Which place is cheaper, Fraser Island or Vang Vieng?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vang Vieng or Fraser Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Fraser Island? 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 Fraser Island?
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.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.
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 Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $14Fraser Island $206
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $14, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $206. 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 Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.34Fraser Island $102
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.68Fraser Island $204
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Fraser Island
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Fraser Island? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.18Fraser Island $92
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island 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 $6.31Fraser Island $47
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.87Fraser Island $44
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Half-Day Nam Song River Kayak Tour with Zipline or Tham None: $27
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $35
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $39
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Train ticket Vang vieng to Luang prabang: $50
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $50
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Discover Vang Vieng Private Tour- Trekking, Kayaking and Caving: $102
- Vang Vieng Tour A - Blue lagoon 3 with Caves and Zipline: $110
- Jungle & Caves Full-Day Private Trekking Tour: $120
- Full Day Private Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave Tour: $156
Tours and Activities in Fraser Island
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:
- 2 Hours Hervey Bay Funset Cruise: $52
- Hervey Bay Ultimate Whale Watching Cruise: $72
- Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise: $98
- Hervey Bay: Best Value Half Day Whale Watching Cruise : $79
- Hervey Bay: Half Day Whale watching & Island Stop Tour: $109
- K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour: $180
- K'gari/2-Day Tagalong Tour from Hervey Bay: $340
- Remote Fraser Island Experience: $164
- Remote K'gari (Fraser Island) & Whale Experience: $164
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.14Fraser Island $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Fraser Island?
Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island in the Summer?
Both Fraser Island and Vang Vieng during the summer 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, the summer months attract visitors to Fraser Island because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Fraser Islandin January. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 22°C (72°F), and Fraser Island fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Fraser Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Fraser Islandin January. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Fraser Island 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Fraser Island in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Fraser Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Also, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Fraser Island this time of year.
Vang Vieng is around the same temperature as Fraser Island in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 22°C (72°F)in April.
In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Fraser Islandin April. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Fraser Island 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Fraser Island in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Fraser Island. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Fraser Island for the cuisine.
In the winter, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Fraser Island. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vang Vieng in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Fraser Island averages at about 15°C (59°F)in July.
Vang Vieng usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Fraser Islandin July. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Fraser Island 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Fraser Island in the Spring?
Both Fraser Island and Vang Vieng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Fraser Island in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In April, Vang Vieng is generally around the same temperature as Fraser Islandin October. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Fraser Island fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Fraser Islandin October. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Fraser Island 21°C (71°F)
Typical Weather for Fraser Island and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Fraser Island | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.