Which place is cheaper, Chicago or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vientiane or Chicago?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Chicago, 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 Chicago?
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.
Chicago
Located in the Midwest, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. It has a population of almost 3 million and a metropolitan area that covers more than 10,000 square kilometers. It is also a hub for music, comedy and theater. It's skyline is beautiful with modern skyscrapers and Lake Michigan as a backdrop. It is easy to stay entertained in Chicago for weeks. There are world class museums, upscale or eclectic shopping opportunities, and impressive architecture.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $15Chicago $288
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in Chicago is $288. 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 Chicago in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $6.00Chicago $198
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $12Chicago $396
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Chicago
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Chicago? 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 Chicago Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.08Chicago $37
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 Chicago
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Chicago:
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Parking$19
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Taxi Ride$10
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Taxi from Airport$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chicago
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chicago:
- Chicago O´Hare International Airport Private Transfer One-Way: $27
- Airport transfer between Chicago O'Hare and Milwaukee: $38
- Private Arrival Transfer from Chicago Airports ORD Or MDW: $50
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Chicago to Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD): Departure Transfer: $57
- Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD) to Arrival Private Transfer: $57
- Chicago to Chicago Airport (MDW) - Departure Private Transfer: $58
- Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) to Chicago -Arrival Private Transfer: $58
- ORD Airport Private Transfer to/from Chicago: $81
- Private one-way airport transfer O'Hare Airport to/from Chicago : $86
- Private Transfer Chicago to Chicago Airport by Luxury Car or SUV: $87
- MDW Airport Private Transfer to/from Chicago: $100
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Chicago?
Prices for flights to both Chicago 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 $6.30Chicago $49
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 Chicago
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Chicago:
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Dinner for 1$24
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Dinner for 3$118
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chicago
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chicago.
- Traveling Spoon Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Downtown Pizza Guided Walking Tour with Tastings: $58
- Chicago's Delicious Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour: $63
- Chicago Small Group Food Tour: $69
- Lake Michigan Gourmet Brunch/Lunch/Dinner Cruise: $72
- Chicago Pizza Tour: $75
- Chicago Deep Dish Pizza Self-Guided Tour: $75
- Chicago Bucktown-Wicker Park Pizza Crawl: $79
- Chicago West Loop Pizza Crawl: $79
- Downtown Family Food Tour by Bike with Sightseeing: $80
- Nitti's Supper Club Dinner and Show: $80
- Lake Michigan Buffet Brunch, Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.53Chicago $47
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 Chicago
Here are a few typical costs in Chicago for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Sears Tower (family of 4)$102
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Aquarium for 4$118
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Water Taxi (family of 4)$22
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IMAX Movie for Two$35
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Shakespeare Play (2)$116
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Art Institute (2)$36
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U-Boat Tour (2)$8.00
Tours and Activities in Chicago
Here are a few actual costs in Chicago for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discovering Chicago with Walking In App Audio Tour: $6.00
- Haunted Sites Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.50
- Vice, Crime and Gangsters Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Chicago’s Ragtime & Jazz Eras: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Vice, Crime and Gangsters in A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.99
- Must-Sees & Hidden Gems In-App Audio Tour (ENG): $9.00
- Chicago White Sox Baseball Game Ticket: $9.25
- Chicago White Sox Baseball Game Ticket at Guaranteed Rate Field: $9.32
- App Chicago self-guided tours with multilingual audioguides: $9.69
- Millennium Park Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Riverwalk Self-Guided Walking Tour: $9.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Free Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Bucket List: The Best Places to See, and The Best Museums in Chicago.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.34Chicago $25
Sample the Local Flavors in Chicago
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chicago:
- Malt Row Walking Brewery Tour: $30
- Walking tour to Chicago dive bars: $41
- Chicago Craft Brewery Barrel Bus Tour: $100
- Craft Brewery Tour by Barrel Bus: $100
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Chicago, we can see that Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chicago 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 Chicago Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Chicago?
Chicago has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Chicago, 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 Chicago?
Chicago 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 Chicago in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Chicago. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Chicago because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Vientiane is generally a little warmer than Chicago. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 30°C (85°F), and Chicago fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chicago this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Chicago during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 326 hours of full sun in the summer.
Chicago receives a lot of rain in the summer. Vientiane gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Chicago. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Chicago 77°F (25°C)
Should I visit Vientiane or Chicago in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Chicago. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Chicago this time of year.
Vientiane is much warmer than Chicago in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and Chicago fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the autumn, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Chicago. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 195 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets more rain in October than Chicago. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Chicago 56°F (14°C)
Should I visit Vientiane or Chicago in the Winter?
Both Chicago 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 travelers come to Chicago for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Chicago. In the winter, Vientiane is much warmer than Chicago. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vientiane in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Chicago averages at about 25°F (-4°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Chicago during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Chicago receives 134 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Chicago. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 1.9 inches (47 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Chicago 25°F (-4°C)
Should I visit Vientiane or Chicago in the Spring?
Both Chicago 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. Also, many visitors come to Chicago in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.
Vientiane can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Chicago. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 31°C (88°F), and Chicago fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).
In Chicago, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chicago. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chicago receives 218 hours of full sun.
Chicago gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vientiane usually gets less rain in April than Chicago. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Chicago receives 4.3 inches (108 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Chicago 52°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Chicago and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Chicago | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 25°F (-4°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°F (-2°C) | 1.4 inches (35 mm) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 41°F (5°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.3 inches (108 mm) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 63°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 73°F (23°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 77°F (25°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 76°F (24°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 68°F (20°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 56°F (14°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 44°F (7°C) | 2.2 inches (56 mm) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 31°F (-1°C) | 2.8 inches (71 mm) |
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.