Which place is cheaper, Luang Prabang or Bandung?
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 Bandung or Luang Prabang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bandung or Luang Prabang? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Bandung or Luang Prabang?
Bandung
Bandung is the capital city of West Java, and the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. Nicknamed Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch for its resemblance to Paris and European atmosphere back in colonial times, Bandung also earned another nickname as Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flower City since Bandung used to have a lot of flowers. Nowadays, Bandung has become a very popular weekend escape for Jakartans, who crowd the city on weekends and national holidays. It's known for colonial and art deco architecture, a lively, university-town feel and relatively cool tropical weather. Bandung is also a shopping destination, with fashion outlets clustered along Jalan Setiabudi and Jalan Riau in the Dago district. The city also make a good base for day trips to the surrounding countryside - high volcanic peaks, hot springs, and tea plantations are all within reach.
Luang Prabang
Southeast Asia is a region full of mystical wonders and cultural charm, but nowhere is as charming as the city of Luang Prabang. As the former capital of Laos, Luang Prabang was reopened to tourism in 1989. With that move the city experienced an upswing in revenue and was able to restore and rebuild the beautiful colonial mansions to serve as guesthouses and hotels for the new swarm of tourists.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Bandung Prices
Indonesia PricesLuang Prabang Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBandung $48Luang Prabang $18
The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $48, while the average daily cost in Luang Prabang is $18. 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 Bandung and Luang Prabang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBandung $20Luang Prabang $5.60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBandung $40Luang Prabang $11
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Luang Prabang
Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Luang Prabang? 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: Bandung Hotel Prices and Luang Prabang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bandung $5.54Luang Prabang $2.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung
Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kertajati Intl. Airport Cirebon (KJT): $221
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
- Private Transfer from Sukarasa Kuningan Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
- Private Transfer from Larangan to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Pejambon: $184
- Private Transfer from Karyamulya to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
- Private Transfer from Sunyaragi to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
- Private Transfer from Jagasatru to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Larangan: $184
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Jagasatru: $184
- Private Transfer from Argasunya to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
- Private Transfer from Situ Sumedang to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luang Prabang
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Luang Prabang are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$2.31
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 2D Transfer to Huay Xai by Slow Boat: $60
- 2-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $165
- Luang Prabang Private Airport transfers: $9.00
- LPQ Airport: Private Transfer to/from Luang Prabang City: $20
- From 3-Day Oudomxay Town Trip with Transfers: $580
Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Luang Prabang?
Prices for flights to both Luang Prabang and Bandung 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 dayBandung $24Luang Prabang $9.25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bandung
For Bandung, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indonesian Cooking Class with Welcoming Exotic Fruits: $32
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luang Prabang
For Luang Prabang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Luang Prabang Local Market and Morning Food Tour with Drinks: $39
- Bamboo Weaving Workshop & Cooking Class: $44
- Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in: $44
- Luangprabang: Dinner with Lao Traditional Dance Performance: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Cooking Class at the Former Royal Palace: $45
- Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Mekong Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Laos: Prabang Plates Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $46
- Evening Bamboo weaving & Cooking classes join-in: $47
- Mekong Sunset Cruise & Lao Tasting Dinner: $49
- Evening Cooking Class & Local Baci Ceremony: $51
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bandung $5.45Luang Prabang $2.66
Tours and Activities in Bandung
For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 7 Hour Private Bandung City Tour : $148
- BANDUNG : MAKE CUSTOMIZED TOUR WITH CAR CHARTER AND DRIVER: $78
- Bandung : White Crater, Tea Plantation Tour Guide Bandung: $66
- Bandung Crater Adventure Hotspring and Mud Bath: $70
- Bandung One Day Tour Package: $160
- Bandung Tour All In, White Crater, Volcano Mountain, Hot Spring : $52
- Bandung Tour Volcano, Hotsprings, Mud, Tea, Lunch all Included: $60
- Bandung Volcano Sightseeing and Hot Spring Private Tour: $43
- Kawah Putih Day Tours: $59
- Sanghyang Kenit Cave and Rainbow Waterfall Tour: $62
- Tangkuban Parahu Volcano & Surrounding Areas Tour: $44
- Batukaras Countryside & Canyon Tour: $74
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
- Half Day Kayaking and Pak Ou Caves with Sunset Cruise: $196
- Kuang Si Waterfalls and Hmong Village Half-Day Tour: $30
- 6Days 5Nigths Luang Prabang city tour & Mekong River Cruise: $800
- Best of Luang Prabang Shared Group City Tour: $214
- Bike to Kuangsi Waterfall and Cruise the Mekong River Back - Luang Prabang 1 day: $170
- Classic Tour in Luang Prabang: $90
- Classic tour in Luang Prabang (Private): $243
- Day Pass - Premium Wellness Experience at The Namkhan: $90
- Dine and Cruise on Mekong River: $66
- Explore Pak Ou Caves by Kayak with Optional Sunset River Cruise: $196
- From Field to Table Half Day Rice Experience in Luang Prabang: $194
- From 8-Day Laos Tour with Accommodation: $1,241
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBandung $3.32Luang Prabang $1.78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Luang Prabang, we can see that Bandung is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Luang Prabang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luang Prabang 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 Bandung would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bandung than you might in Luang Prabang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bandung Expensive? and Is Luang Prabang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bandung or Luang Prabang?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Luang Prabang. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Luang Prabang, 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.
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.