A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Luang Prabang vs. Malmo for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Luang Prabang or Malmo?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Malmo, 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: Luang Prabang or Malmo?

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.

Malmo

Located on the southern tip of Sweden, in the province of Skane, Malmo is Sweden's third largest city. It has a very international population with about a third of the residents being from countries other than Sweden. This diversity is evident within Malmo, which is rich in culture, interesting food, and an array of entertainment options. Historically, Malmo was an industrial city with a ship building company, Kockums being the area's largest employer. Today, however, the city is much more economicaly diverse with many eco friendly neighborhoods and plenty of suburban style housing.

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 2-Week Tours from Stockholm, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Sweden.


Which place is cheaper, Malmo or Luang Prabang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Luang Prabang Prices
    Laos Prices
    Malmo Prices
    Sweden Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Luang Prabang $18
    Malmo $115

The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $18, while the average daily cost in Malmo is $115. 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 Luang Prabang and Malmo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Luang Prabang $5.60
    Malmo $55
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Luang Prabang $11
    Malmo $110
Compare Hotels in Luang Prabang and Malmo

Looking for a hotel in Luang Prabang or Malmo? 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.

Hotels in Luang Prabang


Hotels in Malmo


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: Luang Prabang Hotel Prices and Malmo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Luang Prabang $2.07
    Malmo $9.11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Luang Prabang

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Luang Prabang are as follows:


  • 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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Malmo

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Malmo:


  • Malmö Bus Card
    $21

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malmo

Also for Malmo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Direct Transfer From Malmo to Copenhagen: $167
  • Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $136
  • Malmö City to Copenhagen hotel/address Private Departure Transfer: $134
  • Malmo Private Transfer from Malmo airport to Central Malmo : $105
  • Malmo City to Malmo Airport (MMX) - Departure Private Transfer: $68
  • Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City - Arrival Private Transfer: $68
  • Malmo Private Transfer from Central Malmo to Malmo Airport: $57

Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Malmo?

Prices for flights to both Malmo and Luang Prabang 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Luang Prabang $9.25
    Malmo $51

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Luang Prabang $2.66
    Malmo $18

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

Tours and Activities in Malmo

For Malmo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Canal Sightseeing Boat Tour of Malmö: $25
  • Copenhagen and Hamlet Tour: $143
  • Guided Walking Tour in Malmö: $45
  • Half Day Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour in Cosmopolitan Malmö: $16
  • Half Day Walking Tour in Lund City and University: $38
  • Lund's Medieval and Modern History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Malmö Photography Tour: $67
  • Malmö Private Walking Tour with a Local: $56
  • Malmo Syndicate City Escape Game Self Guided Experience: $31
  • Malmo Walking Tour, 3 hours (small group): $72
  • Old Town Helsingborg: Exploration Game and Self-Guided Tour: $7.16
  • Self-guided audio tour in Lund: explore the story of the Locus Peccatorum murder: $8.63

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Luang Prabang $1.78
    Malmo $41


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luang Prabang and Malmo, we can see that Malmo is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Luang Prabang is in Asia and Malmo is in Europe, 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 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 Malmo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malmo 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 Luang Prabang Expensive? and Is Malmo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Luang Prabang or Malmo?

Malmo has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Luang Prabang. When comparing the sizes of Luang Prabang and Malmo, 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 Luang Prabang or Malmo?

Malmo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Luang Prabang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Luang Prabang or Malmo in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Luang Prabang and Malmo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Luang Prabang year-round.

In the summer, Luang Prabang is much warmer than Malmo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Luang Prabang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Malmo averages at about 17°C (62°F).

Luang Prabang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Luang Prabang usually receives more rain than Malmo. Luang Prabang gets 228 mm (9 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F) 
    Malmo 17°C (62°F)

Should I visit Luang Prabang or Malmo in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Luang Prabang as well as Malmo. Luang Prabang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Luang Prabang is generally much warmer than Malmo. Daily temperatures in Luang Prabang average around 26°C (79°F), and Malmo fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).

Luang Prabang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in October than Malmo. Luang Prabang gets 126 mm (5 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Luang Prabang 26°C (79°F) 
    Malmo 10°C (50°F)

Should I visit Luang Prabang or Malmo in the Winter?

Both Malmo and Luang Prabang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Luang Prabang throughout the year.

Malmo can get quite cold in the winter. Luang Prabang is much warmer than Malmo in the winter. The daily temperature in Luang Prabang averages around 21°C (70°F) in January, and Malmo fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).

In January, Luang Prabang usually receives less rain than Malmo. Luang Prabang gets 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Luang Prabang 21°C (70°F) 
    Malmo 0°C (32°F)

Should I visit Luang Prabang or Malmo in the Spring?

Both Malmo and Luang Prabang during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Luang Prabang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the spring, Luang Prabang is much warmer than Malmo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Luang Prabang in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Malmo averages at about 5°C (42°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang usually gets more rain in April than Malmo. Luang Prabang gets 108 mm (4.3 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Luang Prabang 28°C (82°F) 
    Malmo 5°C (42°F)

Typical Weather for Malmo and Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang Malmo
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 21°C (70°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 0°C (32°F) 37 mm (1.4 in)
Feb 23°C (73°F) 19 mm (0.7 in) -0°C (32°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Mar 26°C (79°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 2°C (35°F) 32 mm (1.3 in)
Apr 28°C (82°F) 108 mm (4.3 in) 5°C (42°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
May 29°C (84°F) 147 mm (5.8 in) 11°C (51°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 258 mm (10.2 in) 15°C (59°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 228 mm (9 in) 17°C (62°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 289 mm (11.4 in) 17°C (62°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 173 mm (6.8 in) 14°C (57°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Oct 26°C (79°F) 126 mm (5 in) 10°C (50°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Nov 23°C (73°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 6°C (42°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Dec 20°C (68°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 2°C (36°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)


Related Articles for Luang Prabang