Which place is cheaper, Marseille or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vientiane or Marseille?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Marseille, 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 Marseille?
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.
Marseille
Marseille is the second largest city in France and is the largest Mediterranean port in the region. For visitors, Marseille offers an authentic glimpse at France. It has many colorful markets, natural beauty such as the Calanques with its large, beautiful cliffs, and the old harbor area, which offers a glimpse at the areas working class history.
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 Contiki Tours to France, and The Best G Adventures Tours to France.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $15Marseille $158
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in Marseille is $158. 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 Marseille in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $6.00Marseille $76
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $12Marseille $152
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Marseille
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Marseille? 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 Marseille Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.08Marseille $30
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 Marseille
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Marseille:
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Metro Pass$3.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Marseille
Also for Marseille, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal to Marseille Arrival Transfer: $34
- Marseille Provence Cruise Terminal to Marseille - Arrival Private Transfer: $34
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to (MPCT) Marseille Port - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Marseille Terminal to Marseille Airport Departure Transfer: $35
- Marseille to Marseille Airport (MRS) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Marseille Port (MPCT) to Marseille Airport (MRS) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Private Transfer to Gare St Charles: $54
- Private Airport Transfer in Marseille from Marseille Provence airport, Marignane: $65
- Private Transfer: Marseille Provence Airport (MRS) to Marseille: $69
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to Marseille- Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Marseille Airport (MRS) to (MPCT) Marseille Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Private Transfer from Marseille Airport to Aix-en-Provence: $74
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Marseille?
Prices for flights to both Marseille 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 $6.30Marseille $45
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 Marseille
For Marseille, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Orangina$2.68
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Marseille
For Marseille, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Web-cooking workshop / French cuisine or French pastry: $35
- No Diet Club - Unique food tour in Marseille! (Cours Julien): $64
- Sunset Boat Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $73
- Sunset Cruise with Dinner: $74
- Sunset Sailing Cruise with Dinner and Drinks: $86
- Bakeries, Chocolate & Patisseries Food Tour: $94
- Marseille Sunset Apéro Food tour: $97
- Evening Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Sunset Sailing Dinner in the Frioul Archipelago: $102
- Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $102
- Marseille Miam Miam Food tour: $104
- Marseille Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $108
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.53Marseille $41
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
Tours and Activities in Marseille
For Marseille, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Marseille:Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt & Tour: $4.31
- City Exploration Game and Tour: $4.31
- Marseille Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $4.37
- City Exploration Game and Tour on your Phone: $6.45
- Marseille Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self-guided Like a Local Highlights Day Tour: $9.58
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt Game & Sightseeing: $9.94
- Panier District Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $11
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Humorous and Informative Tour of the Historic Center of La Ciotat: $11
- Mucem Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.34Marseille $29
Sample the Local Flavors in Marseille
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Marseille:
- Marseille Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $22
- Marseille Riviera Bar Crawl Party with Free Shots and VIP Entry: $27
- Marseille Pub Crawl : Meet, Drink & Party: $43
- New Year's Eve Bar Crawl Marseille France: $65
- Short Day Tour around Aix en Provence and Wine Tasting : $119
- Bandol and Cassis: Full Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Luberon: Full-Day Wine Tour from Marseille: $144
- Full-day Wine Tour around Bandol & Cassis from Marseille: $146
- Full-Day Wine Tour around Luberon from Marseille: $146
- Côtes du Rhône Wine tour: Avignon, Palace of the Popes: $164
- Marseille Shore Excursion - Full Day Wine Tour in Provence: $164
- Small Group Marseille Shore Excursion : Avignon & Chateauneuf du Pape Wine Tour: $164
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Marseille, we can see that Marseille 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 Marseille 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 Marseille would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Marseille 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 Marseille Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Marseille?
Marseille has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Marseille, 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 Marseille?
Marseille 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 Marseille in the Summer?
Both Marseille 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. Furthermore, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Marseille this time of year.
In July, Vientiane is generally a little warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 30°C (85°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
In Marseille, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vientiane often gets less sunshine than Marseille. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 366 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually gets more rain in July than Marseille. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Marseille 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Marseille in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Marseille. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Marseille for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
Vientiane is much warmer than Marseille in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and Marseille fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Marseille this time of the year. In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Marseille during autumn. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Marseille. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Marseille 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Marseille in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Marseille. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Marseille in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
In the winter, Vientiane is much warmer than Marseille. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vientiane in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Marseille averages at about 7°C (44°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 Marseille. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Marseille receives 150 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than Marseille. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Marseille 7°C (44°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Marseille in the Spring?
Both Marseille 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, most visitors come to Marseille for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.
Vientiane can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Marseille. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 31°C (88°F), and Marseille fluctuates around 13°C (56°F).
It's quite sunny in Marseille. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Marseille during spring. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Marseille receives 245 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Marseille. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Marseille receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Marseille 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Marseille and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Marseille | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 56 mm (2.2 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.