A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Turku vs. Vientiane for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Turku or Vientiane?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Turku or Vientiane, 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: Turku or Vientiane?

Turku

Turku, a city on the southwest coast of Finland, straddles the Aura River. Dating from the 13th century, it's known for Turku Castle, a medieval fortress with a history museum, perched at the river mouth. Restaurants line the cobbled riverside streets. On the eastern bank lies the Old Great Square, a former trade hub, surrounded by grand buildings. The nearby Turku Cathedral houses a royal tomb and a museum. The historic castle and cathedral point to the city's rich cultural history when it was the Finnish capital, and contemporary Turku is full of experimental art and vibrant festivals, thanks in part to its spirited university population (the country's second largest), who make Turku's nightlife young and fun. As the first city many visitors encounter arriving by ferry from Sweden and Aland, it's a splendid introduction to the Finnish mainland.

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 Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos.


Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Turku?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Turku Prices
    Finland Prices
    Vientiane Prices
    Laos Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Turku 159
    Vientiane 20

The average daily cost (per person) in Turku is €159, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is €20. 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 Turku and Vientiane in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Turku 76
    Vientiane 7.17
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Turku 152
    Vientiane 14
Compare Hotels in Turku and Vientiane

Looking for a hotel in Turku 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.

Hotels in Turku


Hotels in Vientiane


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: Turku Hotel Prices and Vientiane Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Turku 44
    Vientiane 1.70

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Turku

Also for Turku, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku (TKU) Airport to City centre: $81
  • Turku Private Transfer from Turku city centre to Turku airport: $81

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    3.52

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:

  • Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63
  • Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
  • Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
  • Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90

Is it cheaper to fly into Turku or Vientiane?

Prices for flights to both Vientiane and Turku 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Turku 56
    Vientiane 10

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.

  • Vientiane classic Food tour ( Included Food ): $78
  • Night Market, Dinner, and Nightclub: $90
  • Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour and Lunch: $95
  • Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour: $122
  • Cooking Class Garden House: $335

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Turku 22
    Vientiane 3.23

Tours and Activities in Turku

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Turku.

  • Guided River Cruise with Scenic Views & History: $34
  • Full-Day Boat Tour to Nauvo Island: $80
  • Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $109
  • Full-Day Boat Tour to Seili Island: $112
  • 2-hour Best Intro Walking Tour with a Local: $164
  • Experience Turku with a local guide: $289
  • Gems of the Archipelago Sea 3-Day Kayaking Tour: $886
  • Floating Sauna Cruise: $1,477

Tours and Activities in Vientiane

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:

  • Vientiane Cultural Tour with Private Guide: $110
  • 1-Day Tour to Vang Vieng with Private Guide: $200
  • 1-Day Vientiane City Adventure: Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $110
  • From Plain of Jars Tour & Homestay: $1,650
  • From Vang Vieng 2-Day Tour with Blue Lagoon: $354
  • From Vang Vieng Tour with Cave Kayak & Zipline: $113
  • Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $99
  • Half Day Private Tour in City Highlights: $120
  • Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $90
  • Lao Arts Museum & City Highlights Tour with Lunch: $122
  • Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
  • Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Turku 12
    Vientiane 1.80


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Turku and Vientiane, we can see that Turku is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Turku is in Europe and Vientiane 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 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 Turku would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Turku 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 Turku Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Turku or Vientiane?

Vientiane has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Turku. When comparing the sizes of Turku and Vientiane, 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 Turku or Vientiane?

Turku has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vientiane experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Turku or Vientiane in the Summer?

Both Vientiane and Turku during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.

In July, Turku is generally much colder than Vientiane. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 16°C (61°F), and Vientiane fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).

It's quite sunny in Turku. In the summer, Turku often gets more sunshine than Vientiane. Turku gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 141 hours of full sun.

Vientiane gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Turku usually gets less rain in July than Vientiane. Turku gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Turku 16°C (61°F) 
    Vientiane 30°C (85°F)

Should I visit Turku or Vientiane in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Turku and Vientiane. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Turku is much colder than Vientiane in the autumn. The daily temperature in Turku averages around 6°C (43°F) in October, and Vientiane fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. Turku usually receives less sunshine than Vientiane during autumn. Turku gets 90 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 222 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Turku usually receives less rain than Vientiane. Turku gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Turku 6°C (43°F) 
    Vientiane 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Turku or Vientiane in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Turku as well as Vientiane. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Turku. In the winter, Turku is much colder than Vientiane. Typically, the winter temperatures in Turku in January average around -6°C (20°F), and Vientiane averages at about 24°C (75°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. In the winter, Turku often gets less sunshine than Vientiane. Turku gets 39 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vientiane receives 254 hours of full sun.

Turku usually gets more rain in January than Vientiane. Turku gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Turku -6°C (20°F) 
    Vientiane 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Turku or Vientiane in the Spring?

Both Vientiane and Turku are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Turku can get quite cold in the spring. It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. In April, Turku is generally much colder than Vientiane. Daily temperatures in Turku average around 3°C (37°F), and Vientiane fluctuates around 31°C (88°F).

It's quite sunny in Vientiane. Turku usually receives less sunshine than Vientiane during spring. Turku gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Vientiane receives 230 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Turku usually receives less rain than Vientiane. Turku gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Vientiane receives 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Turku 3°C (37°F) 
    Vientiane 31°C (88°F)

Typical Weather for Vientiane and Turku

Turku Vientiane
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -6°C (20°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 24°C (75°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 26°C (79°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)
Mar -3°C (27°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 29°C (85°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Apr 3°C (37°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 31°C (88°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
May 9°C (49°F) 33 mm (1.3 in) 30°C (87°F) 255 mm (10 in)
Jun 14°C (58°F) 38 mm (1.5 in) 30°C (86°F) 273 mm (10.7 in)
Jul 16°C (61°F) 74 mm (2.9 in) 30°C (85°F) 266 mm (10.5 in)
Aug 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.2 in) 29°C (85°F) 323 mm (12.7 in)
Sep 10°C (51°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 29°C (84°F) 295 mm (11.6 in)
Oct 6°C (43°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 28°C (83°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 1°C (33°F) 67 mm (2.6 in) 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in)
Dec -4°C (25°F) 57 mm (2.3 in) 24°C (74°F) 3 mm (0.1 in)