Is Vientiane expensive to visit?
Vientiane is a very affordable travel destination with an average daily cost of $23. Compared to the rest of Asia, it is a very affordable place to visit. It's ranked in the top 10% of cities in Asia for its affordability, comparable to places like Jaipur and Pokhara.

Vientiane, Laos
How expensive is Vientiane?
On average, visitors spend about $23 per day when visiting Vientiane (U.S. Dollars). Two travelers together would spend an average of $47 per day. Prices vary dramatically by travel style and length of trip, but if you stay at moderately priced hotels, eat at affordable restaurants, and use public transportation when possible, you can expect to stay close to this budget. See more travel costs for Vientiane here.
How expensive is a weekend trip (three days) to Vientiane?
A weekend trip to Vientiane costs about $70 per person on average, based on the previous expenses of other travelers. This includes accommodation, sightseeting activities, transportation, food, and nightlife. For two people, a weekend trip costs $140.
How expensive is a one week (7-day) trip to Vientiane?
Based on the travel expenses of others, a one week trip to Vientiane costs around $163 on average, per person. This includes food, sightseeing, local transportation, accommodation, and nightlife. For two people, a one week trip costs $326.
Is it expensive to backpack in Vientiane?
With more than 10 hostels around town, Vientiane is a very popular backpacker destination. Hostels usually cost around $6 per night. There's a wide range in prices though, with the cheapest beds costing about $4 and the most expensive rooms costing about $8. (See hostel prices in Vientiane here.)
Here are a few sample prices from popular hostels in Vientiane.
- $8 for a dorm bed at Barn1920s Hostel
- $8 for a dorm bed at Sailomyen Cafe & Hostel
- $6 for a dorm bed at TT Hostel
Are hotels expensive in Vientiane?
Hotel prices in Vientiane are very affordable compared to hotels in other cities. You can expect to spend about $30 per night for a room on average. There are around 2 five star hotels in the city and they average $69 per night. Three star hotels average $30 a night and two star hotels average $23 per night.
Hotels by star rating in Vientiane
Rating | Number of Hotels | Average Hotel Price |
---|---|---|
5 stars | 2 | $69 |
4 stars | 6 | $63 |
3 stars | 41 | $30 |
2 stars | 26 | $23 |
1 star | 1 | $8 |
How expensive are sightseeing activities in Vientiane?
Activities and things to do in Vientiane can vary in price depending on the type of activity, length, and location. Below are a number of popular activities to give you an idea of what to expect when visiting. Generally, previous travelers have spent $4 per day on sightseeing activities and things to do when visiting, which is more than the country's average of $3.
- Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $90
- Private Tour: Half-day City Guided Tour of Vientiane: $113
- Vientiane to Vang Vieng Private Tour: $200
- Private Vientiane Tour - Buddha Park included: $120
- Private Tour: Vientiane City Tour Full Day with Buddha Park: $145
- Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $89
- Vientiane Private Walking Tour With A Guide (Private Tour): $78
Is food expensive in Vientiane?
Food in Vientiane can vary in price depending on the restaurant and food options available. Generally, other travelers have spent $12 on food per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $10. To save money, eat at less expensive restaurants, try street food, or cook your own meals when possible.
- Private Evening Food Tour : $100
- Vientiane classic Food tour ( Included Food ): $78
- Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour: $122
Is transportation expensive in Vientiane?
Local transportation in Vientiane can vary in price depending on the type of transit used. Generally, other travelers have spent $2 on local transportation per person per day, which is more than the country's average of $2. To save money, take public transit whenever possible, as it will almost always be cheaper than a taxi or private driver.
More for Vientiane
If you're planning a trip to Vientiane, Laos, check out these other informative travel guides.
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.