Which place is cheaper, Quepos 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 Quepos?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Quepos? 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 Quepos?
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.
Quepos
Quepos is both a district and the capital of Aguirre canton in the Puntareanas Province of Costa Rica. The town is quite small, and the district has a population of about 22,000 people. Quepos is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica due to its close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. The town's economy is centered around tourism and there is no shortage of bars and restaurants in the area. The town also has a lively nightlife for such a small community.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Wildlife Tours to Costa Rica, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Costa Rica.
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Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesQuepos Prices
Costa Rica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $19Quepos $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, while the average daily cost in Quepos is $139. 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 Quepos in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.25Quepos $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.50Quepos $152
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Quepos
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Quepos? 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 Quepos Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.11Quepos $9.55
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 Quepos
Also for Quepos, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Manuel Antonio to SJO Airport and surroundings : $229
- Private One Way Transfer from Manuel Antonio to San José (Airport SJO): $220
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to Manuel Antonio with Scenic Stop.: $203
- Private Transfer: SJO Airport to/from Manuel Antonio (One Way): $99
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Quepos?
Prices for flights to both Quepos 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 $11Quepos $51
Typical Food Prices in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$15
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Seafood Dinner (for 1)$20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Quepos
For Quepos, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class in Manuel Antonio with Medicinal Plants Garden Visit: $77
- Cooking Class & Medicinal Plants Garden Manuel Antonio: $77
- Night Mangrove Safari Boat Tour with Dinner | Manuel Antonio: $79
- Local Flavor Cooking Experience: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.76Quepos $17
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
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
- 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 Day Tour - Longtail boat, Paragliding: $175
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Experience and Longtail Boat: $137
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Kayak Zipline,Blue lagoon1 Tour: $148
Tours and Activities in Quepos
For Quepos, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10 in 1 Tour! Zip Lines, Rappels, Tarzan Swing, Waterfalls & More: $158
- 2-3-Hour Manuel Antonio Park Nature Guided Tour: $28
- 2-Hour Kayak Tour in Quepos Mangroves – See Monkeys & Sloths: $65
- ATV Tour Half Day Trip From Manuel Antonio: $93
- All Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure from Manuel Antonio: $88
- All-Inclusive Catamaran Eco Adventure with Lunch: $93
- All-Inclusive Full day Waterfall Adventure: $117
- All-Inclusive Jungle Night Tour: $59
- Canopy Tour From Manuel Antonio: $121
- Catamaran Adventure From Manuel Antonio: $121
- Catamaran Cruise from Manuel Antonio with Snorkeling: $98
- Chocolate Experience, Waterfall and Cultural Lunch in local home.: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.11Quepos $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Quepos, we can see that Quepos 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 Quepos is in Central America, 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 Quepos would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Quepos 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 Quepos Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Quepos?
Vang Vieng has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Quepos. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Quepos, 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 Quepos?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Quepos in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Quepos. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Quepos attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Quepos receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Quepos. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Vang Vieng usually receives less sunshine than Quepos during summer. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 164 hours of full sun in the summer.
Vang Vieng is cooler than Quepos in the summer. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Quepos fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Quepos 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Quepos in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Quepos. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Quepos throughout the year.
Also, December to April in Quepos is the dry season. Also, the hurricane season in Quepos is May to November. It's quite rainy in Quepos. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in October than Quepos. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 254 mm (10 in) of rain this time of the year.
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 Quepos. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 169 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Vang Vieng is cooler than Quepos. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vang Vieng in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Quepos averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Quepos in the Winter?
Both Quepos 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. Plenty of visitors come to Quepos because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Quepos. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 8 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Quepos. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Quepos during winter. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Quepos receives 264 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Quepos. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 24°C (75°F), and Quepos fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Quepos 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Quepos in the Spring?
Both Quepos 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Quepos year-round.
December to April is the dry season in Quepos. Keep in mind that May to November is the hurricane season in Quepos. It rains a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in April than Quepos. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Quepos receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Quepos, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. In the spring, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Quepos. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Quepos receives 255 hours of full sun.
Vang Vieng is cooler than Quepos in the spring. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Quepos fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Quepos 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Quepos and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Quepos | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 8 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 226 mm (8.9 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 328 mm (12.9 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 254 mm (10 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 33 mm (1.3 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.