Which place is cheaper, Chiang Mai or Amman?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Amman or Chiang Mai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Amman and Chiang Mai. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Amman or Chiang Mai?
Amman
Amman is the largest city in of the Hashemite Kingdom of the country of Jordan. It is also the capital city of Jordan and has a population of over four million people. Many people use Amman as a base for venturing out into the rest of Jordan and other surrounding countries. There are many things to see and do in Amman.
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 Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAmman $110Chiang Mai $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Amman is $110, while the average daily cost in Chiang Mai is $45. 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 Amman and Chiang Mai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAmman $49Chiang Mai $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAmman $98Chiang Mai $52
Compare Hotels in Amman and Chiang Mai
Looking for a hotel in Amman 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: Amman Hotel Prices and Chiang Mai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Amman $24Chiang Mai $3.63
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amman
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amman:
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Bus Ride (for Two)$0.71
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RIde to Airport$28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amman
Also for Amman, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer to Aqaba from Amman or Queen Alia Airport: $360
- Wadi Rum transfer from - to Amman: $323
- Amman Or Airport Private Transfer To Petra By Kings Way: $260
- Queen Alia International Airport Transfers To Amman, Petra.: $257
- transfers Queen Alia Airport or Amman from/to Petra: $242
- Petra Full Day Tour with Hotel Transfer: $204
- Transfer Amman To/From Petra: $200
- Private Transfer From Amman Airport To Petra: $190
- Private Transfer from Allenby King Hussein Bridge to Aqaba Airport: $173
- Petra or WadiRum transfer to/from Amman, Airport, Madaba, Deadsea: $167
- Amman Private Transfer To Jerusalem With VIP Service: $160
- Amman to Jerusalem Private Transfer: $160
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$1.09
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Moped Rental$4.91
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zipline Adventure at Chiang Mai with Return Transfer: $191
- Try find your better than us!Airport transfer service in Chiang Mai APT-HTL(CNX): $5.30
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Chiang Mai HTL-APT(CNX): $5.30
- Skyline Jungle Luge Ticket + Share Transfer: $85
- Skyline Jungle Luge Ticket + Lunch with Private Transfer: $250
- Private Vehicle: Transfer from Airport in Chiang Mai: $21
- Private Transfer: Four Seasons Hotel to Chiang Mai Airport: $24
- Private Transfer: Chiang Mai to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX): $26
- Private Transfer: Chiang Mai Airport Arrival or Departure ride: $155
- Private Transfer from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai: $152
- Private Transfer Chiang Mai Airport to Hotel in Chiang Mai by Car and Van: $37
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX): $11
Is it cheaper to fly into Amman or Chiang Mai?
Prices for flights to both Chiang Mai and Amman 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 dayAmman $34Chiang Mai $10
Typical Food Prices in Amman
For Amman, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$4.23
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Tea$5.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amman
For Amman, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Amman:Home resturant lunch and dinner: $37
- Private Day or Night Amman Sightseeing - Optional Cooking or Wine Tasting Tour : $51
- 3 course dinner with a sommelier: $56
- Private Lunch or Dinner at a Local Traditional Restaurant in Amman: $71
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner Experience : $109
- 3-Hours Guided Food Tour in Amman: $130
- Private Jordan Heritage Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with Wine Experience : $173
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)$5.32
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Roti Snack (Bread)$0.65
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Casual Breakfast$1.09
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.46
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Mangoes$0.82
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Coffee$1.36
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 Evening Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $11
- Cooking Morning Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market : $11
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Show from Chiang Mai: $19
- Khantoke Dinner with Traditional Performance: $22
- Morning Cooking Class in Organic Garden | Chiang Mai: $22
- Afternoon Cooking Class in Organic Garden in Chiang Mai: $22
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $22
- Evening Cooking Class and Local Market Visit: $24
- Cooking Class, Market and Thai Herbs Garden Tour: $24
- Private Virtual Thai Cooking Class: $25
- Half Day Morning Cooking Class with Yummy Tasty Thai Cooking School: $25
- Authentic Easy Thai Recipes for Home-Style Cooking Half Day AM: $25
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Amman $32Chiang Mai $13
Tours and Activities in Amman
For Amman, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Amman :Private day tour to Jerash and Ajloun: $81
- Tour to the hidden Kingdom of the north: $300
- 01 Day Tour to Dead Sea From Amman: $220
- 1 Day Tour to Amman Jerash and Ajloun castle : $150
- 1 Day Tour: Amman and Jerash: $176
- 1-Day Tour: Amman and Dead Sea: $161
- 1-Night Private Overnight Madaba Independent Tour from Amman: $170
- 1-Night Private Overnight Wadi Mujib Independent Tour from Amman: $271
- 1Day Private spiritual Tour to Amman Madaba Baptism site Dead Sea: $150
- 2 Day Tour Petra Wadi Rum and Dead Sea from Amman: $300
- 2 Days Group Tour From Petra Wadi Rum Aqaba Dead sea: $264
- 2 Days Tour of Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea from Amman: $245
