Which place is cheaper, Seattle 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 Seattle?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Seattle, 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 Seattle?
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.
Seattle
Situated on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington, Seattle is the largest city in the United States Pacific Northwest. It's a beautiful city surrounded by the water and mountains and filled with evergreen trees. It's also the home of some famous American institutions including Starbucks Coffee, Amazon, and Microsoft. The population of almost 700,000 continues to grow. As of 2014, the city was considered the fastest growing major city in the United States. The entire metropolitan area has about 3.6 million residents, making it the 15th largest metro area in the US. The natural beauty, growing economy, and educational base give Seattle a youthful vibe that keep the city young and energetic.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.
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Vientiane Prices
Laos PricesSeattle Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $23Seattle $242
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $23, while the average daily cost in Seattle is $242. 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 Seattle in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $8.17Seattle $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $16Seattle $240
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Seattle
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Seattle? 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 Seattle Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $1.94Seattle $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.02
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
- Private transfer from Vientiane to Vang vieng: $120
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Seattle
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Seattle:
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Lightrail from Airport (for 2)$5.50
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Roundtrip Ferry to Bainbridge Island (for 2)$15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Seattle
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Seattle:
- One-Way Seattle Airport Transfer Service: $27
- One - Way Transfer from Pier 66 to SeaTac international Airport: $27
- Transfer Pier 91 to International SeaTac Airport One Way: $27
- One-Way Transfer: Pier 91 to Airport: $32
- Private Transfer from Seattle hotels to Smith Cove Terminal: $37
- SEA Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $37
- Seattle Airport & Cruise Transfers | SUVs, Vans & Buses: $38
- Private SEA Airport Transfer to Downtown Seattle & Cruise Pier: $42
- Seattle to Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA) - Departure Private Transfer: $62
- Seattle Airport Private Hotel Transfer up to 5 passengers: $64
- Seattle Departure Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfer by Sedan: $83
- Private One-way Airport Transfer from Seattle to Seattle Airport: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Seattle?
Prices for flights to both Seattle 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 $12Seattle $88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.
- Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour and Lunch: $70
- Vientiane classic Food tour ( Included Food ): $78
- Night Market, Dinner, and Nightclub: $90
- Small-Group Street Food Tour with Tastings: $91
- Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour: $122
- Cooking Class Garden House: $335
Typical Food Prices in Seattle
Some typical examples of dining costs in Seattle are as follows:
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Expresso & cookie at Pier 70$7.00
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Cashews at Pike Place Market$6.00
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6 Mini Donuts at Pike Place Market$3.25
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Chinese Lunch in International District (for 2)$21
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Breakfast at Lowel's in Pike Place Market (for 2)$32
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Breakfast at French Cafe (for 2)$37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Seattle
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Seattle.
- Plant-Based in Pike Place Food Tour: $50
- Seattle Holiday Food Tour: Delicious Donuts & Holiday Treats: $70
- Pike Place Market Food Tour with 9+ Tastings: $73
- Seattle : Best Street Food Tour With A Local Guide: $73
- Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market: $75
- Seattle Pike Market Food Tour with 8 Authentic & Local Tastings: $75
- Fun Taco Cooking Class With a Local Chef in Seattle: $75
- Pike Place Market Chef-Guided Food Tour: $75
- Japanese Ramen Cooking Class With Local Chef: $75
- Fun Taco Cooking Class With a Local Chef in Seattle: $75
- Chef Food Tour of Seattle Space Needle and Seattle Center: $85
- Pike Place Market: Original Food Tour - Tips Included!: $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.68Seattle $16
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: $8.50
- Vientiane Lao Art Museum Admission Ticket: $10
- Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $12
- Art, Culture, & Inspiration Guided Half-Day Tour: $52
- Half-Day City Tour with Patuxai and Buddha Park: $52
- Vientiane Landmarks and Cultural Immersion Tour: $56
- Cultural Tour with Buddha Park and Patuxay: $58
- Vientiane IG tour & Patuxay monument: $59
- Explore Vientiane with Lao Art Museum Tour: $61
- Half-Day City Tour - Morning or Afternoon: $65
- Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $75
- Vientiane Half Day City Tour (Daily Guaranteed): $80
Tours and Activities in Seattle
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Seattle are as follows:
- Discover A Self-Guided Tour: $1.12
- Pike Place Market Personalized Self-Guided App Tour: $5.00
- Podcast Tour Seattle The Glass Jungle and the Price of Tomorrow: $6.85
- Seattle Self Guided Audio Tour of Pike Place and Waterfront: $7.99
- Experience Mining For Genuine Montana Sapphires in SODO, Seattle: $10
- Seattle Downtown Pioneers to Starbucks Self Guided Walking Tour: $12
- Uncover Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Seattle Gay History Tour Queers Queens and Everything in Between: $20
- National Nordic Museum Entry Ticket: $24
- Seattle Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
- Smith Tower Observatory Access Ticket: $25
- Sinister Sins, Scandal, and Shadows of Seattle Guided Ghost Tour: $26
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.05Seattle $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Seattle
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Seattle:
- Astonishing Bar Crawl in Seattle Belltown Bar Blitz: $15
- Seattle Terrors Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $29
- Seattle Terrors Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Seattle Pioneer Square Ghost Tour and Pub Crawl: $35
- Personalized Wine Tasting Experience in Seattle: $60
- Woodinville's Downtown Wine Tasting Pass: $65
- Diverse Wine Tasting Experience with Bites: $75
- Pike Place Market Tour with Wine Tasting: $77
- Woodinville Guided Wine Tour with Optional Tastings: $109
- Bon Vivant Woodinville Wine Tasting Tour: $120
- Private Wine Tour on Whidbey Island, WA 7hrs: $169
- Hollywood Artisan Wine Tasting Experience: $249
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Seattle, we can see that Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Seattle would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Seattle 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 Seattle Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Seattle?
Seattle has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Seattle, 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 Seattle?
Seattle 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 Seattle in the Summer?
Both Seattle and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Also, the beaches, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Seattle this time of year.
In July, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Seattle. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 30°C (85°F), and Seattle fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).
It's quite sunny in Seattle. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Seattle during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 313 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Vientiane. In July, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Seattle. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Seattle 67°F (19°C)
Should I visit Vientiane or Seattle in the Autumn?
Both Seattle and Vientiane during the autumn 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 travelers come to Seattle for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
Vientiane is much warmer than Seattle in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and Seattle fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).
It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the autumn, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Seattle. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 143 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Seattle. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Seattle 54°F (12°C)
Should I visit Vientiane or Seattle in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Seattle. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Seattle in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Vientiane is much warmer than Seattle. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vientiane in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Seattle averages at about 42°F (5°C).
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Seattle during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Seattle receives 67 hours of full sun in the winter.
Seattle receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Seattle. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 5.4 inches (136 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Seattle 42°F (5°C)
Should I visit Vientiane or Seattle in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Seattle. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Seattle for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty during these months.
Vientiane can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Seattle. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 31°C (88°F), and Seattle fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Seattle. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the spring, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Seattle. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Seattle receives 212 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets more rain in April than Seattle. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Seattle receives 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Seattle 51°F (11°C)
Typical Weather for Seattle and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Seattle | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 42°F (5°C) | 5.4 inches (136 mm) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 45°F (7°C) | 4 inches (102 mm) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 51°F (11°C) | 2.5 inches (64 mm) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 57°F (14°C) | 1.9 inches (47 mm) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 0.9 inches (22 mm) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 67°F (19°C) | 1.2 inches (31 mm) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (49 mm) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 47°F (8°C) | 5.7 inches (144 mm) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 42°F (6°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) |
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.