Which place is cheaper, Mandalay or Ao Nang?
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 Ao Nang or Mandalay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Mandalay? 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: Ao Nang or Mandalay?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
Mandalay
Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, and The Best Budget Tours to Thailand.
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Ao Nang Prices
Thailand PricesMandalay Prices
Myanmar Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $129Mandalay $19
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $129, while the average daily cost in Mandalay 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 Ao Nang and Mandalay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $49Mandalay $8.65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $98Mandalay $17
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Mandalay
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Mandalay? 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: Ao Nang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $61Mandalay -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $35
- Ferry Transfer from Aonang To Phuket (Rassada Pier): $39
- Ferry Transfer from Koh PhiPhi to Ao Nang: $28
- From Ao Nang (Krabi): Private To Phuket (Phuket) Transfer: $87
- From Kayaking at Klong Rud with Hotel Transfers: $27
- From Krabi: Private Taxi Transfer to Phuket: $122
- Klong Rud Kayaking with Hotel Transfer: $29
- Koh Lanta :Speedboat Transfer from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi: $30
- Krabi : Muay Thai Live Fight Experience with Transfer: $56
- Krabi ATV Extreme Experience with Transfer and Adventure: $31
- Krabi ATV Jungle Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $35
- Krabi: 4 Islands Speed Catamaran Tour with Lunch/Transfers: $76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay Airport Private Transfer: $55
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $230
- Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Mandalay?
Prices for flights to both Mandalay and Ao Nang 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 dayAo Nang $46Mandalay $10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- K-Bunk Thai Cooking Class: $23
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Dinner & Snorkeling: $37
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class Krabi Province: $40
- Krabi: Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Local Chef: $44
- Authentic Thai Local Cooking Class: $46
- Krabi: Hong Island Cruise with Thai Buffet Dinner: $46
- Krabi: 7 Islands Sunset Tour by Longtail Boat & BBQ Dinner: $46
- From Ao Nang Hong Island Longtail Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $49
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $52
- Krabi: Romantic Beachfront Sunset Dinner: $65
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Instructor: $67
- Krabi: Ao Thalane Sunset Kayaking & BBQ Dinner: $112
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.
- Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
- Bamboo Bike Food Tour: $42
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $12Mandalay -
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Phi Phi : Splash & Explore – Half-Day Tour By longtail: $17
- Krabi: South Kayak Klong Root Kayaking Tour: $18
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $21
- From Krabi: Blue Dragon Cabaret Ticket Dazzling Night: $25
- FERRY TICKET PHUKET - AONANG - PHIPHI: $26
- Krabi: Iconic 4 Islands Day Tour by Longtail Boat with Lunch: $27
- Krabi: 4 Islands One-Day Premium Speedboat Tour lunch: $27
- Ao Nang Kayak Adventure: Explore the Stunning Flooded Forest: $27
- Krabi: Jurassic Trails ATV Ride & Kayaking Tour: $27
- Krabi: Saitai Mountain Tail ATV Adventure: $27
- Muay Thai Training Experience for All Levels: $27
- Ao Nang Night Tour – Swim with bioluminescent plankton: $29
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kayah Villages Full Day Tour (Pan Pet & Hta Nee La): $260
- 1-night in Pyin Oo Lwin next day to Gokteik tour: $226
- 2 Days Private Tour in Mandalay: $176
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Adventure to Dee Dote Waterfalls from Mandalay: $63
- Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing: $75
- Ancient Cities, Pagodas, and Sunset Tour from Mandalay: $194
- Ancient City Tour in Mandalay: $70
- Around Mandalay Tour in 2 Days: $100
- Day Trip Tour From Mandalay To Pyin Oo Lwin: $130
- Full Day Adventure: $153
- Full Day Mandalay Tour: $130
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $16Mandalay -
Sample the Local Flavors in Ao Nang
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ao Nang:
- K-Bunk Pub Crawl - The Best Bars in Ao Nang in One Night!: $0.97
- Krabi: Summer Club Pub Crawl with Fire Show: $15
- Krabi Pub Crawl - Join Nomads For The Best Night in Ao Nang!: $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Mandalay, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay 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 Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Mandalay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Mandalay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Mandalay?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Mandalay, 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.