Which place is cheaper, Budapest or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vientiane or Budapest?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Budapest, 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 Budapest?
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.
Budapest
Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. It has been called the "Paris of the East" because of its impressive architecture and general beauty. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 because of its cultural importance, its location on the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue. In addition to its rich history, Budapest still has a young vibe with a lot of energy. There's an active night life, an impressive music scene, and a good reputation with European youth.
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 Budapest, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Budapest.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $15Budapest $91
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in Budapest is $91. 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 Budapest in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $6.00Budapest $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $12Budapest $100
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Budapest
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Budapest? 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 Budapest Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.08Budapest $11
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:
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $29
- 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
- Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Budapest
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Budapest:
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Short Taxi Ride$7.05
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Metro Pass$3.87
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Budapest
Also for Budapest, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared Airport Shuttle Bus Transfer: $13
- Budapest One Way Private Transfer to or from Airport: $14
- Premier Outlet Shopping Transfer from City Center: $16
- One way private transfer from Budapest hotels to Budapest cruise ports: $26
- Private Transfer Budapest Airport BUD to Budapest by car or van: $34
- Transfer from Liszt Ferenc Airport to Hotel: $38
- Hotel to Liszt Ferenc Airport departure Transfer: $38
- Budapest Airport transfer from City Center to Liszt Ferenc Airport: $39
- Budapest Airport transfer from Liszt Ferenc International Airport to City Centre: $39
- Private Transfer: Budapest to Budapest International Airport (BUD): $44
- Euroring Old Timer Museum Ticket & Hotel Transfers: $44
- Transfer to/from Budapest Airport: $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Budapest?
Prices for flights to both Budapest 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 $6.30Budapest $23
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 Budapest
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Budapest:
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Lunch$3.44
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downtown Budapest Cruise with Pizza and Beer: $45
- Pizza & Beer Downtown Budapest Cruise: $46
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour (full meals): $52
- Medieval Dinner Show with Drinks: $53
- Vegan Hungarian Food Tour / Local delights: $57
- Private Street Food Tour: $59
- Danube Cruise with Hungarian Dinner and Live Music: $74
- Budapest Danube Cruise with Buffet Dinner, Performances and Music: $75
- Chefparade Cooking School_ Hungarian menu: $79
- Evening Cruise and Dinner with Champagne: $86
- Lángos (Hungary’s nr1 streetfood) cooking class: $87
- Candlelit Dinner River Cruise with Live Music: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.53Budapest $22
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- 2 Days Private Tour in Vientiane and Vang Vieng: $90
- Explore Vientiane and Local Villages Biking Tour: $184
- From Hue: Hue to Vientiane Bus tickets: $61
- Full Day Private Tour in Vientiane with Pickup: $142
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $81
- Half Day Private Tour in City Highlights: $120
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $67
- Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide in Vientiane: $82
- Private Tour: Full-day Cycling The City Streets Vientiane with Buddha Park: $174
- 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
- Private Tour: Vientiane City Tour Full Day with Buddha Park: $145
Typical Entertainment Prices in Budapest
For Budapest, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Entrance to the Baths for Two$6.91
Tours and Activities in Budapest
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Budapest.
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Free Tour Budapest Essential in Spanish: $3.26
- Guided Tour in Budapest Castle District: $3.28
- Welcome to Budapest Walking Tour: $3.28
- Original Budapest Walking Tour: $3.28
- Communist History Evening Walking Tour of Budapest: $3.28
- Self Guided City Audio Tour in Buda Castle: $5.46
- Self-Guided Highlights Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $5.92
- Escape Game and Tour: $5.92
- Historical Heroes & Hot Spa Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.99
- Discovering Budapest's hot pools and heroes: a self-guided audio tour: $5.99
- TOP 10 Budapest- City Tour : $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.34Budapest $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Budapest
Also in Budapest, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- 5-Hour Pub Crawl through Ruin Bars: $22
- The Original Budapest Pub Crawl - One Hour Open Bar + Free Shots: $22
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Ultimate Budapest Pub Crawl: $23
- Bingo Bar Crawl: $25
- Ruin Bar Pub Crawl with Entry Tickets: $29
- Detective Pub Crawl Game by App: $38
- 8-Tier Hungarian Wine Tasting in a Cozy Downtown Wine Bar: $39
- Tipsy Tour Fun Bar Crawl with a Local Guide: $42
- Drunken History Bar Crawl Tour with Local Drinks: $42
- Private Wine Tasting in Budapest: $50
- Hungarian Wine Tasting (with Cheese and Charcuterie) in Budapest: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Budapest, we can see that Budapest 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 Budapest 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 Budapest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Budapest 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 Budapest Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Budapest?
Budapest has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Budapest, 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 Budapest?
Budapest 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 Budapest in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Budapest. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Budapest because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Vientiane is a little warmer than Budapest. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vientiane in July average around 30°C (85°F), and Budapest averages at about 21°C (70°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Budapest. In the summer, Vientiane often gets less sunshine than Budapest. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 278 hours of full sun.
Vientiane receives a lot of rain in the summer. Vientiane usually gets more rain in July than Budapest. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Budapest 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Budapest in the Autumn?
Both Budapest and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Budapest this time of year.
In October, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Budapest. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 28°C (83°F), and Budapest fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during autumn. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 152 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Budapest. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Budapest in the Winter?
Both Budapest and Vientiane during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Budapest for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Budapest. Vientiane is much warmer than Budapest in the winter. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Budapest fluctuates around -1°C (31°F).
It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the winter, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Budapest. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Budapest receives 61 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than Budapest. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Budapest -1°C (31°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Budapest in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Budapest. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Budapest in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.
The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane is much warmer than Budapest. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vientiane in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Budapest averages at about 12°C (53°F).
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Budapest during spring. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Budapest receives 178 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Budapest. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Budapest receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Budapest 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Budapest and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Budapest | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.