Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Antigua Guatemala? 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 Antigua Guatemala?
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.
Antigua Guatemala
Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesAntigua Guatemala Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $18Antigua Guatemala $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $18, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $74. 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 Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.08Antigua Guatemala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.16Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Antigua Guatemala
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Antigua Guatemala? 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 Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $2.99Antigua Guatemala $13
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 Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Antigua: One way private transfer to Panajachel: $194
- Private Transfer from Antigua to Semuc Champey Lanquin: $145
- Private transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $90
- Private Transfer from the Airport to Antigua: $90
- From Antigua: Transfer to Guatemala City: $85
- Private Transfer Antigua Guatemala to Monterrico Beach: $85
- One way shared transfer to Flores, Peten: $79
- Private Transfer from Antigua to the Airport: $77
- Antigua: One way private transfer to Guatemala City: $69
- Antigua: One way shared transfer to Semuc Champey, Lanquin: $49
- Shared transfer from Guatemala city Airport to Panajachel: $44
- transfer service Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan destination: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala 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 $10Antigua Guatemala $25
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:
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Lunch$3.27
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Lunch$7.85
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala
For Antigua Guatemala, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan: $38
- Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.: $38
- Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family: $48
- Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
- Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
- Cooking Classes and Jade Workshops: $75
- Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75
- Guatemalan Mayan Cooking Workshop: $75
- Cooking Class With Local Family: $84
- Antigua Local: Evening Street Food Tour with Dinner: $84
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.58Antigua Guatemala $15
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- 1 Day Guided Tour in Cave from Vang Vieng: $175
- BBQ Lunch Cruise on Nam Ngum Lake: $50
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour in Vang Vieng: $180
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng: $50
- Paramotor Experience in Vang Vieng Laos: $165
- Vang Vieng 1-Day Cave Exploration Tour with Guide: $175
- Vang Vieng Adventure Day Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Cave Tubing: $75
- Vang Vieng Day Tour - Longtail boat, Paragliding: $175
- Vang Vieng Day Tour: Zipline, Water Cave, Kayak & Blue Lagoon 3: $52
- Vang Vieng Full Day Adventure Blue Lagoon 3: $225
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- ¡Pacaya Volcano Tour from Antigua!: $100
- 2-Day Kayak and Hike Adventure Package from Antigua: $219
- 2-Day, 1-Night Tour of Volcano Acatenango from Antigua: $92
- 2in1 Tour: Avocado Farm + Private Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $220
- 3-Hour Chateau Defay Vineyard Tour in Central America: $170
- 4-Hour Colonial Experience in Antigua Guatemala: $25
- 4WD Acatenango Volcano Tour & Fuego / All Inclusive !: $400
- 4WD experience to Acatenango Volcano/Fuego Volcano from Antigua: $333
- 4x4 tour from Antigua with a night camp in front of the Fuego volcano: $1,300
- ANTIGUA Villages Tour: $103
- ATV Off Road Adventure at Pacaya Volcano from Antigua: $99
- ATV Tour of the Pacaya Volcano Lava Fields: $150
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.07Antigua Guatemala $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:
- Antigua Bar Crawl: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala is in Central America, 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 Antigua Guatemala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Antigua Guatemala?
Antigua Guatemala has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Antigua Guatemala, 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.