Which place is cheaper, Akureyri or Vientiane?
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 Vientiane or Akureyri?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Akureyri, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Vientiane or Akureyri?
Vientiane
You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.
While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.
Akureyri
Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, and The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland.
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Vientiane Prices
Laos PricesAkureyri Prices
Iceland Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $23Akureyri $185
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $23, while the average daily cost in Akureyri is $185. 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 Vientiane and Akureyri in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $8.31Akureyri $100
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $17Akureyri $200
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Akureyri
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Akureyri? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $1.97Akureyri $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Akureyri
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Akureyri:
- Transfer from Accommodation to Akureyri Airport: $29
- Seamless Transfer from Akureyri Airport to Your Stay: $31
- Transfer to Akureyri Airport from your Stay: $31
- Akureyri Airport (AEY): Transfer to/from Akureyri City: $32
- Whale Watching from Akureyri with Roundtrip Transfer: $115
- From Godafoss Waterfall Guided Trip with Transfers: $129
- Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Port: $141
- Whale and Puffin Watching in Hauganes from Akureyri with Transfer: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Akureyri?
Prices for flights to both Akureyri and Vientiane 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 dayVientiane $12Akureyri $69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour and Lunch: $70
- Vientiane classic Food tour ( Included Food ): $78
- Night Market, Dinner, and Nightclub: $90
- Small-Group Street Food Tour with Tastings: $91
- Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour: $122
- Cooking Class Garden House: $335
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.74Akureyri $18
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- The Avenue of a Million Elephants: A Vientiane Self-Guided Tour: $6.99
- Laos’ Leaders and Legends: A Self-Guided tour of Vientiane: $7.99
- Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $8.50
- Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $12
- Art, Culture, & Inspiration Guided Half-Day Tour: $52
- Half-Day City Tour with Patuxai and Buddha Park: $52
- Vientiane Landmarks and Cultural Immersion Tour: $56
- Cultural Tour with Buddha Park and Patuxay: $58
- Vientiane IG tour & Patuxay monument: $59
- Explore Vientiane with Lao Art Museum Tour: $61
- Half-Day City Tour - Morning or Afternoon: $65
- Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $75
Tours and Activities in Akureyri
Here are a few actual costs in Akureyri for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Icelandic Aviation Museum Admission Ticket: $15
- War and Peace Museum - Tour: $23
- Godafoss Waterfall Short Day Tour from Akureyri: $69
- From Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Tour for Cruise Ships (V): $75
- Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Classic Tour & Viewpoint: $81
- Forest Lagoon Admission Ticket with Towel and One Drink included: $84
- Whale Watching Tour from Akureyri City Central: $89
- Zipline Tour: $95
- Zipline Adventure Through Glerárgil River Canyon in Akureyri Town: $95
- Húsavík: Family-Run Whale Watching Tour: $99
- Boat Tours from Siglufjörður: $99
- Whale Watching and Sea Angling Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.08Akureyri $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Akureyri, we can see that Akureyri is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Vientiane is in Asia and Akureyri is in Europe, 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 Vientiane would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vientiane 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 Akureyri would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Akureyri than you might in Vientiane.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vientiane Expensive? and Is Akureyri Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Akureyri?
Vientiane has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Akureyri. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Akureyri, 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 Vientiane or Akureyri?
Akureyri has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vientiane experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Vientiane or Akureyri in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Akureyri. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.
Vientiane is much warmer than Akureyri in the summer. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Akureyri fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Akureyri during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 158 hours of full sun in the summer.
Vientiane gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Akureyri. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Akureyri 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Akureyri in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Akureyri. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Akureyri. In the autumn, Vientiane is much warmer than Akureyri. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vientiane in October average around 28°C (83°F), and Akureyri averages at about 3°C (38°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the autumn, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Akureyri. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 52 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets more rain in October than Akureyri. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Akureyri 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Akureyri in the Winter?
Both Akureyri and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.
Akureyri can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Akureyri. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 24°C (75°F), and Akureyri fluctuates around -2°C (28°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Akureyri during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Akureyri receives 7 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Akureyri. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Akureyri -2°C (28°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Akureyri in the Spring?
Both Akureyri and Vientiane during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Akureyri can be very cold during spring. It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. Vientiane is much warmer than Akureyri in the spring. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and Akureyri fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Akureyri. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Akureyri receives 130 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets more rain in April than Akureyri. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Akureyri receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Akureyri 2°C (36°F)
Typical Weather for Akureyri and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Akureyri | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | -1°C (30°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | -2°C (29°F) | 53 mm (2.1 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.