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$35
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Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket$1.64
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Kratong Lessons$2.73
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Pedicure$4.09
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$4.91
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- Chiang Mai Thapae Muay Thai Boxing Stadium Ticket: $27
- One Day Doi Inthanon National Park Small Group Guided Tour: $39
- Private Tour of Sacred Sakyant Tattoo in Lamphun Province.: $79
- 1 Day Doi Inthanon Private tour ( Hiking and Sightseeing ): $96
- 1 Day Private Tour Doi Inthanon And Phachor Canyon: $128
- 1 Day Private Tour White Temple and Renewed Doichang Coffee: $188
- 1 Hr Chiang Mai Buggy Tour (Off-Road): $149
- 1-Day Bike and River Kayak Adventure from Chiang Mai: $64
- 10KM Inflatable Kayaking Adventure: $81
- 10km Rafting with 8Adventures from Chiang Mai Include Pickup & Lunch : $102
- 2 Days 1 Night Non Tourist Trek: $122
- 2 Days Hiking Tour in Chiang Mai: $111
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAmman $14Chiang Mai $6.76
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$2.73
Sample the Local Flavors in Chiang Mai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
- Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: The Best Bars & Pubs in Chiang Mai!: $9.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Amman and Chiang Mai, we can see that Amman is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Mai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Amman is in Middle East 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 Chiang Mai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Mai 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 Amman would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amman than you might in Chiang Mai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Amman Expensive? and Is Chiang Mai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Amman or Chiang Mai?
Amman has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Chiang Mai. When comparing the sizes of Amman 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 Amman or Chiang Mai?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Amman or Chiang Mai in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Amman and Chiang Mai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Amman year-round. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Amman usually receives less rain than Chiang Mai. Amman gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Amman, it's very sunny this time of the year. Amman usually receives more sunshine than Chiang Mai during summer. Amman gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while Chiang Mai receives 146 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Amman is generally cooler than Chiang Mai. Daily temperatures in Amman average around 25°C (77°F), and Chiang Mai fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAmman 25°C (77°F)Chiang Mai 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Amman or Chiang Mai in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Amman as well as Chiang Mai. Amman 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. It's quite rainy in Chiang Mai. Amman usually gets less rain in October than Chiang Mai. Amman gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chiang Mai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Amman this time of the year. In the autumn, Amman often gets more sunshine than Chiang Mai. Amman gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chiang Mai receives 226 hours of full sun.
Amman is cooler than Chiang Mai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Amman averages around 20°C (68°F) in October, and Chiang Mai fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAmman 20°C (68°F)Chiang Mai 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Amman or Chiang Mai in the Winter?
Both Chiang Mai and Amman are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Amman throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Chiang Mai is November to February. It's quite rainy in Amman. In January, Amman usually receives more rain than Chiang Mai. Amman gets 149 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Chiang Mai. Amman usually receives less sunshine than Chiang Mai during winter. Amman gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Chiang Mai receives 283 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Amman is much colder than Chiang Mai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Amman in January average around 8°C (46°F), and Chiang Mai averages at about 23°C (74°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAmman 8°C (46°F)Chiang Mai 23°C (74°F)
Should I visit Amman or Chiang Mai in the Spring?
Both Chiang Mai and Amman during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Amman 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. Amman usually gets less rain in April than Chiang Mai. Amman gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Chiang Mai, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Amman. In the spring, Amman often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chiang Mai. Amman gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chiang Mai receives 275 hours of full sun.
It's very hot in Chiang Mai this time of the year. In April, Amman is generally much colder than Chiang Mai. Daily temperatures in Amman average around 16°C (61°F), and Chiang Mai fluctuates around 31°C (88°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAmman 16°C (61°F)Chiang Mai 31°C (88°F)
Typical Weather for Chiang Mai and Amman
| Amman | Chiang Mai | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 8°C (46°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) |
| Feb | 9°C (48°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 12°C (54°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 21°C (70°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Oct | 20°C (68°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 14°C (57°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) |
| Dec | 10°C (50°F) | 138 mm (5.4 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.