Which place is cheaper, Picton or Vang Vieng?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vang Vieng or Picton?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Picton? 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 Picton?
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.
Picton
Picton, New Zealand is located in the picturesque Marlborough Region on the South Island. With beachfront access in a central location and near the Marlborough Sounds, Picton is an ideal place for anyone looking for both adventure and relaxation in one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world.
The weather in Picton is fairly mild, ranging from the low fifties to high sixties, Fahrenheit, throughout the year. Their summer months are December through March, this is when you'll find temperatures in the high sixties. During the winter, June through August, Picton experiences averages of fifty degree Fahrenheit. This means you can visit any time of the year without having to worry about weather inhibiting any of your outdoor activities!
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Auckland, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $14Picton $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $14, while the average daily cost in Picton is $87. 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 Picton in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.34Picton $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.68Picton $74
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Picton
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Picton? 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 Picton Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.18Picton -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Picton
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Picton:
- Private Transfer from Blenheim Airport (BHE) to Picton Port: $46
- Private Transfer from Picton Port to Blenheim Airport (BHE): $46
- Private Transfer from Picton Cruise Port to Blenheim City Hotels: $38
- Private Transfer from Blenheim city hotels to Picton Cruise Port: $38
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Picton?
Prices for flights to both Picton 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 $6.31Picton $20
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.87Picton $109
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Half-Day Nam Song River Kayak Tour with Zipline or Tham None: $27
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $35
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $39
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Train ticket Vang vieng to Luang prabang: $50
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $50
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Discover Vang Vieng Private Tour- Trekking, Kayaking and Caving: $102
- Vang Vieng Tour A - Blue lagoon 3 with Caves and Zipline: $110
- Jungle & Caves Full-Day Private Trekking Tour: $120
- Full Day Private Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave Tour: $156
Tours and Activities in Picton
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Picton are as follows:
- 1-Day Cruise in Queen Charlotte Track & Kupes Trail Walk: $118
- 2 hour Dolphin Viewing Eco-Tour from Picton: $91
- 3.5 Hour Marlborough Sounds Delivery Cruise: $67
- Bays and Bush Scenic Tour: $97
- Bird Watching and Dolphin Eco-Tour from Picton: $91
- CRUISE SHIP DAY Hop on Hop off Yealands & Marlborough tour: $121
- Captain Cook and Dolphin Cruise: $90
- Cruise Excursion - Wines of Marlborough Tour: $103
- Cruise Ship Day - Marlborough: $60
- Cruise and Lunch at Furneaux Lodge: $82
- Day Cruise & Lunch at Punga Cove Resort: $81
- Early Bird Eco Cruise: $73
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.14Picton $35
Sample the Local Flavors in Picton
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Picton:
- Self-Guided Biking Wine Tour (full day) in the Marlborough Region.: $37
- Self-Guided Wine Tours by Bike with Steve & Jo in Marlborough : $40
- Marlborough: Hop On Hop Off Wine, Brewery, and Wonders Tour: $53
- Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Marlborough: $54
- Marlborough Afternoon Wine Tour with Tastings: $70
- Half-Day Wine Tour from Blenheim: $87
- Half-Day Wine Tour from Picton: $88
- Discover Marlborough Wine - Afternoon Marlborough Wine Tour : $90
- Morning Guided with Afternoon Self-Guided Biking Wine Tour: $91
- Marlborough Discovery Sampler Wine Tour - 1/2Day Blenheim: $97
- Taste the Valley Wine Tour in Marlborough with Wine Tasting: $100
- Half-Day Marlborough Wine Tour & Beer Tour : $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Picton, we can see that Picton 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 Picton 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 Picton would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Picton 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 Picton Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Picton?
Vang Vieng has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Picton. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Picton, 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 Picton?
Picton 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 Picton in the Summer?
Both Picton 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. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Picton because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.
Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Picton in the summer. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Picton fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in January.
Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Pictonin January. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Picton receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Picton 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Picton in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Picton. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Picton this time of year.
In the autumn, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Picton. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vang Vieng in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Picton averages at about 15°C (58°F)in April.
In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Pictonin April. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Picton receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Picton 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Picton in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Picton. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Picton for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In January, Vang Vieng is generally much warmer than Pictonin July. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 24°C (75°F), and Picton fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
It's quite rainy in Picton. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in January than Pictonin July. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Picton receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Picton 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Picton in the Spring?
Both Picton 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, many visitors come to Picton in the spring for the beaches and the small town charm.
Vang Vieng is much warmer than Picton in the spring. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Picton fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in October.
It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Pictonin October. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Picton receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Picton 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Picton and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Picton | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 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.