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

Should you visit Vientiane or Split?

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

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

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.

Split

Spit is a historic city in Central Dalmatia with many opportunities to glimpse its fascinating past in its historic city center. Centuries ago the city grew up around a Diocletian palace that was used as refuge by the locals.

Today, as you wander around the historic center, you can see the remains of the Roman walls, temples, and squares. Despite it's appeal to tourists, Split is much more than just a tourist destination. It is larger than you might initially realize and it spreads well beyond the historic center. There is a population of about 300,000 in the larger area and it is an economic center for the region.

Split has a beautiful climate with mild winters, countless sunny days, and a generally pleasant temperature. As such, there are many opportunities to enjoy yourself outdoors, whether by participating in sports or walking around the city's quaint streets. Winters in Split are also quite mild, but there may be one snowy day, on average, every year. This rare snowfall can cause a significant disruption in the flow of traffic.

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


Which place is cheaper, Split or Vientiane?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $24, while the average daily cost in Split is $148. 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 Split in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Vientiane $8.45
    Split $86
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Vientiane $17
    Split $172
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Split

Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Split? 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 Split


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 Split Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Vientiane $2.01
    Split $17
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:

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Split

Also for Split, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Split Airport = Split Transfer (both ways options): $37
  • Private transfer from Split airport - Split, Kastela or Podstrana: $39
  • Private Transfer from Split Airport (SPU) to Slatine (Island Ciovo): $39
  • Ferry Transfers Between Split and Hvar: $40
  • Airport Private Transfer to Split : $40
  • Airport Private Transfer from Split: $40
  • Luxury private transfer: Split airport to Split: $40
  • Luxury private transfer: Split Town to Split airport: $40
  • Split Cruise Port to Split Airport SPU-Departure Private Transfer: $42
  • Split Airport (SPU) to Cruise Port of Split - Arrival Private Transfer: $42
  • Private Transfer from Split Airport (SPU) to Cruise Port of Split: $42
  • Private Transfer from Cruise Port of Split to Split hotels: $42

Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Split?

Prices for flights to both Split 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
    Split $48

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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Split

For Split, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Small Group Food Tour with Private Option: $53
  • Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite at a Time: $140
  • Split Food Tour: Discover Split One Bite At A Time: $143
  • A Vineyard Feast: A Group Dinner and Wine Tasting: $199
  • Split Cooking Class: $210
  • Split Cooking Class - Afternoon Edition Shared Activity: $210
  • Vegan Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Split: $210
  • Cooking class on island Brac: $251

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Vientiane $3.80
    Split $4.36

Tours and Activities in Vientiane

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

  • Vientiane Cultural Tour with Private Guide: $110
  • 1-Day Tour to Vang Vieng with Private Guide: $200
  • 1-Day Vientiane City Adventure: Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $110
  • From Plain of Jars Tour & Homestay: $1,650
  • From Vang Vieng 2-Day Tour with Blue Lagoon: $443
  • From Vang Vieng Tour with Cave Kayak & Zipline: $113
  • Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $99
  • Half Day Private Tour in City Highlights: $120
  • Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $90
  • Lao Arts Museum & City Highlights Tour with Lunch: $122
  • Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
  • Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $30

Tours and Activities in Split

For Split, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Split Quest Experience: Discover the City: $5.99
  • Explore the Roman Splendor of Split on a Self Guided Walking Tour: $6.93
  • Diocletian's Palace & Old Town Guided Walking Tour: $9.36
  • Split Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.53
  • Walking tour of Diocletian's Palace in Split: $9.54
  • Quest Experience in Marjan Hill Witch Hunt: $12
  • Split's Old Town and Marjan Hill: A Self Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Trogir Open Top Bus Trip + Free Split Walking Tour: $13
  • Klis Fortress GOT and Olive Museum Entry Tickets: $14
  • Museum of Illusions Entrance Ticket: $14
  • Adriatic Blues and Roman Clues Split Audio Tour: $15
  • Sightseeing Split's Roman Ruins: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Vientiane $2.12
    Split $9.35

Sample the Local Flavors in Split

Also in Split, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Diocletian's Palace Walking and Wine Tasting Tour: $18
  • Tower Pub Crawl in Split: $32
  • From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $44
  • From Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $45
  • Split/Trogir: Krka National Park Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $49
  • From Krka Waterfalls day tour & wine tasting: $49
  • Krka National Park Tour with tour Guide & Wine tasting from Split & Trogir: $50
  • Wine Tasting at Seafront Tasting Room in Kastela: $54
  • Split&Sip: Educational wine tasting: $56
  • Educational wine tasting in Split: $57
  • Wine Tasting in the Diocletian's Palace: $59
  • Wine Tasting in the Diocletian’s Palace: $60


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


Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Split?

Vientiane has a larger population, and is about 12% larger than the population of Split. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Split, 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 Split?

Split 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 Split in the Summer?

Both Split and Vientiane during the summer 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 visitors come to Split in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Vientiane is a little warmer than Split. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vientiane in July average around 30°C (85°F), and Split averages at about 26°C (80°F).

In Split, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vientiane often gets less sunshine than Split. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Split receives 345 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually gets more rain in July than Split. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Split receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Vientiane 30°C (85°F) 
    Split 26°C (80°F)

Should I visit Vientiane or Split in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Split. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Split for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Split. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 28°C (83°F), and Split fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Split this time of the year. In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Split during autumn. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Split receives 200 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Split. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Split receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Vientiane 28°C (83°F) 
    Split 18°C (64°F)

Should I visit Vientiane or Split in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Split. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Split because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Vientiane is much warmer than Split in the winter. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Split fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the winter, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Split. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Split receives 128 hours of full sun.

Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than Split. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Split receives 83 mm (3.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


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

Should I visit Vientiane or Split in the Spring?

Both Split and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Also, the beaches and the activities around the city are the main draw to Split this time of year.

The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane is much warmer than Split. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vientiane in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Split averages at about 15°C (59°F).

It's quite sunny in Split. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Split during spring. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Split receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Split. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Split receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Vientiane 31°C (88°F) 
    Split 15°C (59°F)

Typical Weather for Split and Vientiane

Vientiane Split
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 24°C (75°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 8°C (47°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 9°C (48°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Mar 29°C (85°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 11°C (52°F) 75 mm (3 in)
Apr 31°C (88°F) 85 mm (3.3 in) 15°C (59°F) 66 mm (2.6 in)
May 30°C (87°F) 255 mm (10 in) 20°C (67°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Jun 30°C (86°F) 273 mm (10.7 in) 23°C (74°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Jul 30°C (85°F) 266 mm (10.5 in) 26°C (80°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Aug 29°C (85°F) 323 mm (12.7 in) 26°C (79°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 295 mm (11.6 in) 22°C (72°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Oct 28°C (83°F) 87 mm (3.4 in) 18°C (64°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 13°C (56°F) 108 mm (4.3 in)
Dec 24°C (74°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 10°C (49°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)