Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Vang Vieng?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vang Vieng or Melbourne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne?
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.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
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 $14Melbourne $176
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $14, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $176. 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 Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.34Melbourne $118
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.68Melbourne $236
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.18Melbourne $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$10
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Tram Ride$2.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Lake Mountain Ski Resort Tour with Transfers: $947
- Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $372
- Melbourne Airport (MEL): Private Transfer to Melbourne: $319
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Southbank: $212
- MEL Airport: Minibus Private Transfer to Melbourne CBD: $205
- Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $198
- Melbourne Private Transfer to Melbourne Airport MEL in Luxury Car: $188
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Car: $188
- Ballarat - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $176
- Avalon Airport Transfers: $165
- Melbourne Airport MEL Private Transfer to Melbourne in Luxury Van: $163
- Departure Transfer from Melbourne to Melbourne Airport MEL in Van: $163
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne 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 $6.31Melbourne $30
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.60
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Pizza$4.54
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $53
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $78
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
- Pizza Making Party: $89
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $97
- Secret Food Tour: $109
- Chinese Cooking Class Master: $118
- Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $122
- Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $129
- Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.87Melbourne $27
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
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Penguin Island Tour from Melbourne Penguins express: $79
- 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $125
- 12 Apostles Great Ocean Road Eco Tour with lunch from Melbourne: $109
- 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $800
- 2-Hour Farm Experience in Gateway Yarra Valley: $66
- 2024 Mt Buller, Melbourne Snow and Sightseeing Day Tour: $92
- 3 Hour Rainforest Walking Tour in Badger Creek: $40
- 3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Small-Group Tour: $1,486
- 3.5 Hours Group tour Melbourne trouble-makers tour: $44
- 3/4 Day Sports Lovers Bus Tour of Melbourne with Tour Options: $178
- 4 Hours Sightseeing Small Group Tour in Melbourne City: $40
- African Cat Experience at Werribee Open Range Zoo - excl. entry: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.14Melbourne $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.03
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Pub Crawl: $17
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $19
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $25
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
- Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $86
- Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne: $102
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $116
- Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $127
- Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $139
- Wine Tour Yarra Valley, Vic - inc. 2 course lunch + glass of wine: $165
- Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake : $172
- Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $178
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne 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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Melbourne, 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 Melbourne?
Melbourne 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 Melbourne in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Also, the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
In July, Vang Vieng is generally a little warmer than Melbournein January. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 22°C (72°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Melbourne this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives less sunshine than Melbourne during summer. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Vang Vieng usually receives around the same amount of rain as Melbournein January. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Melbourne in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Melbourne. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Melbourne in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the autumn, Vang Vieng often gets more sunshine than Melbournein April. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun.
Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in October than Melbournein April. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Melbourne in the Winter?
Both Melbourne 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 Melbourne in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vang Vieng in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Melbourne averages at about 9°C (49°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during winter. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Melbournein July. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Melbourne in the Spring?
Both Melbourne 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Melbourne for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Vang Vieng is generally much warmer than Melbournein October. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. In the spring, Vang Vieng often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Melbournein October. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in April than Melbournein October. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Melbourne | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.