vang Vieng in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Vang Vieng. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Vang Vieng. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Vang Vieng during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Phuket is generally a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 27°C (81°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Vang Vieng 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Vang Vieng in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Vang Vieng. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Phuket usually gets less rain in January than Vang Vieng. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Vang Vieng. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 254 hours of full sun.
Phuket is a little warmer than Vang Vieng in the winter. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Vang Vieng 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Vang Vieng in the Spring?
Both Vang Vieng and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Phuket is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In April, Phuket usually receives less rain than Vang Vieng. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Vang Vieng during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 230 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Phuket is a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Typically, the spring temperatures in Phuket in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 23°C (73°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Vang Vieng 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Vang Vieng and Phuket
| Phuket | Vang Vieng | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 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.