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

Should you visit Vientiane or Rome?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Rome, 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 Rome?

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.

Rome

Rome is the capital and largest city in Italy. It is also a common entry point for most visitors flying into the country. Rome has been a center of power, culture, and religion for the last millenium, making it one of the most famous and popular destinations in not only Europe, but the world. The influence of the Roman Empire can be seen across continents.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Rome 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
    Rome Prices
    Italy Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Vientiane $24
    Rome $243

The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $24, while the average daily cost in Rome is $243. 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 Rome in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Vientiane $8.45
    Rome $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Vientiane $17
    Rome $212
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Rome

Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Rome? 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 Rome


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 Rome Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Vientiane $2.01
    Rome $25
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:

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Rome

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:


  • Metro Ride (for Two)
    $2.35
  • Train to the Airport
    $18
  • Taxi to Airport
    $53
  • Bicycle Rental (Full Day)
    $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:

  • Bus Transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Vatican City: $7.21
  • Transfer Ciampino Airport - Rome center: $8.42
  • Transfer Fiumicino Airport - Rome City Centre : $8.42
  • Transfer Rome center - Ciampino Airport: $8.42
  • Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $9.30
  • Rome from Civitavecchia Transfer with Optional Open Bus: $36
  • Transfer from Civitavecchia by train with Rome HopOnHopOff Option: $39
  • Luxury Private Transfer from/to Fiumicino Airport to Rome Center: $41
  • Luxury Private Transfer Rome Center to Fiumicino Airport: $44
  • Ciampino Transfer: $44
  • Transfer between Rome and the Fiumicino Airport FCO: $45
  • Rome’s Bone Chapel with Panoramic Transfer: $46

Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Rome?

Prices for flights to both Rome 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
    Rome $98

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 Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $16
  • 4 Ice Cream Sandwiches
    $3.51
  • Cafe e doce
    $4.69
  • Pizza (Fast Food)
    $3.11
  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    $37
  • Cheese and bread
    $12
  • Espresso
    $2.35
  • Dinner
    $68

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome

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

  • Pizzas and Piazzas: A Self-Guided Walk of Rome’s Culinary Culture: $20
  • Hard Rock Cafe Rome with Set Lunch or Dinner: $34
  • Rome City Center Largest Farmers Market and Street Food Tour : $35
  • Pizza and Tiramisu Cooking Class near the Colosseum: $35
  • Pizza Making Class with Spritz & Mixology: $35
  • Tasty Trionfale Farmers Market Food Tour and Local Wines Tasting: $42
  • Pasta Making & Wine Tasting with Dinner in Frascati from Rome: $46
  • Gnocchi Cooking Class in Rome - Piazza Navona: $46
  • Vatican Street Food Tour and Wine Experience with Local Guide: $47
  • Rome Food Tour : Street Food Testings with Local Guide: $47
  • Rome Food Tour by the Vatican : $52
  • Pizza Cooking Class in Rome City Center - Piazza Navona: $52

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Vientiane $3.80
    Rome $42

Tours and Activities in Vientiane

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

  • Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
  • Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $30
  • Art, Culture, & Inspiration Guided Half-Day Tour: $52
  • Half-Day City Tour with Patuxai and Buddha Park: $52
  • Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $55
  • Vientiane Landmarks and Cultural Immersion Tour: $56
  • Cultural Tour with Buddha Park and Patuxay: $58
  • Vientiane IG tour & Patuxay monument: $59
  • Half-Day City Tour - Morning or Afternoon: $65
  • Vientiane Half Day City Tour: $80
  • Vientiane : Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $88
  • Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $89

Typical Entertainment Prices in Rome

Here are a few typical costs in Rome for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Rome Museum Vaticano (for 2)
    $81
  • Coliseum Tickets (for Two)
    $39
  • Roma Pass
    $35
  • Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)
    $23
  • Segway Tour
    $88

Tours and Activities in Rome

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

  • Self Guided Audio Tour with 100 Captivating Stories in Rome: $3.59
  • Rome and Tuscany Secret Treasures Self Guided Walking Tour: $4.20
  • Piazza del Popolo and Historical Sights Walking Tour in Rome: $4.21
  • Twilight Treasures: An Evening Tour Through Rome's Rich History: $4.57
  • Rome Art Walking Tour Who Killed Caravaggio: $4.81
  • Ghosts Legends and Mysteries of Rome Walking Tour: $4.81
  • Colosseum and Roman Forum Sightseeing Area Night Walking Tour: $4.81
  • Rome Timeless Trail Self Guided Walking Tour with App: $5.78
  • Rome Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $5.88
  • Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Rome: $5.88
  • What Emperor Hadrian Lost: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Ancient Rome: $5.99
  • Rome Empress Mystery: Self-Guided Adventure Game: $6.00

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Vientiane $2.12
    Rome $21

Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $7.63
  • Pint of Beer
    $7.44
  • Beer
    $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Rome

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:

  • Wine Tasting and Food Pairing Small Group Experience: $19
  • Rome Pub Crawl in the Old Town: $19
  • Trionfale Farmers Market and Vatican Quarter Food and Wine Tour: $35
  • Vatican Food and Wine Tasting Tour next to the Sistine Chapel: $35
  • Rome’s Exclusive Wine Tasting: Sip Near the Colosseum!: $39
  • Experience Rome Exclusive Wine Tasting in City Center: $47
  • Tour of Rome with wine tasting: $54
  • Guided Wine Tasting Experience in a Roman Vineyard: $59
  • Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $60
  • Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $66
  • Wine Tasting Cold cuts and Rare Cheeses in Grotta a Testaccio: $72
  • Trastevere Food and Wine Tasting Tour: $77


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


Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Rome?

Rome has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Rome, 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 Rome?

Rome 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 Rome in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Rome. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Rome for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Vientiane is generally a little warmer than Rome. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 30°C (85°F), and Rome fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Rome this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Rome during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.

Vientiane gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Rome. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Vientiane 30°C (85°F) 
    Rome 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Vientiane or Rome in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Rome. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Rome in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Vientiane is much warmer than Rome in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and Rome fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the autumn, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Rome. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun.

Vientiane usually gets less rain in October than Rome. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Vientiane 28°C (83°F) 
    Rome 17°C (63°F)

Should I visit Vientiane or Rome in the Winter?

Both Rome 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, most visitors come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, Vientiane is much warmer than Rome. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vientiane in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Rome averages at about 8°C (47°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Rome during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Rome. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Vientiane 24°C (75°F) 
    Rome 8°C (47°F)

Should I visit Vientiane or Rome in the Spring?

Both Rome 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, the spring months attract visitors to Rome because of 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 Rome. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 31°C (88°F), and Rome fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

In Rome, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Rome. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun.

Vientiane usually gets more rain in April than Rome. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Vientiane 31°C (88°F) 
    Rome 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for Rome and Vientiane

Vientiane Rome
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (75°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 8°C (47°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 9°C (49°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Mar 29°C (85°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 11°C (52°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Apr 31°C (88°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 14°C (57°F) 50 mm (2 in)
May 30°C (87°F) 255 mm (10 in) 18°C (64°F) 42 mm (1.6 in)
Jun 30°C (86°F) 273 mm (10.7 in) 22°C (71°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Jul 30°C (85°F) 266 mm (10.5 in) 25°C (77°F) 19 mm (0.7 in)
Aug 29°C (85°F) 323 mm (12.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 295 mm (11.6 in) 22°C (71°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Oct 28°C (83°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 17°C (63°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Dec 24°C (74°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 9°C (49°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)