Which place is cheaper, Melbourne or Vientiane?
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 Vientiane or Melbourne?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Melbourne, 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: Vientiane or Melbourne?
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.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia.
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Vientiane Prices
Laos PricesMelbourne Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $24Melbourne $195
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $24, while the average daily cost in Melbourne is $195. 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 Vientiane and Melbourne in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $8.45Melbourne $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $17Melbourne $238
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Melbourne
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Melbourne? 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: Vientiane Hotel Prices and Melbourne Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.01Melbourne $20
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$4.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vientiane
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Vientiane:
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
- Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
- Vientiane - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:
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Airport Bus$10
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Tram Ride$2.49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne
Also for Melbourne, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Melbourne Airport: Express Bus Transfer to/from City Center: $16
- Express Bus Transfer to or from Melbourne City Center: $19
- Melbourne CBD to Melbourne Airport Private Transfer 4 or more: $32
- Melbourne Airport(Tullamarine): Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $32
- MEL Airport to CBD Private transfers 4 or more: $33
- Melbourne (Tullamarine) Airport: Shared Transfer to Melbourne: $33
- MEL Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $40
- Melbourne Airport Private Transfer to City: $44
- Transfer Melbourne Airport MEL to City Centre/St Kilda/Hawthorne: $45
- Airport to City Private Transfer (One-way): $66
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne HTL-APT (MEL): $69
- Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $80
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Melbourne?
Prices for flights to both Melbourne and Vientiane 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 dayVientiane $12Melbourne $53
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
Typical Food Prices in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Coffee$2.62
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Pizza$4.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melbourne Flavors: Queen Victoria Market Food Tour: $40
- Multicultural Markets Food Tour – Melbourne’s Global Tastes: $51
- Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
- Queen Victoria Market Early Access Food Tour: $53
- Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $54
- Inner North Street Food Tour: $72
- Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $79
- Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $81
- Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
- Best of Little Italy Dinner Tour: $92
- Carlton a Little Italy Dinner Tour: $93
- Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.80Melbourne $27
Tours and Activities in Vientiane
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Vientiane are as follows:
- Vientiane Cultural Tour with Private Guide: $110
- 1-Day Tour to Vang Vieng with Private Guide: $200
- 1-Day Vientiane City Adventure: Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $110
- From Plain of Jars Tour & Homestay: $1,650
- From Vang Vieng 2-Day Tour with Blue Lagoon: $443
- From Vang Vieng Tour with Cave Kayak & Zipline: $113
- Guided Vientiane City and Buddha Park Full-Day Tour: $99
- Half Day Private Tour in City Highlights: $120
- Half-Day Vientiane City Bike Tour: $90
- Lao Arts Museum & City Highlights Tour with Lunch: $122
- Laos Railway Tickets Easily: Avoid Long Queues & Wasted Time: $30
- Laos Railway Tickets Online: Skip Long Queues, Avoid Missing: $30
Tours and Activities in Melbourne
For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Melbourne Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $4.81
- Melbourne (St Kilda) Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.41
- Melbourne City Centre Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $6.45
- Melbourne Vampire Quest: Self-Guided Gothic Adventure: $7.20
- Melbourne Self Guided Audio Experience: $9.00
- Immigration Museum Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Melbourne Gardens Explorer Minibus Tour: $9.92
- Scienceworks Entry Ticket: $9.92
- Questo Self-guided Haunted Melbourne Walking Tour: $11
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Upside Down House Photo Experience in Australia: $13
- Melbourne Museum Entry Ticket: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.12Melbourne $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:
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Bottle of Wine$5.07
Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne
Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Melbourne Christmas Bar Crawl: $15
- Melbourne Pub Crawl (Batmania Tours): $19
- Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $20
- Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $24
- Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $26
- MELBOURNE Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Tour: $26
- Melbourne Music Venue Pub Crawl with History + 2 Free Drinks: $26
- Laid back, Yarra Valley Wine Tour: Wine, Cider, Gin, Beer + Choc: $87
- New Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley: $89
- Cruise Ship Friendly Yarra Valley Wine Tour with Port Pickup: $114
- Yarra Valley: Bus Wine Tour with Lunch and a Glass of Wine: $116
- Yarra Valley Wine Tour & Lunch & Gin/Beer Option: $129
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Vientiane is in Asia and Melbourne 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 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Vientiane Expensive? and Is Melbourne Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Melbourne, 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 Vientiane or Melbourne?
Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vientiane experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Vientiane or Melbourne in the Summer?
Both Melbourne and Vientiane during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Melbourne for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Vientiane is a little warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vientiane in July average around 30°C (85°F), and Melbourne averages at about 20°C (68°F)in January.
In Melbourne, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vientiane often gets less sunshine than Melbournein January. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 271 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually gets more rain in July than Melbournein January. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryVientiane 30°C (85°F)Melbourne 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Melbourne in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Melbourne. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Melbourne because of the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.
In October, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Melbournein April. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 28°C (83°F), and Melbourne fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Melbourne during autumn. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 170 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Melbournein April. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilVientiane 28°C (83°F)Melbourne 15°C (60°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Melbourne in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Melbourne. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Melbourne this time of year.
Vientiane is much warmer than Melbourne in the winter. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Melbourne fluctuates around 9°C (49°F)in July.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the winter, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Melbournein July. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Melbourne receives 139 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than Melbournein July. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyVientiane 24°C (75°F)Melbourne 9°C (49°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Melbourne in the Spring?
Both Melbourne and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Melbourne for the beaches and the activities around the city.
The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane is much warmer than Melbourne. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vientiane in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Melbourne averages at about 14°C (57°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Melbourne. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vientiane. Vientiane usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Melbourne during spring. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Melbourne receives 216 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Melbournein October. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Melbourne receives 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberVientiane 31°C (88°F)Melbourne 14°C (57°F)
Typical Weather for Melbourne and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Melbourne | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.