Which place is cheaper, Akureyri or Vang Vieng?
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 Vang Vieng or Akureyri?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Akureyri? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Vang Vieng or Akureyri?
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.
Akureyri
Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland.
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Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesAkureyri Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $18Akureyri $191
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $18, while the average daily cost in Akureyri is $191. 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 Vang Vieng and Akureyri in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.08Akureyri $104
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.16Akureyri $208
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Akureyri
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Akureyri? 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: Vang Vieng Hotel Prices and Akureyri Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $2.99Akureyri $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vang Vieng
Also for Vang Vieng, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared transfer from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang city: $20
- Vang Vieng Private Transfer: Hotel - Railway Station - Vientiane: $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Akureyri
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Akureyri:
- Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Port: $141
- From Godafoss Waterfall Guided Trip with Transfers: $129
- Transfer to Akureyri Airport from your Stay: $32
- Seamless Transfer from Akureyri Airport to Your Stay: $32
- Akureyri Airport (AEY): Transfer to/from Akureyri City: $32
- Transfer from Accommodation to Akureyri Airport: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Akureyri?
Prices for flights to both Akureyri and Vang Vieng 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 dayVang Vieng $10Akureyri $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.58Akureyri $19
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Nam Song River Kayak Tour: $18
- Tham Nangfar and Tham Nam Day Tour with Kayaking: $24
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $38
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng: $50
- Vang Vieng Zipline & Kayaking Cave Adventure: $50
- BBQ Lunch Cruise on Nam Ngum Lake: $50
- Kayaking&Zipline&Cave Tubing&cave tour: $51
- Vang Vieng Day Tour: Zipline, Water Cave, Kayak & Blue Lagoon 3: $52
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Vang Vieng Jungle Day Tour: $58
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
Tours and Activities in Akureyri
Here are a few actual costs in Akureyri for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Akureyri Lake Myvatn Godafoss and Lava Fields Tour: $180
- Akureyri Port: Dettifoss, Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn Tour: $293
- Akureyri Port: Goðafoss and Akureyri Botanical Garden Tour: $170
- Akureyri Port: Goðafoss and the Forest Lagoon Tour: $203
- Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Classic Tour & Viewpoint: $81
- Akureyri Port: Hot Godafoss Waterfall Tour & The Forest Lagoon: $158
- Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Guided Tour with Lunch: $328
- Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn and Godafoss Waterfall Tour: $182
- Akureyri Port: Myvatn Nature Baths & Godafoss Waterfall Tour: $246
- Akureyri Private Walking Tour: $169
- 3-Day Northern Lights, Whales, & Lagoon Tour: $533
- 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour by Ship: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.07Akureyri $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Akureyri, we can see that Akureyri is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Vang Vieng is in Asia and Akureyri is in Europe, 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 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 Akureyri would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Akureyri 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 Vang Vieng Expensive? and Is Akureyri Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Akureyri?
Vang Vieng has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of Akureyri. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Akureyri, 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 Vang Vieng or Akureyri?
Akureyri has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vang Vieng experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Akureyri in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Akureyri. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Akureyri. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Akureyri averages at about 11°C (52°F).
In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Akureyri. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 158 hours of full sun.
Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in July than Akureyri. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Akureyri 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Akureyri in the Autumn?
Both Akureyri and Vang Vieng are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.
Akureyri can be very cold during autumn. In October, Vang Vieng is generally much warmer than Akureyri. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Akureyri fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Akureyri during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 52 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Akureyri. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Akureyri 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Akureyri in the Winter?
Both Akureyri and Vang Vieng during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The weather in Akureyri can be very cold. Vang Vieng is much warmer than Akureyri in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Akureyri fluctuates around -2°C (28°F).
It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. In the winter, Vang Vieng often gets more sunshine than Akureyri. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 7 hours of full sun.
Vang Vieng usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Akureyri. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Akureyri -2°C (28°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Akureyri in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Akureyri. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.
It's quite cold in Akureyri in the spring. In the spring, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Akureyri. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Akureyri averages at about 2°C (36°F).
In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Akureyri during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 130 hours of full sun in the spring.
Vang Vieng gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Akureyri. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Akureyri 2°C (36°F)
Typical Weather for Akureyri and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Akureyri | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 53 mm (2.1 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.