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Compare cities โบ Luang Prabang vs Vientiane
Luang Prabang vs Vientiane cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฑ๐ฆ Luang Prabang
๐ฑ๐ฆ VientianeLuang Prabang is 13% cheaper than Vientiane
Living on $1,188 a month in Luang Prabang feels like about $1,561 in Vientiane โ same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Cheaper on how many of 20 items?
Luang Prabang 7tie 6Vientiane 7
One day's budget in Vientiane ($60.9) lasts 1.0 days in Luang Prabang
Compare on YOUR lifestyleSet your rent, eating out, coffee & taxis โ see your real monthly difference ยท free
โบ
Per day
$61.2 vs $60.9
Per month
$1,188 vs $1,561
Local meal
โญ 50,000 vs โญ 60,000
$2.27 vs $2.73
Taxi 5 km
โญ 60,000 vs โญ 60,000
$2.73 vs $2.73
At a glance
FoodLuang Prabang 18% cheaper
Cafรฉs & drinkssimilar
TransportVientiane 6% cheaper
StayLuang Prabang 23% cheaper
FunVientiane 16% cheaper
- Where Vientiane is clearly cheaper: Transit (50%โ), Entry ticket (50%โ), Scooter rental (33%โ)
- Where Luang Prabang is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (41%โ), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (25%โ), Street food (23%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Enter a monthly income in Luang Prabang to see what gives the same standard of living in Vientiane. Starts at the average Luang Prabang salary.
Travel difficulty
Luang Prabang
Vientiane
Overall
Hard3.0
Hard3.0
Rip-offs & haggling
3
3
Language
3
3
Getting around
3
3
Payments
4
4
Safety
2
2
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Luang Prabang | Vientiane | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | โญ 50,000$2.27 | โญ 60,000$2.73 | Luang Prabang โ17% |
| Street food1 item | โญ 23,000$1.05 | โญ 30,000$1.36 | Luang Prabang โ23% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | โญ 170,000$7.73 | โญ 200,000$9.09 | Luang Prabang โ15% |
| Coffeeone cup | โญ 40,000$1.82 | โญ 40,000$1.82 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | โญ 33,000$1.5 | โญ 30,000$1.36 | Vientiane โ9% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | โญ 70,000$3.18 | โญ 70,000$3.18 | similar |
| Bottled water | โญ 5,000$0.23 | โญ 5,000$0.23 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | โญ 12,000$0.55 | โญ 15,000$0.68 | Luang Prabang โ20% |
| Taxi5 km in town | โญ 60,000$2.73 | โญ 60,000$2.73 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | โญ 30,000$1.36 | โญ 40,000$1.82 | Luang Prabang โ25% |
| Transitone ride | โญ 20,000$0.91 | โญ 10,000$0.45 | Vientiane โ50% |
| Scooter rentalper day | โญ 150,000$6.82 | โญ 100,000$4.55 | Vientiane โ33% |
| Hotel night3-star | โญ 770,000$35 | โญ 700,000$31.8 | Vientiane โ9% |
| Studio rent (month) | โญ 6,500,000$295 | โญ 11,000,000$500 | Luang Prabang โ41% |
| Laundry | โญ 15,000$0.68 | โญ 15,000$0.68 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | โญ 110,000$5 | โญ 80,000$3.64 | Vientiane โ27% |
| Haircutcut | โญ 40,000$1.82 | โญ 40,000$1.82 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | โญ 120,000$5.45 | โญ 100,000$4.55 | Vientiane โ17% |
| Half-day tourper person | โญ 250,000$11.4 | โญ 300,000$13.6 | Luang Prabang โ17% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | โญ 60,000$2.73 | โญ 30,000$1.36 | Vientiane โ50% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
Compare on your own lifestyle in the appSet your rent, eating out, coffee and taxis โ see your real monthly difference and live traveler prices. No sign-up.
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FAQ
Which is cheaper, Luang Prabang or Vientiane?
Luang Prabang is 13% cheaper than Vientiane. Daily budget $61.2 vs $60.9; a month $1,188 vs $1,561.
Which is easier to travel, Luang Prabang or Vientiane?
About the same: Luang Prabang 3.0/5, Vientiane 3.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Luang Prabang and Vientiane?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Luang Prabang is about $1,188 and Vientiane about $1,561 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.
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