Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Vang Vieng?
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 Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach? 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: Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach?
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.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.
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Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesAirlie Beach Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $19Airlie Beach $165
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $165. 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 Vang Vieng and Airlie Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.25Airlie Beach $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.50Airlie Beach $118
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Airlie Beach
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach? 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: Vang Vieng Hotel Prices and Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.11Airlie Beach $19
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Private Transfer to/from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $148
- Private Transfer to/from Shute Harbour: $134
- Airport Transfer to Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
- Established Return Airport Transfer Proserpine to Airlie Beach: $28
- Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $17
- One Way Airport Transfer: Proserpine-Airlie Beach (or vice versa): $17
- Whitsundays: Airport Transfer to/from Airlie Beach: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach?
Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Vang Vieng 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 dayVang Vieng $11Airlie Beach $55
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
- 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $82
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.76Airlie Beach $161
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Nam Song River Kayak Tour: $18
- Tham Nangfar and Tham Nam Day Tour with Kayaking: $24
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $38
- Vangrong Full Day Tour: $45
- Vang Vieng Shared Tour with Kayaking in Nam Song River: $48
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $49
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Kayaking&Zipline&Cave Tubing&cave tour: $51
- Vangrong One Day Shared Tour: $52
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Guided Night Tour: $66
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- Airlie Beach Jet Ski Tours: $164
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
- #1 Sightseeing Explorer 3hr tour.: $62
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
- Adults-Only Whitehaven Beach Sailing Tour: $187
- Airlie Adventure Jet Ski Tour: $170
- BYOB Sunset Sail in Style Catamaran Cruise: $72
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- Great Barrier Reef & Whitehaven Beach Tour: $209
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.11Airlie Beach $9.06
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Vang Vieng is in Asia and Airlie Beach is in Pacific, 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 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 Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach 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 Vang Vieng Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach?
Airlie Beach has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vang Vieng experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach in the Summer?
Both Airlie Beach and Vang Vieng during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Airlie Beach because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Vang Vieng is cooler than Airlie Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Airlie Beachin January. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 285 hours of full sun.
Airlie Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Airlie Beachin January. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Airlie Beach 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Airlie Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year.
In October, Vang Vieng is generally around the same temperature as Airlie Beachin April. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Airlie Beach during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Airlie Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Airlie Beachin April. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Airlie Beach. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine.
Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Airlie Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Airlie Beach fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the winter, Vang Vieng often gets more sunshine than Airlie Beachin July. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Airlie Beach receives 226 hours of full sun.
Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in January than Airlie Beachin July. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Airlie Beach 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Airlie Beach in the Spring?
Both Airlie Beach and Vang Vieng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Vang Vieng is around the same temperature as Airlie Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Airlie Beach averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives less sunshine than Airlie Beach during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Airlie Beach receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Airlie Beachin October. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Airlie Beach receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Airlie Beach 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Airlie Beach and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Airlie Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.