Which place is cheaper, Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Antigua Guatemala, 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 Antigua Guatemala?
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.
Antigua Guatemala
Before a disastrous earthquake in 1773, Antigua was the colonial capital of Guatemala. For 200 years it had reigned as so and today shows remnants of its glorious past with Spanish colonial buildings and other architectural landmarks still standing. Due to this large amount of preserved architecture, Antigua was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is now the most touristed city of Guatemala.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Guatemala City, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Guatemala.
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Vientiane Prices
Laos PricesAntigua Guatemala Prices
Guatemala Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $23Antigua Guatemala $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $23, while the average daily cost in Antigua Guatemala is $74. 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 Antigua Guatemala in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $8.15Antigua Guatemala $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $16Antigua Guatemala $44
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Antigua Guatemala
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Antigua Guatemala? 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 Antigua Guatemala Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $1.93Antigua Guatemala $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antigua Guatemala
Also for Antigua Guatemala, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Antigua: One way shared transfer to Guatemala City: $24
- One-Way Shared Van Transfer to Panajachel: $25
- Panajachel: One way shared transfer to Antigua: $25
- From Panajachel: One Way Shared Transfers to Antigua: $25
- Private Transfer from Antigua Guatemala to Airport: $27
- Private Transfer From Antigua Guatemala to La Aurora Airport: $29
- Shared Transfer From Antigua to Panajachel (Atitlan): $30
- Antigua: Private Transfer to Guatemala City Airport: $30
- Guatemala City Airport: Private Transfer to Antigua: $30
- Private Transfer from Antigua to La Aurora Airport: $34
- From Antigua Guatemala One way shared transfer to El Paredon: $34
- transfer service Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan destination: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Antigua Guatemala?
Prices for flights to both Antigua Guatemala 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 $12Antigua Guatemala $25
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
Typical Food Prices in Antigua Guatemala
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Antigua Guatemala:
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Lunch$3.27
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Lunch$7.85
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antigua Guatemala
For Antigua Guatemala, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Antigua: Traditional Guatemalan Cooking Classes — Casa San Miguel.: $38
- Antigua Guatemalan Authentic Cooking Class Chef David Farfan: $38
- Antigua: Traditional cooking lesson with a Guatemalan family: $48
- Cooking class and market tour/Pepian Workshop: $50
- Pepián Plates Antigua Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $59
- Mayan Meals Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $59
- Antigua: Guatemalan Cooking Class with a Local Family: $60
- Private Cooking Class of Typical Guatemalan Dishes: $70
- Antigua: Cooking Class With Wine, Transfer & Vegan Option: $72
- Guatemalan Mayan Cooking Workshop: $75
- Local Street Food Tour of Antigua: $75
- Antigua: Cooking Class with Local Family: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.67Antigua Guatemala $15
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- 1-Day Tour to Vang Vieng with Private Guide: $200
- 1-Day Vientiane City Adventure: Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $110
- Explore Vientiane with Lao Art Museum Tour: $61
- From Plain of Jars Tour & Homestay: $1,650
- From Vang Vieng 2-Day Tour with Blue Lagoon: $443
- From Vang Vieng Tour with Cave Kayak & Zipline: $113
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $99
- Half Day Private Tour in City Highlights: $120
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour | Laos: $168
- Lao Art Museum Vientiane Admission & Cultural Experience: $10
- Lao Arts Museum & City Highlights Tour with Lunch: $122
- Lao Country Club Golf Experience in Vientiane: $80
Tours and Activities in Antigua Guatemala
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Antigua Guatemala.
- Antigua Guatemala Historic Center Self Guided Audio Walking Tour: $5.00
- Signature Lattes Tasting Experience in Antigua for Coffee Lovers: $14
- Half-Day Walking Tour: $20
- Historical and Cultural Walking Tour of Antigua Guatemala: $20
- Express tour in Antigua: $20
- City Walking Tour by Chef David Farfan: $20
- Guided City Tour with Chef David Farfan: $20
- Cultural and Fun Walking Tour in Antigua Guatemala: $22
- Walking Tour with Local Guide: $23
- From Antigua: Pacaya Volcano Tour in English/Spanish: $23
- Antigua Walking Tour: $24
- Walking tour to explore La Antigua Guatemala: $24
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.04Antigua Guatemala $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Antigua Guatemala
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Antigua Guatemala:
- Antigua Bar Crawl: $26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Antigua Guatemala, we can see that Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala 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 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 Antigua Guatemala would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Antigua Guatemala 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 Antigua Guatemala Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Antigua Guatemala?
Vientiane has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Antigua Guatemala. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Antigua Guatemala, 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.