Which place is cheaper, Luang Prabang or Santorini?
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 Santorini or Luang Prabang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Santorini or Luang Prabang, 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: Santorini or Luang Prabang?
Santorini
Santorini is a volcanic island that is part of the Cyclades group of the Greek Islands. It has some spectacular views, beautiful sunsets, and excellent beaches. As one of the most popular of the Greek Islands to visit, Santorini sees many tourists every year. However, it's for a good reason, as the famous white-washed buildings that spill down the hill, some with blue domes that match the gorgeous color of the water, are set against the beautiful mountainous backdrop of one of the most scenic areas of the Mediterranean. Home to several of these small and scenic towns such as Oia, Kamari, Perissa, and Fira, visitors can explore the large island, enjoy delicious food, swim at the beaches, hike the hills, and sail the blue waters.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Budget Tours to Greece, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Santorini Prices
Greece PricesLuang Prabang Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantorini €250Luang Prabang €15
The average daily cost (per person) in Santorini is €250, while the average daily cost in Luang Prabang 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 Santorini and Luang Prabang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantorini €118Luang Prabang €4.82
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantorini €236Luang Prabang €9.64
Compare Hotels in Santorini and Luang Prabang
Looking for a hotel in Santorini or Luang Prabang? 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: Santorini Hotel Prices and Luang Prabang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santorini €35Luang Prabang €1.78
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Santorini
Also for Santorini, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Helicopter Transfer between Mykonos & Santorini: $5,960
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santorini APT-HTL(JTR): $202
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Santorini HTL-APT(JTR): $202
- Premium Santorini Private Transfer: $163
- Luxury Santorini Catamaran Cruise: Lunch, BBQ, Drinks, Transfers: $137
- Premium Small-Group Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Open Bar, Transfer: $137
- Roundtrip Transfers to Black Sand Beach from Your Santorini Hotel: $126
- Santorini Sunset Luxury Sailing Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, drinks, transfer: $126
- Private Transfers from/to Santorini Port (Athinios) to/from Oia: $103
- Santorini Classic Catamaran Cruise with BBQ, Drinks and Transfers: $91
- VIP Limo Transfers From & To Santorini Port: $86
- Santorini Private Transfer: From/To Any Santorini Destination: $86
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€1.98
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
- Luang Prang 1 Day with Laos Railway Private Transfer: $180
- 2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- Luang Prabang 2 Day Slow Boat Transfer to Houay Xay: $68
- 2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat: $60
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $20
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- Luang Prabang Private Transfers: Hotel -Railway Station - Airport: $8.40
- Shared departure transfer from Hotel to International airport: $6.67
Is it cheaper to fly into Santorini or Luang Prabang?
Prices for flights to both Luang Prabang and Santorini 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 daySantorini €96Luang Prabang €7.96
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Santorini
For Santorini, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Farm to Table Food Tour Experience in Santorini: $91
- Santorini Sunset Sailing Cruise with Greek BBQ Dinner: $91
- Cooking Class and Wine Tasting in Santorini: $103
- The Aegean Cooking Class at Ftelos Brewery: $114
- Award-Winning Santorini Cooking Class with Greek Chef: $121
- Luxury Santorini Sunset Cruise: Dinner, BBQ, Open Bar, Transfers: $126
- Cooking Class in Traditional cave house in Santorini!: $126
- Cooking Class with Private Chef - prepare & enjoy local menu: $126
- Santorini Sunset Sailing Cruise: Dinner, BBQ, Open Bar, Transfers: $126
- Yummy Santorini Food Tour: $154
- Clandestine Dinner by Petra Kouzina: $171
- Traditional Kouzina Santorini Cooking Experience: $183
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:
- The Namkhan - Kids Cooking Class: $40
- Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class: $44
- Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in: $44
- Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace: $45
- Luangprabang: Dinner with Lao Traditional Dance Performance: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Laos: Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Mekong Sunset Cruise & Lao Tasting Dinner: $49
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
- Luang Prabang Essentials Food Tour: $54
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santorini €35Luang Prabang €2.29
Tours and Activities in Santorini
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Santorini.
- (3h) Santorini Highlights Private Tour-Oia,Imerovigli & Blue Dome: $78
- (5h) Santorini Discovery Private Tour–Oia, Villages & Black Beach: $74
- *Santorini Private Luxury Tours* Custom Itinerary & Local Guide: $103
- *{Santorini Island Highlights Group Tour with Local Guide }*: $137
- 3 Hours Private Santorini Tour: $143
- 3 hours Panoramic Tour to Oia: $74
- 4 Hour Private Tour Experience in Santorini: $217
- 4 Hours Private Custom Tour in Santorini: $171
- 4 hrs PRIVATE island tour and photos, Oia and Blue domes: $154
- 4h private tour of Santorini's sights: $228
- 5 Hour Majestic Santorini Tour Designed for Cruise Passengers: $63
- 5 Hour Mini-Group Santorini Shore Excursion for Cruise Passengers: $83
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 Shared Group City Tour: $214
- Classic Tour in Luang Prabang: $90
- Classic tour in Luang Prabang (Private): $243
- Cultural Heart of Laos Private Tour in Luang Prabang: $253
- Experience Lao Authentic Cuisine at the Former Royal Palace: $55
- From 8-Day Laos Tour with Accommodation: $1,241
- From Guided Mountain Bike Tour with Lunch: $42
- From Luang Namtha Hill Tribe Tour: $540
- Full Day Mekong River Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves Adventure: $196
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantorini €25Luang Prabang €1.53
Sample the Local Flavors in Santorini
Also in Santorini, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Beer Tasting and Pairing Experience at Ftelos Brewery: $29
- Santorini Wine Tasting and Wine Pairing: $69
- Caldera Views, Cliffside Villages, and Santorinian Wine Tasting: $97
- Santorini Wine Tasting and Wine Museum: $120
- Santorini Wine Tour with sunset in Oia: $126
- 4 Hour Blue Domes Tour with Wine Tasting in Santorini: $143
- 3-Hour Wine Tasting in Santorini: $154
- Santorini Wine Tour in two or three Wineries: $154
- Santorini wine tasting and Traditional Cave Settlement Tour: $160
- Private Highlights Tour with Wine Tasting 4 or 5hour duration: $166
- Santorini Private Highlights Tour & Wine Tasting with local guide: $166
- Santorini Half Day Wine Tasting & Winery Tour with Pickup: $171
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santorini and Luang Prabang, we can see that Santorini is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Santorini is in Europe and Luang Prabang is in Asia, 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 Santorini would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santorini 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 Santorini Expensive? and Is Luang Prabang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santorini or Luang Prabang?
Santorini has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Luang Prabang. When comparing the sizes of Santorini and Luang Prabang, 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.