Which place is cheaper, Edinburgh or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vientiane or Edinburgh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh?
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.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the moderately sized capital of Scotland. It is a medieval city that has managed to perfect the combination of Georgian architecture and medieval relics with a cosmopolitan population and avant-garde atmosphere. The city's population is quite young, in large part because of the University of Edinburgh. This youthful vibe gives this city a lot of vitality. There's a thriving nightlife, many restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, and The Best 10-Day Tours from London.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $15Edinburgh $178
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in Edinburgh is $178. 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 Edinburgh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $6.00Edinburgh $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $12Edinburgh $186
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Edinburgh
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Edinburgh? 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 Edinburgh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.08Edinburgh $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:
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $29
- Vientiane Private Airport and Hotel Transfers: $9.00
- Vientiane Airport Transfer: Wattay airport to hotel - Private transfer: $15
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Edinburgh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Edinburgh:
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Local Bus$4.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Edinburgh
Also for Edinburgh, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Edinburgh Airport: Bus Transfer: $5.65
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh Airport: $28
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Edinburgh hotels: $28
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh Hotels to Newhaven Cruise Port: $28
- Private Transfer from Edinburgh Airport to South Queensferry Port: $28
- Edinburgh Airport: Private Arrival or Departure Transfers: $38
- Private One-Way Transfer from Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport: $41
- Private Transfer - South Queensferry Port to Glasgow Airport(GLA): $46
- Private Transfer from South Queensferry Port to Glasgow Hotels: $50
- Royal Highland Braemar Gathering, transfer from Edinburgh: $56
- Edinburgh Airport EDI to Edinburgh Accommodation Arrival Transfer: $59
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Glasgow - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Edinburgh?
Prices for flights to both Edinburgh 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 $6.30Edinburgh $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 Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$11
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Dinner at Filling Station$13
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Lunch for Two$19
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Sandwich$2.32
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Cheese & bread$9.07
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Thai Restaurant Dinner (for 2)$31
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2 Coffees and Scones$7.28
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Turkish Delight$1.76
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Soup at the Pub$7.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hard Rock Cafe with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $31
- Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $33
- Scottish Dinner and Folk Music Experience: $88
- Edinburgh Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Holiday Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $90
- Edinburgh Food Tour: $100
- 'Scotland meets Sardinia' - 8-course Dinner in Leith, Edinburgh: $110
- 3-Hour Guided Secret Food Tour: $116
- Edinburgh Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $121
- The 10 Tastings of Edinburgh With Locals: Private Food Tour: $162
- Edinburgh Food Tour with a Local Foodie Custom & Private: $188
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.53Edinburgh $25
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 Edinburgh
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Edinburgh's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Show Tickets$40
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Movie Tickets for Two$15
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Donation for Storytellers$7.53
Tours and Activities in Edinburgh
For Edinburgh, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Escape Game and Tour: $3.77
- Edinburgh Stand Up Comedy Ticket Show in Scotland: $5.08
- Audio Tour Royal Mile: del Castillo hasta "The Tron Kirk": $5.37
- Edinbourgh, Royal mile: walking tour with audio guide: $5.38
- Edinburgh Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & City Tour: $5.60
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Audio Tour through History of Crime: $7.00
- Edinburgh Royal mile: Self-guided walking tour: $7.20
- Must-See In App Audio Tour: $7.61
- Harry Potter’s A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Edinburgh Royal Mile (New Self Guided Tour) : $8.02
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.34Edinburgh $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Edinburgh
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Edinburgh from other travelers:
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Beer & Wine$18
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Half Pint at Tollbooth Tavern$2.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Edinburgh
Also in Edinburgh, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl with Free Shots & Discounts: $11
- Edinburgh Bar Crawl: 5+ Venues, Free Shots, Free Club Entry: $19
- Pub Crawl in Edinburgh: $19
- Edinburgh Literary Pub Tour with "Real-Actors": $25
- East Lothian: Glenkinchie Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting: $26
- Guided Gin Tasting at 56 North Distillery: $28
- Pub Crawl 7 Bars with 6 Shots: $31
- Whisky Tasting and Tales at Summerhall Distillery: $31
- Lind & Lime Gin Distillery Tour & Tasting: $31
- Pickering's Gin Jolly Distillery Tasting Tour: $31
- Visit a Working South Loch Gin Distillery: $32
- The Original Edinburgh Pub Crawl: $32
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Edinburgh, we can see that Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Edinburgh?
Edinburgh has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh?
Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh in the Summer?
Both Edinburgh and Vientiane during the summer 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 travelers come to Edinburgh for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Vientiane is much warmer than Edinburgh. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vientiane in July average around 30°C (85°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 14°C (58°F).
In the summer, Vientiane often gets less sunshine than Edinburgh. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 163 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually gets more rain in July than Edinburgh. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Edinburgh 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Edinburgh in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Edinburgh. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Also, many visitors come to Edinburgh in the autumn 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 Edinburgh. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 28°C (83°F), and Edinburgh fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during autumn. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 90 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Edinburgh. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Edinburgh 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Edinburgh in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Edinburgh. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Edinburgh for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine during these months.
Edinburgh can be very cold during winter. Vientiane is much warmer than Edinburgh in the winter. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Edinburgh fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the winter, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Edinburgh. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Edinburgh receives 48 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than Edinburgh. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Edinburgh 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Edinburgh in the Spring?
Both Edinburgh and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Edinburgh because of 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 Edinburgh. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vientiane in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Edinburgh averages at about 7°C (45°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Edinburgh during spring. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Edinburgh receives 132 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Edinburgh. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Edinburgh receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Edinburgh 7°C (45°F)
Typical Weather for Edinburgh and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Edinburgh | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 56 mm (2.2 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 64 mm (2.5 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.