Which place is cheaper, Saint John or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Vientiane or Saint John?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Saint John, 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 Saint John?
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.
Saint John
With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.
This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos.
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Vientiane Prices
Laos PricesSaint John Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $24Saint John $233
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $24, while the average daily cost in Saint John is $233. 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 Saint John in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $8.45Saint John $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $17Saint John $212
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Saint John
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Saint John? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.01Saint John $49
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.15
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Saint John?
Prices for flights to both Saint John 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 $12Saint John $97
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.80Saint John $23
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
Tours and Activities in Saint John
Here are a few actual costs in Saint John for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- St. John: A Private Island Adventure Tour & Trunk Bay Beach: $627
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.12Saint John $44
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Saint John, we can see that Saint John 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 Saint John is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint John would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint John 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 Saint John Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Vientiane or Saint John?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Vientiane or Saint John in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Saint John. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Vientiane gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Saint John. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Vientiane is around the same temperature as Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Saint John 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Saint John in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Saint John. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Saint John. Vientiane usually gets less rain in October than Saint John. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Vientiane is around the same temperature as Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vientiane in October average around 28°C (83°F), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Saint John 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Saint John in the Winter?
Both Saint John and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Saint John. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Vientiane is generally around the same temperature as Saint John. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 24°C (75°F), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Saint John 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Saint John in the Spring?
Both Saint John 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.
Vientiane usually gets more rain in April than Saint John. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. Vientiane is a little warmer than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Saint John 27°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Saint John and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Saint John | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 127 mm (5 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 146 mm (5.7 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 126 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.