Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Vientiane?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vientiane or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Whitsundays, 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $15Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $15, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $6.01Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $12Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Whitsundays? 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 $2.08Whitsundays $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63
- 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 Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 $6.32Whitsundays $30
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 Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.54Whitsundays $25
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: $62
- 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
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.35Whitsundays $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays is in Pacific, 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Vientiane or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Whitsundays. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Vientiane is a little warmer than Whitsundays in the summer. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the summer, Vientiane often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Vientiane receives a lot of rain in the summer. Vientiane usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryVientiane 30°C (85°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
Both Whitsundays and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.
In the autumn, Vientiane is a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vientiane in October average around 28°C (83°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Whitsundays during autumn. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In October, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin April. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilVientiane 28°C (83°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Whitsundays in the Winter?
Both Whitsundays 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.
In January, Vientiane is generally a little warmer than Whitsundaysin July. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 24°C (75°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the winter, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Whitsundaysin July. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyVientiane 24°C (75°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Whitsundays in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.
It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. Vientiane is a little warmer than Whitsundays in the spring. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberVientiane 31°C (88°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.