Which place is cheaper, Vang Vieng 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 Vang Vieng?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bandung or Vang Vieng? 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 Vang Vieng?
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.
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, and The Best Budget Tours to Laos.
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Bandung Prices
Indonesia PricesVang Vieng Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBandung $48Vang Vieng $19
The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $48, while the average daily cost in Vang Vieng is $19. 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 Vang Vieng in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBandung $20Vang Vieng $4.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBandung $40Vang Vieng $8.50
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Vang Vieng
Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Vang Vieng? 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 Vang Vieng Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bandung $5.54Vang Vieng $3.11
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vang Vieng
Also for Vang Vieng, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared transfer from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang city: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Vang Vieng?
Prices for flights to both Vang Vieng 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 $24Vang Vieng $11
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bandung $5.45Vang Vieng $4.76
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 Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- 1 Day Guided Tour in Cave from Vang Vieng: $175
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour in Vang Vieng: $180
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike and Blue Lagoon Tour: $79
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Vang Vieng 1-Day Cave Exploration Tour with Guide: $175
- Vang Vieng Ballooning Adventures: $260
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $49
- Vang Vieng Day Tour - Longtail boat, Paragliding: $175
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Experience and Longtail Boat: $137
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Kayak Zipline,Blue lagoon1 Tour: $148
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBandung $3.32Vang Vieng $1.11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Vang Vieng, we can see that Bandung is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng 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 Vang Vieng.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bandung Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bandung or Vang Vieng?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Vang Vieng, 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.