A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vang Vieng vs. Nadi (Port Denarau) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?

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.

Nadi (Port Denarau)

Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, and The Best Budget Tours to Laos.


Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) 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.

  • Vang Vieng Prices
    Laos Prices
    Nadi (Port Denarau) Prices
    Fiji Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Vang Vieng $19
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $198

The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Vang Vieng $4.25
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $106
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Vang Vieng $8.50
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $212
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Nadi (Port Denarau)

Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Vang Vieng


Hotels in Nadi (Port Denarau)


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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Vang Vieng $3.11
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81

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 Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):

  • Zip line Fiji ex Fiji Marriot w/private transfer dropoff Nadi Airport or resort : $168
  • Private Transfer: Nadi Airport to Pacific Harbour - 1 to 4 Seat Vehicle: $130
  • Treetops Zipline Tour with Drop off Transfer to Nadi Airport: $128
  • Fiji Cultural Full Day Island Cruise With Lunch & Transfers : $112
  • Shared transfer- Nadi Airport to Denarau island Fiji: $92
  • CFC Approved Roundtrip Car Transfer - Nadi Airport to Outrigger & Bedarra Inn: $79
  • Private Transfer-Nadi Airport to Nanuku /Pearl/Uprising Resort : $78
  • CFC APPROVED Private Roundtrip Transfer -Nadi Airport to All Maui Bay Properties: $71
  • Private Roundtrip Transfer - Nadi Airport to Fiji Marriott Momi Bay: $68
  • Private Premium Departure Transfer : Hotel to Nadi Airport: $67
  • Private Transfer: Intercontinental Resort and Spa to Nadi Airport: $66
  • Private Roundtrip Transfer - Nadi Airport to Intercontinental & Yatule Resort: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Vang Vieng $11
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $69

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Vang Vieng $4.76
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $32

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 Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:

  • "Coral Coast Adventure: Pottery, Kava, Meke, Dunes & Temple'': $118
  • 16 Lines Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour with Lunch in Fiji: $164
  • Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
  • Best Sightseeing Tour : $132
  • Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
  • CFC Hot Spring Mud Pool,Garden Of Sleeping Giant And Village Visit Half Day Tour: $105
  • Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
  • Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
  • Cultural Night Tour: $80
  • Discover Coral Coast & Natadola Beach Tour: $114
  • Fiji Adventure: Biausevu Waterfall & Dunes hiking Combo Tour!: $135
  • Fiji Island Cultural Experience with Lunch : $184

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Vang Vieng $1.11
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $11


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


Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Nadi (Port Denarau) has a larger population, and is about 69% larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Nadi (Port Denarau), 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.