A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vientiane vs. New York City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Vientiane or New York City?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or New York City, 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 New York City?

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.

New York City

The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.


Which place is cheaper, New York City 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
    New York City Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Vientiane $24
    New York City $363

The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $24, while the average daily cost in New York City is $363. 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 New York City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Vientiane $8.45
    New York City $175
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Vientiane $17
    New York City $350
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and New York City

Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or New York City? 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 New York City


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 New York City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Vientiane $2.01
    New York City $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane

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


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $4.15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:

  • Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
  • Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
  • Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63
  • Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15

Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City

Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:


  • Subway
    $4.50
  • Taxi Ride
    $8.00
  • Subway
    $2.50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City

Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Manhattan to LGA: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $35
  • JFK to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer : $35
  • Manhattan to JFK: One Way Shared Departure Transfer : $35
  • Private Transfer from Manhattan to NYC Airports (JFK/EWR/LGA): $38
  • Shared transfer EWR: $39
  • Manhattan to EWR: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $39
  • Private Arrival Transfer: NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR) to Brooklyn: $43
  • Private Departure Transfer Brooklyn to NYC Airports (JFK) (LGA) (EWR): $43
  • Private New York City Airport-to-Airport Transfer (JFK/LGA/EWR): $43
  • Private Transfer from Manhattan Port to New York Airport (LGA): $44
  • Private Transfer from Newark Airport (EWR) to Cape Liberty Port: $44
  • Private Transfer from New York to Cape Liberty Cruise Port: $44

Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or New York City?

Prices for flights to both New York City 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
    New York City $87

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.

  • Vientiane classic Food tour ( Included Food ): $78
  • Night Market, Dinner, and Nightclub: $90
  • Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour and Lunch: $95
  • Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour: $122
  • Cooking Class Garden House: $335

Typical Food Prices in New York City

For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Gelato
    $7.50
  • Snacks for Two at Yankees Game
    $34
  • Coffee
    $6.53
  • Smoothie
    $6.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City

For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • East Village Noho Food Tour: $32
  • The Chinatown, Little Italy, Food Tour: $35
  • The Lower East Side Food Tour: $35
  • Sweets and Slices Greenwich Village Walking Food Tour: $49
  • New York City's Best Pizza tour: $59
  • Made in Brooklyn Food Tour: $65
  • Greenwich Village Pizza Walk: $75
  • Brooklyn Pizza Walk: $75
  • New York's Classic Eats West Village Food Tour: $75
  • New York's Classic Eats Lower East Side Food Tour: $75
  • Union Square Donut Adventure and Walking Food Tour: $75
  • East Village Pizza Walk: $75

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Vientiane $3.80
    New York City $180

Tours and Activities in Vientiane

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

  • Vientiane Cultural Tour with Private Guide: $110
  • 1-Day Tour to Vang Vieng with Private Guide: $200
  • 1-Day Vientiane City Adventure: Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $110
  • From Plain of Jars Tour & Homestay: $1,650
  • From Vang Vieng 2-Day Tour with Blue Lagoon: $443
  • From Vang Vieng Tour with Cave Kayak & Zipline: $113
  • Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $99
  • Half Day Private Tour in City Highlights: $120
  • Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $90
  • Lao Arts Museum & City Highlights Tour with Lunch: $122
  • Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
  • Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $30

Typical Entertainment Prices in New York City

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Comedy Show Tickets
    $56
  • City Map
    $8.00
  • Broadway Musical
    $111
  • Broadway Show Program
    $10
  • Magazine
    $6.99

Tours and Activities in New York City

For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • New York's Hidden Gems: Self-Guided City Tour: $3.56
  • Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.75
  • Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
  • Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.39
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $5.94
  • Brooklyn, NY Street Art Puzzle Quest: Self-Guided Tour: $5.94
  • New York City Audio Tour: $6.41
  • Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
  • Private Haunted and Historic Audio Tour in Greenwich Village: $6.95
  • Luxury Horse and Carriage Tours in Central Park: $6.99
  • Central Park Outdoor Escape Adventure: $7.00
  • Movie Magic in Central Park: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure: $7.09

For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.


Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Vientiane $2.12
    New York City $29

Sample the Local Flavors in New York City

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:

  • Brooklyn Distillery Tour : $22
  • NYC Pub Crawl Experience: $24
  • Distillery Tour and Tasting: $25
  • NYC Pub Crawl Tour: $30
  • NYC Pub Crawl with Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $33
  • Top Shelf Distillery Tour: $33
  • New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
  • Cheers to Chinatown Tour and Bar Crawl: $40
  • Brooklyn Literary Pub Crawl: $49
  • Greenwich Village Piano Bar Crawl: $50
  • Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
  • Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64


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


Which is Bigger, Vientiane or New York City?

New York City has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and New York City, 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 New York City?

New York City 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 New York City in the Summer?

Both New York City 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, many visitors come to New York City in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Vientiane is a little warmer than New York City in the summer. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and New York City fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

New York City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually gets more rain in July than New York City. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while New York City receives 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Vientiane 30°C (85°F) 
    New York City 77°F (25°C)

Should I visit Vientiane or New York City in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and New York City. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Vientiane is much warmer than New York City. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vientiane in October average around 28°C (83°F), and New York City averages at about 57°F (14°C).

In October, Vientiane usually receives more rain than New York City. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Vientiane 28°C (83°F) 
    New York City 57°F (14°C)

Should I visit Vientiane or New York City in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as New York City. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to New York City because of the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.

The weather in New York City can be very cold. In January, Vientiane is generally much warmer than New York City. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 24°C (75°F), and New York City fluctuates around 31°F (-1°C).

Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than New York City. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Vientiane 24°C (75°F) 
    New York City 31°F (-1°C)

Should I visit Vientiane or New York City in the Spring?

Both New York City 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 activities around the city and the natural beauty are the main draw to New York City this time of year.

It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. Vientiane is much warmer than New York City in the spring. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and New York City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In April, Vientiane usually receives less rain than New York City. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while New York City receives 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Vientiane 31°C (88°F) 
    New York City 52°F (11°C)

Typical Weather for New York City and Vientiane

Vientiane New York City
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (75°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 31°F (-1°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 33°F (1°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Mar 29°C (85°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 42°F (6°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm)
Apr 31°C (88°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 52°F (11°C) 3.8 inches (98 mm)
May 30°C (87°F) 255 mm (10 in) 63°F (17°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)
Jun 30°C (86°F) 273 mm (10.7 in) 72°F (22°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Jul 30°C (85°F) 266 mm (10.5 in) 77°F (25°C) 4.5 inches (114 mm)
Aug 29°C (85°F) 323 mm (12.7 in) 76°F (24°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 295 mm (11.6 in) 68°F (20°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Oct 28°C (83°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 57°F (14°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 47°F (8°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Dec 24°C (74°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 36°F (2°C) 3.4 inches (88 mm)