A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vang Vieng vs. Katoomba for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Katoomba?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba?

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.

Katoomba

Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.

This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.

The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba 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 Katoomba 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Katoomba?

Vang Vieng has a larger population, and is about 34% larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Katoomba, 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 Vang Vieng or Katoomba?

Katoomba 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 Katoomba in the Summer?

Both Katoomba 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 Katoomba because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Vang Vieng is around the same temperature as Katoomba. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Katoomba averages at about 24°C (74°F)in January.

In Katoomba, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Katoombain January. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun.

Katoomba gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Katoombain January. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Katoomba in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Katoomba. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

In October, Vang Vieng is generally a little warmer than Katoombain April. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Katoomba during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Katoombain April. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Katoomba in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Katoomba. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Katoomba for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Vang Vieng is much warmer than Katoomba in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Katoomba fluctuates around 11°C (51°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. 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 Katoombain July. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun.

Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in January than Katoombain July. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Katoomba in the Spring?

Both Katoomba 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 Katoomba in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Katoomba. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Katoomba averages at about 18°C (64°F)in October.

It's quite sunny in Katoomba. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Katoomba during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Katoombain October. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Vang Vieng