A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vang Vieng vs. Madrid for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Madrid?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Madrid? 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 Madrid?

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.

Madrid

Madrid, the capital of Spain, overs visitors countless opportunities to experience Spain's culture, art, cuisine, and nightlife. It is the largest city in Spain, and as such has much to explore. The city is situated on the Iberian Peninsula on the Spanish central Castillian plateau. If you're flying into Spain, you'll likely fly into the Madrid airport as it's one of the largest airports in Europe. Madrid is well connected to the rest of Spain with planes, trains and buses, making it a popular place to visit for many travelers doing a European tour.

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 Barcelona, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, Madrid 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.

  • Vang Vieng Prices
    Laos Prices
    Madrid Prices
    Spain Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Vang Vieng $19
    Madrid $189

The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, while the average daily cost in Madrid is $189. 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 Madrid in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Vang Vieng $4.25
    Madrid $91
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Vang Vieng $8.50
    Madrid $182
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Madrid

Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Madrid? 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.

Hotels in Vang Vieng


Hotels in Madrid


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 Madrid Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Vang Vieng $3.11
    Madrid $22

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Madrid

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Madrid are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Madrid

Also for Madrid, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Moratalla to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $273
  • Private Transfer from Bolnuevo to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $254
  • Private Transfer to Toledo or Segovia from Madrid: $240
  • Private Transfer from La Manga strip dos Mares to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $237
  • Private Transfer from Madrid to Avila: $228
  • Private Transfer from La Manga Club to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $227
  • Private Transfer from Corvera Golf Resort to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $218
  • Private Transfer from Cieza to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $205
  • Private Transfer from El Verger to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $191
  • Private Transfer from La Torre Golf to Alicante–Elche (ALC) Airport: $182
  • Private Transfer from Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort to Alicante (ALC) Airport: $180
  • Madrid Airport MAD Round-Trip Transfer in Private Van: $180

Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Madrid?

Prices for flights to both Madrid 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Vang Vieng $11
    Madrid $69

Typical Food Prices in Madrid

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Madrid:


  • Coffee
    $2.35
  • Ice Cream
    $3.52
  • Kebabs (for 2)
    $19
  • Croissant
    $1.76
  • Lunch at Airport (for 2)
    $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Madrid

For Madrid, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Corral de la Moreria Madrid Flamenco Show with Optional Dinner: $60
  • Local Flamenco Show with dinner at El Cortijo: $60
  • Zarzuela Opera and Dinner at La Castafiore Restaurant in Madrid: $66
  • Madrid Old Town Tour & Flamenco Show with Optional Dinner: $71
  • Chocolate & Churros Cooking Class in Madrid : $72
  • Madrid's Authentic Culture & Food Tour by Food Lover Tour: $78
  • 10 Tapas Cooking Class Experience in Madrid with Sangria: $82
  • Paella and Tapas Cooking Workshop in Madrid: $84
  • Madrid Spanish Omelet Cooking Class and Bottomless Wine brunch: $90
  • Spanish Cooking Class Paella Tapas and Sangria in Madrid: $102
  • Flamenco Show at Tablao La Carmela with Tapas Dinner: $106
  • Madrid Small Group Tapas Tour at 4 Venues -Lunch or Dinner: $108

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Vang Vieng $4.76
    Madrid $39

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
  • 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 Hot Air Balloon Experience and Longtail Boat: $137
  • Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Kayak Zipline,Blue lagoon1 Tour: $148
  • Vang Vieng Jungle Day Tour: $58
  • Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $65

Tours and Activities in Madrid

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Madrid.

  • El Pardo Royal Palace Entry Ticket: $20
  • Madrid Tapas & Taverns Small Group Food & History Tour: $95
  • Ávila & Segovia and Alcazar Day Tour from Madrid lunch included: $215
  • 2 Days Guided Cultural Tour in Madrid Royal Palace and 3 Museums : $228
  • 2 Hour Madrid City Expert Tour : $203
  • 3 Hours Bike tour from the City center to Santiago Bernabeu and it's Museum: $109
  • 3-hour experience on the Redován K2 Family Via Ferrata: $49
  • 30 Minutes of Jet Ski Adventure on the Coast of Alicante: $106
  • A Self-Guided Tour of El Retiro Park’s Rise, Ruin and Redemption: $9.99
  • A local's A self-guided audio tour: $9.99
  • ANGLE - Experience Madrid With a Local Photographer: $255
  • Afternoon Segovia Tour with Cathedral & Alcazar Visit from Madrid: $83

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Vang Vieng $1.11
    Madrid $23

Typical Alcohol Prices in Madrid

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Madrid are as follows:


  • Beer
    $5.87
  • Drinks and Tapas (for 2)
    $15

Sample the Local Flavors in Madrid

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Madrid:

  • Visit to the Winery with Wine Tasting and Appetizers in Navarra: $12
  • Madrid Pub Crawl with VIP Club Entrance: $12
  • Pub Crawl Madrid by Mad Party Crew: $20
  • Pub Crawl Madrid-The Original since 2005-Shots-Fun-Clubs-Dance: $30
  • Wine Tour with tasting in the Natural Park of La Mata: $38
  • Wine Tasting in Madrid Experience: $55
  • Toledo Tour with Tapas, Wine Tasting and Optional 3 Monuments: $58
  • Madrid Royal Palace Small Group Guided Tour with Wine Tasting: $71
  • New Year Eve Madrid Pub Crawl: $83
  • Toledo Full Day with Winery Visit, Tapas & Wine Tasting : $83
  • Spanish Wine Tasting : $90
  • Madrid Ultimate Spanish Cuisine Food & Wine Tour : $95


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Madrid, we can see that Madrid 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 Madrid is in Europe, 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 Madrid would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Madrid 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 Madrid Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Madrid?

Madrid has a larger population, and is about 120 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Madrid, 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.