Which place is cheaper, Ponce 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 Ponce?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Ponce? 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 Ponce?
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.
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, and The Best Budget Tours to Laos.
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Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesPonce Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $19Ponce $230
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, while the average daily cost in Ponce is $230. 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 Ponce in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.25Ponce $151
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.50Ponce $302
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Ponce
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Ponce? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.11Ponce $10
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Ponce?
Prices for flights to both Ponce 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 $11Ponce $61
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.76Ponce $56
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Nam Song River Kayak Tour: $18
- Tham Nangfar and Tham Nam Day Tour with Kayaking: $24
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $38
- 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
- Kayaking&Zipline&Cave Tubing&cave tour: $51
- Vangrong One Day Shared Tour: $52
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Scuba Boat Diving Experience in Gilligan's Island at Copamarina: $160
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- 5 hours Tour in La Parguera Private Boat Charter: $200
- 7 Hours River Tour with Beach and Learn to Make Piña Colada : $195
- 8 Hours Private Tours in Puerto Rico: $150
- Adventure in Cave and the Guayaney Spring: $99
- Afro-Boriken-Loiza: Food, Cave & Art Tour: $140
- Aguadilla 6 Hour Local Tour: $150
- Camuy Caves Experience Tour with transportation: $130
- Cave Hopping Tour: $198
- Caves Coastlines and Beach; Cueva del Indio, Arecibo Adventure : $125
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.11Ponce $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Ponce, we can see that Ponce 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 Ponce is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce 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 Ponce Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Ponce?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Ponce, 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 Ponce?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Ponce in the Summer?
Both Ponce 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round.
Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Ponce. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ponce, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Ponce. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 287 hours of full sun.
In July, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 22°C (72°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Ponce 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Ponce in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Ponce. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Ponce. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ponce this time of the year. In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Vang Vieng is cooler than Ponce in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Ponce fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Ponce 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Ponce in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Ponce. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year.
Vang Vieng usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ponce. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ponce. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the winter, Vang Vieng often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Ponce. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ponce receives 240 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Vang Vieng is around the same temperature as Ponce. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vang Vieng in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Ponce averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Ponce 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Ponce in the Spring?
Both Ponce 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. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Ponce. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Ponce receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Ponce. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives less sunshine than Ponce during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Ponce receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Ponce. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Ponce fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Ponce 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for Ponce and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Ponce | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.