A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yogyakarta vs. Vientiane for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Yogyakarta or Vientiane?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or Vientiane? 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 Vientiane?

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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best Bicycle Tours in Laos, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Laos.


Which place is cheaper, Vientiane or Yogyakarta?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Yogyakarta is $64, while the average daily cost in Vientiane is $24. 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 Vientiane in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yogyakarta $35
    Vientiane $8.45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yogyakarta $70
    Vientiane $17
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Vientiane

Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta or Vientiane? 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 Yogyakarta


Hotels in Vientiane


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 Vientiane Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yogyakarta $1.28
    Vientiane $2.01

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta

Also for Yogyakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer Airport Yogyakarta (JOG) to All City Destination: $7.00
  • Yogyakarta Airport: Private Transfer To/ From The Hotels: $12
  • YIA Airport Private Transfer: $12
  • Indonesia: Yogyakarta Airport Transfer: $14
  • From Roundtrip Transfer to Borobudur Temple: $15
  • Private Airport Transfer YIA: $22
  • Private Transfer Airport Jogyakarta ( Adisucipto ): $25
  • Borobudur 5-hour Tour with Climb-up & Transfers: $25
  • Borobudur ClimbUP Afternoon Guided and transfer: $26
  • Yogyakarta Airport Transfer (For 1-4 person): $27
  • Yogyakarta Airport Transfer ( Private Service ): $28
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport YIA To City Center: $28

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vientiane

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vientiane are as follows:


  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Vientiane?

Prices for flights to both Vientiane 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Yogyakarta $19
    Vientiane $12

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

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yogyakarta $15
    Vientiane $3.80

Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta

For Yogyakarta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Chicken Church at Karangrejo Village Admission Ticket: $1.85
  • Obelix Hills Entry Ticket: $2.18
  • Java Puppets Museum Admission Ticket: $2.50
  • YOGYAKARTA CITY TOUR,SULTAN PALACE,WATER CASTLE AND CRAFTS.: $6.23
  • Half Day Keraton and Taman Sari Tour: $10
  • Prambanan Temple Afternoon Tour: $12
  • Prambanan Temple: Half-Day Guided Tour From Yogyakarta: $14
  • Borobudur(Guarantee Climb up) Shared Guide Tour: $15
  • Jomblang Cave & Pindul Cave Adventur Tour: $15
  • Yogayakarta : Jomblang Cave and Pindul Cave Tour: $15
  • Jomblang Cave and Pindul Cave Tour with Lunch: $15
  • "Java's Cultural Heritage: Borobudur and Prambanan Tour": $16

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yogyakarta $4.74
    Vientiane $2.12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yogyakarta and Vientiane, we can see that Yogyakarta 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 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 Vientiane.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yogyakarta Expensive? and Is Vientiane Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Vientiane?

Yogyakarta has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Vientiane. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Vientiane, 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.

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