Which place is cheaper, Rome or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $15Rome $182
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in Rome is $182. 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 personVientiane $6.00Rome $95
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $12Rome $190
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.
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 $2.08Rome $23
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
-
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 Rome
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Rome:
-
Metro Ride (for Two)$2.14
-
Train to the Airport$16
-
Taxi to Airport$48
-
Bicycle Rental (Full Day)$11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rome
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Rome:
- Shuttle Bus Transfer to or from Ciampino Airport: $6.46
- Bus Transfer Between Airport and Rome Termini Station: $6.46
- Shuttle Bus Transfer to or from Fiumicino Airport: $7.53
- Transfer Fiumicino Airport - Rome center: $7.64
- Transfer Rome center - Ciampino Airport: $7.64
- Bus Transfer from Rome to Milan or Vice Versa: $11
- Transfer from Termini Station to the Maximo Shopping Center: $15
- Civitavecchia Port to/from Vatican City Bus Transfer: $16
- Transfer between Fiumicino Airport and Rome Termini: $17
- Ciampino Airport Rome (CIA) to Rome - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- Rome to Ciampino Airport Rome (CIA) - Departure Private Transfer: $26
- Private Departure Transfer: Rome Hotels to Train Station: $28
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 dayVientiane $6.30Rome $51
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 Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Rome:
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$15
-
4 Ice Cream Sandwiches$3.20
-
Cafe e doce$4.29
-
Pizza (Fast Food)$2.84
-
Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$34
-
Cheese and bread$11
-
Espresso$2.14
-
Dinner$62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rome
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Rome.
- Award-Winning Roman Food Tours: $16
- Eat Pasta in Rome, Testaccio - Self-Guided Walking Food Tour: $17
- Vatican and Trionfale Farmers Market Food tour and Wine tasting : $32
- Vatican Street Food Tour around the Biggest Fresh Market in Rome: $32
- Roman Master Chef Cooking Class with Wine: $37
- Roman Dinner & History Tour: An Epic Journey Through Time: $37
- Tasty Trionfale Farmers Market Food Tour and Local Wines Tasting: $38
- Campo dei Fiori & Jewish Ghetto area Street Food Tour: $42
- Rome Food Tour : Street Food Testings with Local Guide: $43
- Painting and Pizza Party in Rome: $43
- Pub Crawl and Ultimate Party with Open Bar and Pizza: $43
- Tiber River Urban Rafting Tour with Roman Pizza: $43
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.53Rome $39
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 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)$74
-
Coliseum Tickets (for Two)$35
-
Roma Pass$32
-
Hop on Hop Off Bus (All Day)$21
-
Segway Tour$80
Tours and Activities in Rome
Here are a few actual costs in Rome for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cambridge: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Bergamo Old Town: Discovery Walk & Reading Walking Tour: $3.23
- Roman Forum and Palatine Hill Self-Guided Audio Tour: $3.26
- Shared 4 Hours Guided tour of the House of the Emperor Hadrian: $5.11
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Rome: $5.34
- Bergamo Old Town: City Exploration Game and Tour: $5.38
- Rome Walking Tour Including the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain: $5.45
- Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere Tour Rome: $5.45
- Vatican Night Tour - Rome: $5.45
- Twilight Treasures: An Evening Tour Through Rome's Rich History: $5.45
- Civitavecchia's Stories and Secrets: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.50
- An insider's look at A Self-Guided Audio Tour : $5.61
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.34Rome $19
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rome
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rome:
-
Bottle of Wine$6.96
-
Pint of Beer$6.79
-
Beer$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Rome
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Rome:
- Cabaret & Burlesque Show: $32
- Vatican Street Food and Wine Tour with Farmers Market: $38
- The Best Wine Tasting in Trastevere with food pairing and Gelato: $49
- Bar Crawl with Local Guide & Drinks: $53
- Roman Night Life and Burlesque Show Tour: $54
- Wine Tour in Historic Center of Rome: $55
- Agricultural Brewery Tour in the Roman Countryside: $55
- Small-Group Exclusive Winery and Wine Tasting Tour in Frascati: $60
- Pasta Making Class & Wine Tasting in a Trasteve Villa: $68
- E-Bike Night Tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $69
- Rome by Night-Ebike tour with Food and Wine Tasting: $70
- Taste of Tuscany: Food & Wine tour with Florentine Steak: $74
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 JulyVientiane 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 OctoberVientiane 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 JanuaryVientiane 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 AprilVientiane 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) |
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.