A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vientiane vs. Cabo San Lucas for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Vientiane or Cabo San Lucas?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Cabo San Lucas, 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 Cabo San Lucas?

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.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas ("Cabo") is on the far southern end of the Baja Peninsula. It has countless resorts and activities for visitors. There are world class golf courses, fine dining options, and five star resorts. Prior to the 1980s, Cabo was a quiet fishing village but with the construction of a nearby airport in 1977, the city rapidly grew into one of Mexico's most popular resort vacation spots. Today, Cabo has one of the country's most vibrant nightlife scenes. It also has plenty of water sport activities, and a great beach scene.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico, and The Best Historical Tours in Mexico.


Which place is cheaper, Cabo San Lucas or Vientiane?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Vientiane Prices
    Laos Prices
    Cabo San Lucas Prices
    Mexico Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Vientiane $23
    Cabo San Lucas $169

The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $23, while the average daily cost in Cabo San Lucas is $169. 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 Cabo San Lucas in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Vientiane $8.11
    Cabo San Lucas $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Vientiane $16
    Cabo San Lucas $122
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Cabo San Lucas

Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Cabo San Lucas? 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.

Hotels in Vientiane


Hotels in Cabo San Lucas


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Vientiane $1.93
    Cabo San Lucas $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $3.99

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 Cabo San Lucas

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cabo San Lucas:

  • Los Cabos Airport Roundtrip Shuttle Transfer: $36
  • Los Cabos Airport Private Transfer SJD to Multiple Destinations: $38
  • Los Cabos Airport (SJD) to San Jose del Cabo hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $71
  • Cabo San Lucas Port to Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL) - Departure Private Transfer: $73
  • Cabo San Lucas to Cabo San Lucas Airport (CSL)-Departure Transfer: $79
  • Los Cabos Private Airport Transfers To Hotels: $80
  • Private Transfer from Cabo San Lucas Port to San Jose Del Cabo: $99
  • Cabo San Lucas Port to Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - Departure Private Transferl: $99
  • Private Transfer from SJD to Cabo San Lucas / San Jose del Cabo: $99
  • Private Transfer from San Jose Del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas Port: $99
  • Cabo San Lucas hotels to Los Cabos Airport (SJD) - Private Departure Transfer: $99
  • Private Transfer - Los Cabos Airport (SJD) to Cabo San Lucas Port: $99

Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Cabo San Lucas?

Prices for flights to both Cabo San Lucas 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Vientiane $12
    Cabo San Lucas $84

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cabo San Lucas

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cabo San Lucas.

  • Taste Tacos & Street Food Like a Local: Cabo San Lucas Food Tour: $64
  • Sunset Fajita Dinner Cruise in Cabo San Lucas: $89
  • Catch of the day dinner in your private villa/condo in Cabo or San Jose del Cabo: $90
  • Sunset Mexican Dinner Cruise and Live Music in Cabo San Lucas: $95
  • Pirate Ship Sunset Dinner and Show in Los Cabos: $99
  • Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music & Open Bar on Cabo Wave: $99
  • Cabo Pirate Adventure: Family Sunset Dinner & Show: $99
  • Cabo Sunset Dinner Cruise with Tequila and Tacos: $100
  • San Jose Deluxe tour, Art, Charm and dinner .: $101
  • Cabo San Lucas Sunset Dinner Cruise with Open Bar: $105
  • Cabo Sunset E-Bike Beach Ride with Mexican Dinner and Margaritas: $109
  • Mexican Beer and Seafood Tour in San Jose del Cabo: $111

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Vientiane $3.65
    Cabo San Lucas $41

Tours and Activities in Vientiane

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:

  • Laos’ Leaders and Legends: A Self-Guided tour of Vientiane: $7.99
  • The Avenue of a Million Elephants: A Vientiane Self-Guided Tour: $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 Cabo San Lucas

Here are a few actual costs in Cabo San Lucas for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Tour to Arch in the only Clear Boat in Cabo Cruise Hotel PICKUP!: $11
  • Tour to Arch in the only Clear Boat in Cabo Cruise Hotel PICKUP!: $15
  • Glass Bottom Boat Tour to the Arch in Cabo San Lucas: $15
  • Cabo Clear Boat Tour to the Arch: Hotel Pickup Available: $16
  • Cabo Clear Boat Tour to the Arch: Hotel Pickup Available: $16
  • Tour to Arch in the only Clear Boat in Cabo Cruise Hotel PICKUP!: $16
  • The Ultimate Camel Safari Experience in Los Cabos: $17
  • Cabo San Lucas Arch and Lover's Beach Boat Tour: $19
  • Side by Side UTV Adventure and Tequila Tasting in Cabo: $20
  • Cabo San Lucas Arch Tour and we go down to Playa del Amor: $20
  • Group tour of the Cabo San Lucas Arch: $21
  • The Original Adventure of Cape | Arch and Beach of Love: $23

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Vientiane $2.03
    Cabo San Lucas $27

Sample the Local Flavors in Cabo San Lucas

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Cabo San Lucas:

  • Cabo Bar Crawl to the Best Bars and Clubs in Cabo: $60


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Cabo San Lucas, we can see that Cabo San Lucas 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 Cabo San Lucas is in North 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 Cabo San Lucas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Cabo San Lucas 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 Cabo San Lucas Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Cabo San Lucas?

Vientiane has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Cabo San Lucas. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Cabo San Lucas, 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.

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