Which place is cheaper, Luang Prabang or Krabi?
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 Krabi or Luang Prabang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Luang Prabang can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or Luang Prabang?
Krabi
Krabi is both a large town and region in southern Thailand. While the region is covered in beaches, if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi (where you'll find famous places such as Railay, Ao Nang, Haad Yao, and plenty of others). Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies, and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience. There's a good chance you'll be passing through on your way to one of the famous beaches, so take advantage of your brief time here.
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 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.
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Krabi Prices
Thailand PricesLuang Prabang Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $74Luang Prabang $18
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $74, 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 Krabi and Luang Prabang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $42Luang Prabang $5.60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $84Luang Prabang $11
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Luang Prabang
Looking for a hotel in Krabi 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: Krabi Hotel Prices and Luang Prabang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krabi $4.37Luang Prabang $2.07
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$3.14
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.51
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Longboat Taxi from Town$6.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Krabi airport to Pakbara pier Private transfer: $191
- Aonang any hotel to Donsak Pier Private transfer: $135
- Krabi airport to donsak pier Private transfer: $134
- Private Transfer from Krabi to Phuket with 2h of Sightseeing: $125
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KRABI AIRPORT: $124
- Transfer from Phuket to Krabi and Vice Versa: $124
- Transfer from Krabi / Ao Nang to Khao Lak Hotel: $119
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KURABURI: $109
- Private Transfer Between Hotels in Krabi Town and Ko Lanta: $106
- Aonang any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $101
- TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KURABURI PIER: $89
- From Khaolak : One Way Private Transfer Phuket,Krabi and More: $87
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 Krabi or Luang Prabang?
Prices for flights to both Luang Prabang and Krabi 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 dayKrabi $25Luang Prabang $9.25
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$7.85
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Drinks on the Beach$7.54
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$19
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$35
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Mango Shake$1.57
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Pad Thai$3.14
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Fruit from the Market$1.88
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Pancakes$3.14
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Coffee & Cake$2.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Snorkeling and Sunset to Krabi 7 Islands by Longtail Boat + Buffet BBQ Dinner: $37
- Hands on Half-day Cooking Class by Authentic Thai Cooking: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Night Snorkeling: $39
- Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $40
- Penny Thai Cooking Class Krabi: $45
- Krabi Kitchens Food Tour with 15 Plus Tastings: $45
- Krabi Bites Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $45
- Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night : $45
- Thai Charm Cooking School Krabi: $46
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $46
- Kayaking and BBQ Dinner On The Beach Ao Thalane From Krabi: $48
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.Krabi $12Luang Prabang $2.66
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$10
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Thai Massages (for Two)$25
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Bikini & Sarong$19
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$14
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$7.85
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$60
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV Adventure in Thrills Await: $28
- Tiger Cave and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour from Krabi: $73
- 2-Hour Clear Kayak Illuminated Night Tour in Krabi: $70
- 2-Hour The best of Krabi Private Walking Tour : $174
- 2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi: $277
- 4 Island Early Bird Tour by Longtail Boat from Krabi: $48
- 4 Island Full Day Krabi Tour: Longtail Boat & Lunch: $34
- 4 Island Joint Tour by Speed Boat from Krabi: $53
- 4 Island Snorkeling Tour on a LongTail Boat from Krabi: $35
- 4 Island Speed Boat Adventure from Krabi: $33
- 4 Island Tour by Traditional Big Longtail Boat from Krabi: $32
- 4 Island tour by SPEEDBOAT from Krabi + Lunch + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $33
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 dayKrabi $5.00Luang Prabang $1.78
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer$2.83
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Cocktails (for Two)$9.42
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Luang Prabang, we can see that Krabi 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 Krabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krabi 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 Krabi Expensive? and Is Luang Prabang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krabi or Luang Prabang?
Luang Prabang has a larger population, and is about 52% larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi 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.
When is the best time to visit Krabi or Luang Prabang?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Krabi or Luang Prabang in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Krabi and Luang Prabang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Krabi year-round. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, August to October is the rainy season in Krabi. Luang Prabang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Krabi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Krabi usually receives more rain than Luang Prabang. Krabi gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Krabi is around the same temperature as Luang Prabang in the summer. The daily temperature in Krabi averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrabi 28°C (82°F)Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Krabi or Luang Prabang in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Krabi as well as Luang Prabang. Krabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luang Prabang throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Krabi is the dry season. August to October in Krabi is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Luang Prabang. Krabi receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Krabi usually gets more rain in October than Luang Prabang. Krabi gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 126 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Krabi is around the same temperature as Luang Prabang. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Krabi in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Luang Prabang averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrabi 27°C (81°F)Luang Prabang 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Krabi or Luang Prabang in the Winter?
Both Luang Prabang and Krabi are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Krabi throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Luang Prabang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Krabi is December to March. In January, Krabi usually receives more rain than Luang Prabang. Krabi gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Krabi is generally a little warmer than Luang Prabang. Daily temperatures in Krabi average around 28°C (82°F), and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 21°C (70°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrabi 28°C (82°F)Luang Prabang 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Krabi or Luang Prabang in the Spring?
Both Luang Prabang and Krabi during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Krabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round.
Luang Prabang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Krabi. Krabi usually gets more rain in April than Luang Prabang. Krabi gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Luang Prabang receives 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Krabi is around the same temperature as Luang Prabang in the spring. The daily temperature in Krabi averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Luang Prabang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrabi 29°C (84°F)Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Luang Prabang and Krabi
| Krabi | Luang Prabang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 19 mm (0.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 108 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 289 mm (11.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 173 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 126 mm (5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.