A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Manama vs. Vientiane for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Manama or Vientiane?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Manama and Vientiane can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Manama or Vientiane?

Vientiane

You wouldn't expect the capital city to have such a relaxing environment, but in Vientiane, Laos you can sit back and take in the beautiful scenery without feeling pressure to see every little thing. With Vientiane, what you see is what you get.

While picturesque temples and markets line the streets, the city is still experiencing a successful building boom. Even the Presidential Palace has undergone some hefty renovations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos.


Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Manama?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Manama is $190, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is $24. 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 Manama and Vientiane in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Manama $66
    Vientiane $8.45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Manama $132
    Vientiane $17
Compare Hotels in Manama and Vientiane

Looking for a hotel in Manama or Vientiane? 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 Manama


Hotels in Vientiane


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: Manama Hotel Prices and Vientiane Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Manama $30
    Vientiane $2.01

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $4.15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:

  • Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
  • Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
  • Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
  • Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63

Is it cheaper to fly into Manama or Vientiane?

Prices for flights to both Vientiane and Manama 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
    Manama $97
    Vientiane $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vientiane

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Vientiane.

  • Vientiane classic Food tour ( Included Food ): $78
  • Night Market, Dinner, and Nightclub: $90
  • Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour and Lunch: $95
  • Vientiane Private Lao Cooking Class with Market Tour: $122
  • Cooking Class Garden House: $335

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Manama $34
    Vientiane $3.80

Tours and Activities in Vientiane

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:

  • Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
  • Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $30
  • Art, Culture, & Inspiration Guided Half-Day Tour: $52
  • Half-Day City Tour with Patuxai and Buddha Park: $52
  • Vientiane Sky Luge and Roller Zipline Experience: $55
  • Vientiane Landmarks and Cultural Immersion Tour: $56
  • Cultural Tour with Buddha Park and Patuxay: $58
  • Vientiane IG tour & Patuxay monument: $59
  • Half-Day City Tour - Morning or Afternoon: $65
  • Vientiane Half Day City Tour: $80
  • Vientiane : Private Custom Tour with a Local Guide: $88
  • Vientiane Half-Day City Tour: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Manama $11
    Vientiane $2.12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manama and Vientiane, we can see that Manama is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Manama is in Middle East and Vientiane is in Asia, 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 Vientiane would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vientiane 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 Manama would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manama than you might in Vientiane.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Manama Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Manama or Vientiane?

Vientiane has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Manama. When comparing the sizes of Manama and Vientiane, 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.

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