Which place is cheaper, Yichang 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 Yichang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Yichang, 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 Yichang?
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.
Yichang
Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.
Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.
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Vientiane Prices
Laos PricesYichang Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $24Yichang $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $24, while the average daily cost in Yichang is $74. 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 Yichang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $8.45Yichang $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $17Yichang $50
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Yichang
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Yichang? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vientiane $2.01Yichang $14
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:
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yichang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Yichang:
- Yichang Airport Transfer Service, Yichang train station Pick up: $20
- Private transfer from Yichang to Zhangjiajie: $290
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Yichang?
Prices for flights to both Yichang 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 $12Yichang $38
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
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.80Yichang $18
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
Tours and Activities in Yichang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yichang are as follows:
- Yichang Tourist Center to Yichang Sanxia Airport (YIH): $53
- Private Day Tour in Yichang to Sanyou Cave and Sanxia Waterfall : $239
- From 5-Day Yangtze River Cruise to Chongqing: $679
- Yichang - Chongqing Yangtze Miracle Luxury 5D4N Cruise: $720
- From Yichang to Chongqing: 5-Day Cruise with Meals: $994
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.12Yichang $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Yichang, we can see that Yichang is more expensive. And not only is Vientiane much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Yichang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yichang 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 Yichang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Yichang?
Yichang has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Yichang, 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 Yichang?
Yichang 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 Yichang in the Summer?
Both Yichang and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.
Vientiane is around the same temperature as Yichang in the summer. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 30°C (85°F) in July, and Yichang fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in Yichang. Vientiane usually receives less sunshine than Yichang during summer. Vientiane gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yichang. It's quite rainy in Vientiane. In July, Vientiane usually receives more rain than Yichang. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Yichang 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Yichang in the Autumn?
Both Yichang and Vientiane during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Vientiane is a little warmer than Yichang. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vientiane in October average around 28°C (83°F), and Yichang averages at about 20°C (67°F).
It's quite sunny in Vientiane. In the autumn, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Yichang. Vientiane gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 134 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Yichang. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Yichang 20°C (67°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Yichang in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Yichang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.
In January, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Yichang. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 24°C (75°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In Vientiane, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vientiane usually receives more sunshine than Yichang during winter. Vientiane gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 92 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Yichang. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Yichang 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Yichang in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Yichang. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's very hot in Vientiane this time of the year. Vientiane is much warmer than Yichang in the spring. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and Yichang fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vientiane this time of the year. In the spring, Vientiane often gets more sunshine than Yichang. Vientiane gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 129 hours of full sun.
Vientiane usually gets less rain in April than Yichang. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Yichang 18°C (65°F)
Typical Weather for Yichang and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Yichang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 229 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 22 mm (0.9 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.