Which place is cheaper, Chiang Mai or Alexandria?
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 Alexandria or Chiang Mai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alexandria and Chiang Mai can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Alexandria or Chiang Mai?
Alexandria
There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is both the cultural center of northern Thailand and a launching point for trips into the rural areas, small towns, and lush jungles of the country's northern regions. Known for great food, historic temples, arts and crafts, and a lively night market, Chiang Mai is a very popular destination for travelers. In some areas, tourists and ex-pats dominate, but it's quite easy to get away from the tourist scene and into the real culture of Thailand, as Chiang Mai (and the surrounding countryside) is quite large.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Egypt, The Best Budget Tours to Egypt, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket.
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Alexandria Prices
Egypt PricesChiang Mai Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAlexandria $28Chiang Mai $59
The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $28, while the average daily cost in Chiang Mai is $59. 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 Alexandria and Chiang Mai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAlexandria $10Chiang Mai $29
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAlexandria $20Chiang Mai $58
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Chiang Mai
Looking for a hotel in Alexandria or Chiang Mai? 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: Alexandria Hotel Prices and Chiang Mai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Alexandria $3.73Chiang Mai $4.04
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:
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Taxi to Train Station$0.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:
- Private Transfer From Alexandria To Cairo Airport: $240
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $224
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo or vice versa: $134
- Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo in Egypt or vice versa: $121
- Private Transfer Alexandria to Cairo Hotel or Airport: $99
- From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $94
- Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $80
- Alexandria Airport (HBE)to Alexandria-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- transfer from Alexandria to Cairo airport, Cairo & Giza hotels: $55
- Private Transfer from Borg El Arab Airport to El Alamein Marassi: $47
- Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria City Hotels: $42
- Alexandria to Alexandria Airport (HBE)-Departure Private Transfer: $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$1.22
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Moped Rental$5.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall & Dantewada Cafe with Hotel Transfer: $21
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Chiang Dao Private Arrival Transfer: $70
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Chiang Dao Round Trip Private Transfer: $140
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Pai Thermal Resorts Arrival Transfer: $187
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $25
- Chiang Mai Airport To / From Hotel with Private Transfer: $23
- Chiang Mai Airport Transfer by Private Van – Arrival or Departure: $53
- Chiang Mai International Airport Departure Shared Transfer: $15
- Chiang Mai Mae Kam Pong Wild Gibbon Jungle Trek with Transfer: $95
- Chiang Mai Mae Wang Day Trek and Raft with Lunch Transfer: $59
- Chiang Mai Private Car :Airport To Hotel transfer (one way): $15
- Chiang Mai Siam Dragon Cabaret Show with Hotel Transfer: $31
Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Chiang Mai?
Prices for flights to both Chiang Mai and Alexandria 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 dayAlexandria $14Chiang Mai $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.
- Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $20
- Alexandria Food Tour Top Rated: $40
- Food Tour in Alexandria for Lunch or Dinner in The Best Restaurants: $45
- Alexandria food Tour taste the Egyptian traditional food: $56
- From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94
- GEM and Pyramids Tour with Cruise Dinner From Alexandria Port: $120
Typical Food Prices in Chiang Mai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:
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Sit Down Dinner (for One)$5.93
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Roti Snack (Bread)$0.73
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Casual Breakfast$1.22
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.08
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Mangoes$0.91
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Coffee$1.52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Morning Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $12
- Cooking Evening Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $12
- Chiang Mai Khantoke Dinner and Cultural Show Experience: $27
- Half-Day Cooking Class: $28
- Morning Thai cooking class: $28
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $28
- The Rice Barn Thai Cooking Farm Chiangmai: $28
- Khantoke Dinner at Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center: $29
- Half Day Evening Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai: $29
- Half Day Morning Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai: $29
- Baan Farm Thai Cooking School Chiangmai: $30
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner & Cultural Show Tour in Chiang Mai: $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Alexandria $5.21Chiang Mai $14
Tours and Activities in Alexandria
Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 10-Hour Historical Pyramids Tour from Alexandria Port: $130
- 2 Day Tour Visit the Top Attractions of Alexandria City: $155
