Which place is cheaper, Vang Vieng or Yogyakarta?
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 Yogyakarta or Vang Vieng?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Yogyakarta or Vang Vieng? 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: Yogyakarta or Vang Vieng?
Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta, also called Yogya, Jogja, and Jogjakarta, is Java's hub of culture and art, and is the top-visited destination on the island. While Jakarta is the most populated and industrially-developed city in Indonesia, Yogya has managed to progress without losing its cultural charm, as illustrated in its well-kept traditional Indonesian architecture.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, and The Best Budget Tours to Laos.
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Yogyakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesVang Vieng Prices
Laos Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYogyakarta $64Vang Vieng $19
The average daily cost (per person) in Yogyakarta is $64, while the average daily cost in Vang Vieng is $19. 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 Yogyakarta and Vang Vieng in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYogyakarta $35Vang Vieng $4.25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYogyakarta $70Vang Vieng $8.50
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Vang Vieng
Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta or Vang Vieng? 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: Yogyakarta Hotel Prices and Vang Vieng Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yogyakarta $1.28Vang Vieng $3.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta
Also for Yogyakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jepara & One Way Private Transfer: $110
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfers: $94
- Semarang & Transfer To The Hotel or Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Kembanglimus to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $88
- Private Transfer from Wanurejo to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $87
- Yogyakarta Hidden Gems Tour with Private Guided Transfer: $84
- Private Transfer from Borobudur to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $81
- Private Transfer from Borobudur Temple to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $81
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Borobudur: $75
- Private Transfer from Banyuraden to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $71
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Sinduadi: $71
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Condong Catur: $71
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Vang Vieng?
Prices for flights to both Vang Vieng and Yogyakarta 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 dayYogyakarta $19Vang Vieng $11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yogyakarta
For Yogyakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ramayana Show with Transfer, Entry Fee & Dinner: $13
- Night Walking & Street Food Tour: $21
- Guided City Walk and Food Tour: $23
- Morning Walk and Food Tour: $23
- Kotagede Night Food Tour: $27
- Ramayana Ballet Performance with Optional Dinner: $28
- Yogyakarta Historical Walking and Food Tour: $29
- Yogyakarta Evening Walking and Food Tour: $30
- Nighttime Walk and Food Tour: $32
- Cooking Class with Market Visit and Hotel Pickup: $33
- Prawirotaman Night Food Tour: $35
- 3-hour Cooking Class with Market Tour: $35
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yogyakarta $15Vang Vieng $4.76
Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta
For Yogyakarta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Beautiful Sunrise and Exotic Jomblang Cave Tour: $67
- "Java's Cultural Heritage: Borobudur and Prambanan Tour": $16
- 1 Day Yogyakarta tour ( Borobudur temple, Merapi Lava Tour, Prambanan Temple): $76
- 1 day Yogyakarta Tour Jomblang cave and Pindul Cave tubing: $72
- 1 day tour borobudur temple,prambanan temple,plaosan temple: $40
- 1-Day Yogyakarta Javanese Culture - PRIVATE TOUR with GUIDE: $198
- 1-Day Yogyakarta Merapi Borobudur - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $183
- 1-Day Yogyakarta Merapi Pengger Heha - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $140
- 1-Day Yogyakarta Prambanan Breksi Ijo Temple - PRIVATE Tour with Guide: $184
- 1Day Borobudur (Upper Level) and Prambanan Private Guided Tour: $149
- 2-Day Borobudur Tour with Merbabu Camping and Hiking: $332
- 3 Days 2 Nights A Tour of Culture and Nature: $115
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- 1 Day Guided Tour in Cave from Vang Vieng: $175
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Laos: Jungle Zipline and Caving Tour: $58
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour in Vang Vieng: $180
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike and Blue Lagoon Tour: $79
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Vang Vieng 1-Day Cave Exploration Tour with Guide: $175
- Vang Vieng Ballooning Adventures: $260
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $49
- Vang Vieng Day Tour - Longtail boat, Paragliding: $175
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Experience and Longtail Boat: $137
- Vang Vieng Hot Air Balloon Kayak Zipline,Blue lagoon1 Tour: $148
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYogyakarta $4.74Vang Vieng $1.11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yogyakarta and Vang Vieng, we can see that Yogyakarta is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Yogyakarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yogyakarta 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 Yogyakarta Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Vang Vieng?
Yogyakarta has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Vang Vieng, 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.
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.