Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan 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 Gili Trawangan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Gili Trawangan? 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 Gili Trawangan?
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.
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.
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Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesGili Trawangan Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $19Gili Trawangan $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan is $40. 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 Gili Trawangan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.25Gili Trawangan $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.50Gili Trawangan $46
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Gili Trawangan
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Gili Trawangan? 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 Gili Trawangan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.11Gili Trawangan $2.65
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan
Also for Gili Trawangan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gili Trawangan Luxury Speedboat Transfer to Bali: $24
- Private Speedboat transfer Between Lombok and Gili Islands: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Gili Trawangan?
Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan 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 $11Gili Trawangan $12
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indonesian Food Cooking Class of Gili Air: $33
- Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes: $33
- Gili Trawangan Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise with snorkeling: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.76Gili Trawangan $3.82
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
- 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
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike and Blue Lagoon Tour: $79
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Vang Vieng 1-Day Cave Exploration Tour with Guide: $175
- Vang Vieng Ballooning Adventures: $260
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $49
- Vang Vieng Day Tour - Longtail boat, Paragliding: $175
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Experience and Longtail Boat: $137
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Kayak Zipline,Blue lagoon1 Tour: $148
Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4-in-1 • Gili Islands Half-day Snorkel & Lunch Catamaran Tour: $104
- 4-in-1 • Gili Islands Snorkel & Sunset Half-day Catamaran Cruise: $104
- From Gili Islands Snorkeling Boat Tour: $15
- From Lombok Beaches and Culture Tour: $84
- Gili Air 1 Hour Horseback Beach Adventure: $46
- Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Cruise: $83
- Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Sunset Cruise: $83
- Gili Islands Day Tour and Snorkeling at Turtle Points: $76
- Gili Islands Snorkel Tour - Explore an Underwater Paradise: $16
- Gili Islands: 4-in-1 Catamaran Snorkeling Experience: $106
- Gili Meno Horse Riding Adventure on the Beach for 1 Hour: $42
- Gili Trawangan 3 Island Half day Cruise with BBQ Lunch and Snorkeling : $91
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.11Gili Trawangan $3.53
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Gili Trawangan is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Gili Trawangan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gili Trawangan 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 Gili Trawangan Expensive?.
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.