Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Vientiane or Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Vientiane Prices
Laos PricesZhangjiajie Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVientiane $24Zhangjiajie $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Vientiane is $24, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $79. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVientiane $8.45Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVientiane $17Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Vientiane and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Vientiane or Zhangjiajie? 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 $2.01Zhangjiajie $15
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 - Hanoi Sleeping Bus Transfer : $63
- Wattay Airport (VTE): Private Transfer to/from Vientiane: $20
- Vientian Private Airport Transfer - Wattay Airport: $15
- Vientiane Private Transfer: Wattay Airport -Hotel-Railway Station: $9.90
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
- Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $322
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
Is it cheaper to fly into Vientiane or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $12Zhangjiajie $36
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vientiane $3.80Zhangjiajie $23
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: $354
- 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 Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Pandora Tour to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain: $7.00
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Ticket Booking: $16
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Entrance Ticket Transportation: $42
- Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon Tickets Booking: $48
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Private or Shared Day Tour: $50
- Fox Fairy Show VIP ticket with round trip private transport: $52
- Charming Xiangxi Show VIP ticket with round trip transport: $52
- Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Ticket Booking: $55
- One Day Mini Group Tour to Glass Bridge and Tianmen Mountain: $63
- Mini Group Tour: Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $66
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tickets Booking: $69
- Mini Group Day Tour to Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVientiane $2.12Zhangjiajie $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vientiane and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vientiane or Zhangjiajie?
Vientiane has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Vientiane and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Vientiane as well as Zhangjiajie. Vientiane attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Vientiane is around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vientiane in July average around 30°C (85°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 29°C (85°F).
It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. Vientiane receives a lot of rain in the summer. Vientiane usually gets more rain in July than Zhangjiajie. Vientiane gets 266 mm (10.5 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVientiane 30°C (85°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
Both Zhangjiajie and Vientiane are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vientiane throughout the year.
In October, Vientiane is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Vientiane average around 28°C (83°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
In October, Vientiane usually receives around the same amount of rain as Zhangjiajie. Vientiane gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVientiane 28°C (83°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
Both Zhangjiajie and Vientiane during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vientiane because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Vientiane is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the winter. The daily temperature in Vientiane averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
Vientiane usually gets less rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Vientiane gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVientiane 24°C (75°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Vientiane or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Vientiane and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vientiane year-round.
The heat can be very extreme in Vientiane. In the spring, Vientiane is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vientiane in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Vientiane usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Vientiane gets 85 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVientiane 31°C (88°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Vientiane
| Vientiane | Zhangjiajie | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 30°C (87°F) | 255 mm (10 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 273 mm (10.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 266 mm (10.5 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 295 mm (11.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (74°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.