Which place is cheaper, San Juan or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vientiane or San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or San Juan, 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 San Juan?
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.
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $15San Juan $192
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $192. 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 San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $6.00San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $12San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or San Juan? 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 San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.08San Juan $14
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
- 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
- Private Transfer in Laos: $5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer - Hotel / Accommodation to San Juan Airport: $22
- San Juan One-way Transfer: $30
- San Juan hotels to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- San Juan Luxury Private Round-Trip Transfer: SJU Airport - Cruise Pier - Hotel : $50
- Oneway Transfer- San Juan(SJU, hotel, airbnb, port) to Río Grande: $68
- Old Walking Tour with Shopping and Hotel Transfer: $70
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla Y Luxury SUV, Select Zone: $77
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Tesla S Lux Sedan, Select Zone: $79
- Oneway Transfer San Juan to Ceiba: Ferry, Vieques/Culebra Airport: $80
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Lexus Luxury Sedan, Select Zone: $81
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfer, Ford Premium SUV, Select Zone: $87
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $6.30San Juan $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Old San Juan Sunset Food Tour with Drinks: $156
- Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walk and Food Tour: $159
- City Lights Sky High Dinner Experience: $165
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.53San Juan $49
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- Self-Guided Audio Tour of Historic Buildings: $5.99
- Discover Old In-App Audio Tour of History: $11
- Self-Guided Tour with Audio Guide: $14
- Group Transportation in airport, cruise ships, hotels, bnb's in San Juan, PR: $20
- Old Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $25
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Certified Guide: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- History, Legends, & Highlights Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Old San Juan Walking Tour: $39
- Old San Juan City Walking Tour: $39
- Legacy Tour at Casa BarcadÍ in Puerto Rico: $45
- Ron del Barrilito Skip-the-Line Heritage Tour Ticket: $46
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.34San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Pinones Pub crawl in Puerto Rico: $50
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 San Juan 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or San Juan?
San Juan has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and San Juan, 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 San Juan?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Vientiane or San Juan in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as San Juan. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year.
Vientiane receives a lot of rain in the summer. Vientiane usually gets more rain in July than San Juan. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In the summer, Vientiane often gets less sunshine than San Juan. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 287 hours of full sun.
Vientiane is around the same temperature as San Juan in the summer. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and San Juan fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)San Juan 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or San Juan in the Autumn?
Both San Juan and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in San Juan. In October, Vientiane usually receives less rain than San Juan. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
It's quite sunny in San Juan. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan during autumn. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 235 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Vientiane is around the same temperature as San Juan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vientiane in October average around 28°C (83°F), and San Juan averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)San Juan 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or San Juan in the Winter?
Both San Juan and Vientiane during the winter 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 San Juan year-round.
Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than San Juan. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In San Juan, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the winter, Vientiane often gets around the same amount of sunshine as San Juan. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while San Juan receives 240 hours of full sun.
In January, Vientiane is generally around the same temperature as San Juan. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 24°C (75°F), and San Juan fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)San Juan 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or San Juan in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and San Juan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Vientiane usually receives more rain than San Juan. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while San Juan receives 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in San Juan this time of the year. In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than San Juan during spring. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while San Juan receives 272 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. Vientiane is a little warmer than San Juan in the spring. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and San Juan fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)San Juan 26°C (79°F)
Typical Weather for San Juan and Vientiane
| Vientiane | San Juan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 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.