Which place is cheaper, Chiang Rai or Aqaba?
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 Aqaba or Chiang Rai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Chiang Rai, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Aqaba or Chiang Rai?
Aqaba
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
Chiang Rai
If you find yourself dreaming of a vacation in Northern Thailand, consider the metropolitan city of Chiang Rai. This centrally located capital of the Chiang Rai province provides an excellent home base for exploring the surrounding areas. While it serves well as a home base, it has its own charms worth wandering.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Aqaba Prices
Jordan PricesChiang Rai Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAqaba $157Chiang Rai $51
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $157, while the average daily cost in Chiang Rai is $51. 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 Aqaba and Chiang Rai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAqaba $59Chiang Rai $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAqaba $118Chiang Rai $38
Compare Hotels in Aqaba and Chiang Rai
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba or Chiang Rai? 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: Aqaba Hotel Prices and Chiang Rai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Aqaba $24Chiang Rai $3.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Aqaba
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
- Wadi Rum: Private Transfer to Aqaba through Hotel Pickup: $69
- Wadi Rum: One-Way Transfer to/from Aqaba by Private Car: $80
- Wadi Araba Border Private Transfer To Petra: $105
- Transfers , Meet & Assistance at Wadi Araba Crossing Border: $153
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Wadi rum: $120
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Petra: $59
- Transfer from Aqaba City Or TalaBay to Amman Airport: $101
- Transfer from Aqaba Airport to Petra: $60
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Wadi rum: $140
- Transfer From Aqaba Airport to Aqaba City Or TalaBay: $25
- Snorkeling in The Red Sea With Equipment And Free Transfer: $51
- Private Transfers from Wadi Rum Inside Jordan and Vice Versa: $129
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Rai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Chiang Rai:
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Bus to White Temple$1.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai
Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Rai 4 Temples and Lalitta Cafe Full Day Tour with Transfer: $54
- Chiang Rai Airport to Chiang Khong & Golden Triangle Transfer: $55
- Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai Private Scenic Transfer Tour: $150
- 2 Days 1 Night Slow Boat Transfer to Luang Prabang: $81
- Chiang Rai:Private Transfer to Chiang Mai & Temples Visit: $261
- Private Chiang Rai Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Aqaba or Chiang Rai?
Prices for flights to both Chiang Rai and Aqaba 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 dayAqaba $73Chiang Rai $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Aqaba
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
- Suhaila (connecting through cooking): $50
- Sunset Cruise with BBQ Dinner and Drinks: $54
- Overnight in Bedouin Camp. Dinner and breakfast included.: $56
- "Wadi Rum Jeep Tour + Bedouin Camp & Dinner Under the Stars: $80
- Explore Wadi Rum: Jeep Tour, Bed and Breakfast, and Dinner: $82
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight in Bedouin Camp & Dinner: $100
- Wadi Rum Full Day Jeep Tour + Overnight & Dinner in Bedouin Camp: $109
- 2 Day Wadi Rum Tour: Traditional Dinner and Starlit Cave Camp: $115
- From Wadi Rum Full-Day Private Jeep Tour with Dinner: $169
- Wadi Rum Private Tour with Jeep Safari and Dinner: $220
- Half Day Sunset Tour + Dinner & overnight stay in luxury tents: $286
- Petra & Wadi Rum Private Tour with Dinner one day: $425
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Private Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $37
- Chiang Rai Private Thai and Akha Cooking Class with Market Visit: $49
- Private Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $52
- Lanna Home Cooking Class at Give Green Farm House: $54
- Thai Cooking Class in Chiangrai with The Market Tour: $55
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $55
- 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $55
- Jungle Trek and Bamboo Cooking in Chiang Rai: $55
- Chiang Rai Jungle Trekking with Bamboo Cooking and Hot Springs: $57
- Trekking & bamboo cooking Tour: $57
- Private Local Food Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $59
- Jungle Trekking with Waterfall and Bamboo Cooking in Chiang Rai: $61
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Aqaba $54Chiang Rai $8.07
Tours and Activities in Aqaba
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 03 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $61
- 04 Hrs Jeep tour in Wadi Rum: $73
- 2 Days & 1 Night | Jeep & Hike Tour in Wadi Rum Desert | Magic Bedouin Star: $258
- 2 Days Tour | Petra, Wadi Rum, and Dead Sea From Amman.: $190
- 2 Hour Jeep Tour - Wadi Rum Desert & Canyon: $35
- 2 Hour Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $20
- 2 Hours Morning or Sunset Jeep Tour in Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $35
- 2 To 5 Hours Glass Bottom Boat Private Tour At Read Sea: $90
- 2-day Hiking Adventure and Jeep Tour from Wadi Rum: $198
- 3 Hours Private Stargazing Experience in Wadi Rum: $49
- 3Days private Tour Petra Wadi Rum from Aqaba: $254
- 4 Hour Jeep Tour (morning or sunset) - Wadi Rum Desert Highlights: $47
Tours and Activities in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half Day Join Tour Chiang Rai Pick Up Only In Chiang Rai: $26
- White Temple, Blue and Red Temple Tour from Chiang Rai: $35
- Scenic View ATV Tour and Pineapple Farm Visit in Chiang Rai: $38
- One Day Group Tour Experience in Chiangrai: $40
- Explore Full-Day Tour & Lunch Buffet: $41
- Sightseeing Join Tour Chiang Rai / PICK UP ONLY IN CHIANG RAI: $41
- Chiang Rai Discovery Full Day Guided Tour and Free Lunch Buffet: $41
- Full Day Group Tour in Chiang Rai: $42
- Mae Fah Luang Art & Cultural Park, around Chiang Rai city tour: $46
- Half Day Cycling Tour to the White temple: $48
- Chiang Rai Iconic 4 Temples White Blue Red and Lalitta Cafe Tour: $50
- Chiang Rai 7 Incredible Highlights Tour Lunch Included: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAqaba $9.07Chiang Rai $8.92
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aqaba and Chiang Rai, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Rai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Chiang Rai 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 Rai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Rai 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 Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba than you might in Chiang Rai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Chiang Rai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Aqaba or Chiang Rai?
Aqaba has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Chiang Rai. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Chiang Rai, 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.