Which place is cheaper, Tauranga 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 Tauranga?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga?
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.
Tauranga
Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand.
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Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesTauranga Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $19Tauranga $118
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, while the average daily cost in Tauranga is $118. 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 Tauranga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.25Tauranga $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.50Tauranga $148
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Tauranga
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.11Tauranga $6.75
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Tauranga?
Prices for flights to both Tauranga 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 $11Tauranga $37
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.76Tauranga $10
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 Tauranga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:
- 6hr Hobbiton Movie Set Tour - Departs Tauranga: $155
- 7 Hours Te Puia Rotorua Tour from Tauranga with Concert: $164
- Boutique tour , Mt Maunganui, NZ farm, Rotorua lakes/geothermal : $138
- From Dolphin and Wildlife Cruise: $101
- From Half-Day Swimming with Dolphins Tour: $96
- Guided Māori History and Culture Tour to Rotorua and Tauranga: $143
- Half Day Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise - Tauranga: $104
- Hobbiton movie set tour and a lot more beautiful NZ sights: $240
- Katikati Avocado Adventure: $35
- Mount Maunganui: Hot Ocean Water Pools Entry Ticket: $16
- Mount Maunganui: Pohutukawa grove and Beach Walking Tour: $40
- New Zealand Tauranga Tour with Transportation and Snacks: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.11Tauranga $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Tauranga, we can see that Tauranga 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 Tauranga 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 Tauranga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tauranga 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 Tauranga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Tauranga?
Tauranga has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Tauranga, 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.
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.