Which place is cheaper, Cairns or Vang Vieng?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vang Vieng or Cairns?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Cairns? 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 Cairns?
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.
Cairns
Most travelers go to Cairns specifically to visit Great Barrier Reef. The city itself is surprisingly large and cosmopolitan with a population of approximately 140,000. The city's economy is almost exclusively based on tourism, although you will find some jobs centered around agriculture, or more specifically sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tea, wine, and some tropical fruits. The city itself is surrounded by rainforest and makes a great base for exploring Kuranda, with the Barron Gorge National Park and the Daintree offering a quieter tropical getaway than Cairns.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos, The Best Contiki Tours to Australia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $14Cairns $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $14, while the average daily cost in Cairns is $94. 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 Cairns in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.34Cairns $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.68Cairns $86
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Cairns
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Cairns? 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 Cairns Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.18Cairns $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cairns
Also for Cairns, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Hot Air Balloon Flight with Transfers: $653
- Cairns to Mission Beach (ONE WAY) Private Transfer 1 to 6 pax: $277
- Cairns Airport(CNS) to Port Douglas - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $268
- Mercedes-Benz S Class Transfers Cairns Airport - Port Douglas : $254
- Luxury Van, Private Transfer, Cairns Airport - Port Douglas.: $254
- Cairns Airport(CNS) to Cairns City - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $247
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Private Transfer to Cairns city hotels: $241
- IMAX Private Transfer 7 Guests Cairns Airport to Hotels in Port Douglas : $225
- Cairns Airport Private Transfers: $184
- Cairns Airport to Luxury Transfers Port Douglas: $170
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Private Transfer to Palm Cove hotels: $168
- Cairns Airport (CNS): Transfer to Port Douglas hotels: $168
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Cairns?
Prices for flights to both Cairns 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 $6.31Cairns $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cairns
For Cairns, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cairns Luxury Catamaran Harbor and Dinner Cruise: $85
- Night at the Aquarium Guided Tour & 2 Course Dinner: $91
- Guided Twilight Tour with 3-Course Dinner: $117
- City Sights Tour with Evening Dinner Cruise: $149
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.87Cairns $37
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Discover Vang Vieng Private Tour- Trekking, Kayaking and Caving: $102
- Full Day Private Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave Tour: $156
- Half-Day Nam Song River Kayak Tour with Zipline or Tham None: $27
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Train ticket Vang vieng to Luang prabang: $50
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $39
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $35
- Vang Vieng Tour A - Blue lagoon 3 with Caves and Zipline: $110
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $50
- Jungle & Caves Full-Day Private Trekking Tour: $120
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cairns
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Cairns's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Scuba Diving$36
Tours and Activities in Cairns
For Cairns, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kuranda Rainforestation Nature Park Ticket (BNP): $43
- 3B Daintree Rainforest, Mossman Gorge, Crocodile Wildlife Cruise: $188
- Atherton Tablelands, Waterfalls and Rainforest Tour from Cairns: $98
- Atherton Tablelands: Lakes, Waterfalls, Rainforest Day Tour: $97
- Authentic Indigenous Cultural Tour Including Scenic River Cruise: $92
- Barron Gorge and Kuranda National Park Half Day Rainforest and Waterfall 4WD Tour from Cairns: $120
- Cairns 4WD Rainforest Waterfall Tour Including a GBR Island Tour: $242
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission & Coral Conservation Tour: $52
- Cairns Aquarium General Admission Ticket: $34
- Cairns Aquarium Turtle Hospital and City Sightseeing Tour: $116
- Cairns Aquarium and small group City Sightseeing Tour: $125
- Cairns Botanic Gardens: Mushroom Photography Tour: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.14Cairns $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Cairns
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Cairns:
- Cairns Brewery Tours: $139
- From Atherton Tablelands Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $160
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Cairns, we can see that Cairns 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 Cairns is in Pacific, 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 Cairns would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cairns 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 Cairns Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Cairns?
Cairns has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Cairns, 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 Cairns?
Cairns 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 Cairns in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Cairns. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Cairns this time of year.
Vang Vieng is cooler than Cairns in the summer. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Cairns fluctuates around 29°C (84°F)in January.
Cairns receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Cairnsin January. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 429 mm (16.9 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Cairns 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Cairns in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Cairns. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many travelers come to Cairns for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Vang Vieng is cooler than Cairns. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vang Vieng in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Cairns averages at about 27°C (80°F)in April.
It's quite rainy in Cairns. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in October than Cairnsin April. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 273 mm (10.8 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to October in Cairns is the dry season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Cairns in the Winter?
Both Cairns and Vang Vieng are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Cairns in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Vang Vieng is generally around the same temperature as Cairnsin July. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 24°C (75°F), and Cairns fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In January, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Cairnsin July. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Cairns 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Cairns in the Spring?
Both Cairns and Vang Vieng during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Cairns for the beaches during these months.
Vang Vieng is cooler than Cairns in the spring. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Cairns fluctuates around 27°C (80°F)in October.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in April than Cairnsin October. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Cairns receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. April to October is the dry season in Cairns. November to March is the rainy season in Cairns.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Cairns 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Cairns and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Cairns | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 429 mm (16.9 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 469 mm (18.5 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 471 mm (18.5 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 273 mm (10.8 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 62 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 211 mm (8.3 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.