Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Ubud?
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 Ubud 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 Ubud 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: Ubud or Vientiane?
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos.
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Ubud Prices
Indonesia PricesVientiane Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUbud $153Vientiane $24
The average daily cost (per person) in Ubud is $153, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is $24. 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 Ubud and Vientiane in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUbud $128Vientiane $8.45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUbud $256Vientiane $17
Compare Hotels in Ubud and Vientiane
Looking for a hotel in Ubud 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: Ubud Hotel Prices and Vientiane Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ubud $1.75Vientiane $2.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- Bali Airport to Hotel: Private Arrival Transfer: $5.52
- Private Bali Airport Transfer – Fast, Safe & Comfortable Ride: $6.73
- Eco Friendly Premium Electric Vehicle Airport Transfers : $6.79
- Seamless Arrival - Bali Airport Private Transfer: $6.90
- Ubud -Airport Private Transfer: $7.00
- Private Arrival Transfer: Bali Airport to Hotel: $7.40
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bali Airport: $7.50
- Bali Airport Transfers Convenient Pickup to Popular Areas: $7.95
- Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Jimbaran Area: $8.00
- Bali Airport (DPS) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $8.02
- Bali Airport to Hotel:Arrival Private Transfer (Daytime): $8.15
- Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Denpasar APT-HTL(DPS) : $8.88
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63
- Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Ubud or Vientiane?
Prices for flights to both Vientiane and Ubud 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 dayUbud $20Vientiane $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Ubud Mystic Dinner at Oracle of Spice Lemuria The Lost City: $17
- Ubud Cooking Class with Optional Market Visit Pickup Included: $20
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Full Day Ubud Waterfall Visit and Cooking Experience: $24
- Dance Show + Dinner at Lost City - Story of Humanity : $24
- Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
- Jimbaran Beach Candle Light Dinner : $26
- Ubud Cooking Class by Lemon Grass Cooking Class: $26
- Balinese Ubud cooking school (9 Dish Cooking and Market Tour) : $26
- 8 Hours Private Balinese Cooking Class with Tirta Empul Temple: $28
- Afternoon Cooking Class & Making Bali Offering with Dinner: $29
- Uluwatu Sunset Trip with Kecak Dance Show and Jimbaran Dinner: $30
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ubud $9.84Vientiane $3.80
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Mangrove Tour at Nusa Lembongan : Kayak, Paddle and Boat: $8.00
- One Way Ticket Fast Boat from Sanur Bali and Nusa Penida : $8.92
- Bali Tour Customized with Private Tour Driver: $9.00
- ATV Adventure with Private Tracks and Guide in Ubud: $9.18
- Hike and Heal Mount Batur Sunrise Tour with Hot Springs Add On: $9.26
- Full-Day Private North Bali Tour with Free WiFi: $9.32
- Indonesia: Bali Bird Park Entry Ticket: $9.55
- Bali Scooter Guided Tours: $9.99
- Backlanes and Hidden Sites: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Seminyak: $9.99
- Jatiluwih's Rice Field Terraces: A Scenic Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Self-Guided Tour in Bali's Pura Ulun Danu Beratan Temple Complex: $9.99
- Sea to Summit Trekking Adventure on Mount Agung: $10
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
- Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $30
- Art, Culture, & Inspiration Guided Half-Day Tour: $52
- Half-Day City Tour with Patuxai and Buddha Park: $52
- Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $55
- Vientiane Landmarks and Cultural Immersion Tour: $56
- Cultural Tour with Buddha Park and Patuxay: $58
- Vientiane IG tour & Patuxay monument: $59
- Half-Day City Tour - Morning or Afternoon: $65
- Vientiane Half Day City Tour: $80
- Vientiane : Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $88
- Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $89
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUbud $6.62Vientiane $2.12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ubud and Vientiane, we can see that Ubud 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud 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 Ubud Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ubud or Vientiane?
Vientiane has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Ubud 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.
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.