Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo?
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.
Lake Tekapo
Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.
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 New Zealand, and The Best Contiki Tours to New Zealand.
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Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesLake Tekapo Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $19Lake Tekapo $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, while the average daily cost in Lake Tekapo is $84. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.25Lake Tekapo $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.50Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Lake Tekapo
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.11Lake Tekapo -
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Lake Tekapo?
Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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 $11Lake Tekapo $22
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.76Lake Tekapo -
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Vangrong Full Day Tour: $45
- Vang Vieng Shared Tour with Kayaking in Nam Song River: $48
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $49
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Vangrong One Day Shared Tour: $52
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Vang Vieng Jungle Day Tour: $58
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $65
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $65
- Vang Vieng River Kayaking Rapid and Float Tour: $65
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike and Blue Lagoon Tour: $79
Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo
Here are a few actual costs in Lake Tekapo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $72
- Christchurch: Mt Cook Full-Day Private Tour via Lake Tekapo: $172
- Christchurch: to Queenstown via Mt Cook 1 Way Tour: $234
- Dark Sky Indoor Maori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $36
- Highlights Tour with Tasting & Sunset in Oia: $116
- Lake Tekapo Fishing Tour: $193
- Lake Tekapo Guided 4WD Tours (Small Group, Carbon Positive): $175
- Lake Tekapo High Country Farm Tour (Carbon Positive): $87
- Lake Tekapo Scenic 4WD Cass Valley Wilderness Tour: $204
- Lake Tekapo Scenic Wilderness Cass Valley Tour: $209
- Lake Tekapo Ultimate Stargazing Experience: $119
- Lake Tekapo to Mt Cook One-Way Small Group Tour: $99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.11Lake Tekapo -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Lake Tekapo, we can see that Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Lake Tekapo?
Vang Vieng has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Lake Tekapo, 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.