- 6-Hour Private Day Tour to Rashid from Alexandria: $100
- 8Days Egypt Tour package UltraLuxury Cairo,Alexandria&cruise: $4,190
- Alamein full day tour from Alexandria: $95
- Alexandria : Rosetta Day Tour from Alexandria: $130
- Alexandria : Tour to WadiElNatroun Monastery from Alexandria: $150
- Alexandria By Night By Horse Carriage ride And Free Walking Tour: $70
- Alexandria By Night Private Free Walking Tours & Horse Carriage Ride: $68
- Alexandria City Tour from Cairo Full Day: $121
- Alexandria Day Tour: $110
- Alexandria Day Tour – Explore the City's Top Attractions!: $82
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Thai Cooking Class$40
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Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket$1.82
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Kratong Lessons$3.04
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Pedicure$4.56
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$5.47
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- Chiang Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.51
- Chiang Mai Eco Tourism Elephant Poop Paper Creative Experience: $6.18
- Tube Trek Water Park Tickets in San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai: $8.90
- Doi Suthep Temple Tour by Local Red Car 3 Hour Adventure: $12
- Art in Paradise: Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum Experience: $15
- Skip the Line: Chiang Mai Art in Paradise Admission Ticket: $16
- FAM Fahlanna Art Museum Admission Ticket, Chiang Mai: $17
- Chiang Mai Mae Ping River Cruise and Thai Farmer House Visit: $20
- Doi Suthep Temple, Wat Pha Lat, Hmong Village Tour (Comfort Van): $21
- Explore Wat Phra Singh on a Walking Tour in Chiang Mai: $21
- Chiang Mai Old City Temples and Heritage Walking Tour: $21
- Authentic Muay Thai Experience with Hotel Pickup: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAlexandria $1.41Chiang Mai $7.53
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Wine$3.04
Sample the Local Flavors in Chiang Mai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
- Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: 4 Venues, Beer Buffet & VIP Entry: $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Chiang Mai, we can see that Chiang Mai is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alexandria is in Africa and Chiang Mai is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Chiang Mai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chiang Mai than you might in Alexandria.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Alexandria Expensive? and Is Chiang Mai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Chiang Mai?
Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Chiang Mai. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria and Chiang Mai, 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 Alexandria or Chiang Mai?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Alexandria or Chiang Mai in the Summer?
Both Chiang Mai and Alexandria during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Alexandria because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round.
June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Alexandria usually gets less rain in July than Chiang Mai. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Alexandria is cooler than Chiang Mai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Alexandria in July average around 26°C (79°F), and Chiang Mai averages at about 30°C (86°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAlexandria 26°C (79°F)Chiang Mai 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Alexandria or Chiang Mai in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Alexandria and Chiang Mai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Alexandria year-round. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season. Chiang Mai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Alexandria usually receives less rain than Chiang Mai. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Alexandria is generally cooler than Chiang Mai. Daily temperatures in Alexandria average around 22°C (72°F), and Chiang Mai fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAlexandria 22°C (72°F)Chiang Mai 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Alexandria or Chiang Mai in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Alexandria as well as Chiang Mai. Alexandria attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chiang Mai throughout the year.
Also, November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season. Alexandria usually gets more rain in January than Chiang Mai. Alexandria gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
Alexandria is much colder than Chiang Mai in the winter. The daily temperature in Alexandria averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and Chiang Mai fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAlexandria 13°C (55°F)Chiang Mai 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Alexandria or Chiang Mai in the Spring?
Both Chiang Mai and Alexandria are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Alexandria throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Chiang Mai is June to September. In April, Alexandria usually receives less rain than Chiang Mai. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
Chiang Mai can become quite hot in the spring. In the spring, Alexandria is much colder than Chiang Mai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Alexandria in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Chiang Mai averages at about 31°C (88°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAlexandria 19°C (66°F)Chiang Mai 31°C (88°F)
Typical Weather for Chiang Mai and Alexandria
| Alexandria | Chiang Mai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Jun | 23°C (73°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jul | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Oct | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 14°C (57°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 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.