Which place is cheaper, Nara or Vang Vieng?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Nara? 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.
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.
As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $14, while the average daily cost in Nara is $86. 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 Nara in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Nara? 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nara:
Prices for flights to both Nara 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Nara, we can see that Nara 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 Nara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nara 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 Nara Expensive?.
Nara has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Nara, 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.
Nara has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vang Vieng experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Nara 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. Furthermore, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Nara this time of year.
In July, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Nara. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 22°C (72°F), and Nara fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Nara. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 183 hours of full sun.
Nara gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Nara. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Nara receives 186 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Nara. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Nara for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Nara in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Nara fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Nara during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 159 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Nara receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Nara. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Nara receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Nara. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Nara in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Nara can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Nara. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vang Vieng in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Nara averages at about 4°C (40°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the winter, Vang Vieng often gets more sunshine than Nara. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nara receives 140 hours of full sun.
Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in January than Nara. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Nara receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
Both Nara 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, most visitors come to Nara for the natural beauty during these months.
In April, Vang Vieng is generally much warmer than Nara. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Nara fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Nara during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Nara receives 176 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Nara. It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Nara. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Nara receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Vang Vieng | Nara | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 60 mm (2.3 in) |
Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 128 mm (5.1 in) |
Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 214 mm (8.4 in) |
Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 186 mm (7.3 in) |
Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |