Which place is cheaper, Amsterdam or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vientiane or Amsterdam?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Amsterdam, 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 Amsterdam?
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.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital, and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. There are over one million residents in the metro area. Amsterdam is most famous for its canals that criss cross across the city, but it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The architecture, bridges, and cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
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 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $15Amsterdam $187
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is $187. 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 Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $6.00Amsterdam $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $12Amsterdam $218
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Amsterdam
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Amsterdam? 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: Vientiane Hotel Prices and Amsterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.08Amsterdam $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Vientiane Airport Transfer: Wattay airport to hotel - Private transfer: $15
- Vientiane Private Airport and Hotel Transfers: $9.00
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
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Ride on Tram$3.43
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Renting a Bike$16
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One Hour Canal Cruise$11
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Single Day Transit Pass$2.79
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Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport$3.64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- Train transfer From/To Zaandijk Zaanse Schans: $5.06
- Train Transfer Schiphol Airport from/to Amsterdam: $6.35
- Airport Express Bus Transfer to/from City Center: $7.00
- 1-Way Train Transfer to/from Haarlem: $7.43
- Train Transfer From/To Zandvoort in Amsterdam: $8.07
- Train Transfer Amsterdam from/to Utrecht: $12
- Train Transfer Amsterdam from/to Leiden: $14
- Travel Ticket for 1-3 Days With Airport Transfer: $19
- Train Transfer Amsterdam from/to Rotterdam: $21
- Train Transfer Schiphol Airport from/to Eindhoven: $26
- Eindhoven: Train Transfer Eindhoven from/to Amsterdam: $27
- From Bus Transfer to Flower Fields Keukenhof: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam 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 $6.30Amsterdam $47
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Private Evening Food Tour of Laos: $70
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
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Afternoon Tea$6.43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Food Tour Amsterdam (Tip Based): $5.46
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood : $8.19
- Self-Guided Food Tour in De Jordaan Neighbourhood: $13
- Self-Guided Food Tour in De Pijp Neighbourhood: $13
- Self-Guided Food Tour of Amsterdam's De Jordaan District: $14
- Hard Rock Cafe Amsterdam with Set Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Exclusive Burger Dinner Cruise: $32
- Dinner Cruise with Fries Bitterballen and Drink from Amsterdam: $38
- Pizza Cruise with Drinks: $40
- Evening Canal Cruise with Pizza and Drinks: $43
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket with A GOLD MENU Hard Rock Dinner: $43
- Food Tour Jordaan District: $51
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.53Amsterdam $40
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- Vientiane ATV and Canopy Walking Experience: $48
- Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $55
- From Hue: Hue to Vientiane Bus tickets: $61
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $67
- Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $69
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $81
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Vientiane: $82
- Vientiane City Day Tour and Buddha Park Visit with Lunch: $88
- 2 Days Private Tour in Vientiane and Vang Vieng: $90
- Private Vientiane Tour - include Buddha Park: $100
- Private Tour: Full-day Vientiane's Must-See Sights and River Sunset with Lunch: $101
- Private Tour: Half-day City Guided Tour of Vientiane: $113
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum$6.43
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Entry for two to the Anne Frank House$18
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Golden Age Canals Walking Tour: $1.08
- Free walking tour of haunted Amsterdam: $1.08
- Red Light District Haunted History Night Tour: $1.71
- The Amsterdam Walking Tour 2 hours: $3.23
- City Exploration Game and Walking Tour: $3.23
- Rude Bastards Tour of Amsterdam: $3.23
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Best of Amsterdam City Tour: $3.23
- Two-hour walking tour of Amsterdam: $3.26
- Self Guided Tours Amsterdam With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.26
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Amsterdam: $3.26
- Amsterdam Spanish Tour 2 Hours: $3.26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.34Amsterdam $25
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bar Crawl with Shots and Beer Maid Guide: $25
- Red Light District Pub Crawl: $27
- Central Pub Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $27
- Central Pub Crawl and Nightlife Experience: $27
- Original Pub Crawl Party with VIP Entrance: $29
- Chateau Urban Wine Tasting and optional bites: $32
- Original Amsterdam Pub Crawl: $33
- Self-guided Red Light District Pub Crawl Mystery: $38
- Leidseplein and Red Light Pub Crawl: 2 Night Pass: $38
- Red Light District and Local Pub Tour: $39
- Dutch Cheese and Wine Tasting: $43
- Dutch Wine Tasting || Amsterdam City Centre: $48
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Amsterdam, we can see that Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Amsterdam, 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 Amsterdam?
Amsterdam 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 Amsterdam in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Amsterdam. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Also, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Amsterdam this time of year.
In the summer, Vientiane is much warmer than Amsterdam. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vientiane in July average around 30°C (85°F), and Amsterdam averages at about 17°C (62°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Amsterdam this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Amsterdam during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Amsterdam receives 204 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 Amsterdam. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Amsterdam 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Amsterdam in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Amsterdam. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Amsterdam for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Amsterdam. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 28°C (83°F), and Amsterdam fluctuates around 11°C (51°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 Amsterdam. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amsterdam receives 99 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets more rain in October than Amsterdam. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Amsterdam 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Amsterdam in the Winter?
Both Amsterdam and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Amsterdam in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Amsterdam can get quite cold in the winter. Vientiane is much warmer than Amsterdam in the winter. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Amsterdam fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Amsterdam during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Amsterdam receives 46 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Amsterdam. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Amsterdam 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Amsterdam in the Spring?
Both Amsterdam 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. Furthermore, most visitors come to Amsterdam for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane is much warmer than Amsterdam. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vientiane in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Amsterdam averages at about 8°C (46°F).
It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Amsterdam. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amsterdam receives 166 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets more rain in April than Amsterdam. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Amsterdam receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Amsterdam 8°C (46°F)
Typical Weather for Amsterdam and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Amsterdam | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 80 mm (3.1 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.