Which place is cheaper, Datong or Ayutthaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ayutthaya or Datong?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ayutthaya or Datong? 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: Ayutthaya or Datong?
Ayutthaya
Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.
Datong
If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAyutthaya $71Datong $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Ayutthaya is $71, while the average daily cost in Datong is $57. 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 Ayutthaya and Datong in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAyutthaya $24Datong $24
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAyutthaya $48Datong $48
Compare Hotels in Ayutthaya and Datong
Looking for a hotel in Ayutthaya or Datong? 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: Ayutthaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ayutthaya $31Datong $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
-
River Ferry Crossing$0.62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ayutthaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ayutthaya:
- Transfer from Bangkok: $108
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
- Private Round-Trip Transfer to Hanging Temple: $98
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
- Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
- Flexible Private Transfer Service from Datong to Pingyao with Sightseeing Stops: $225
Is it cheaper to fly into Ayutthaya or Datong?
Prices for flights to both Datong and Ayutthaya 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
-
Food Meals for one dayAyutthaya $23Datong $20
Typical Food Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
-
Lunch for 2$4.32
-
Ice Cream$0.93
-
Breakfast for 2$4.32
-
Breakfast for 2$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ayutthaya
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ayutthaya.
- Bangkok: VELA Dinner Cruise Ticket: $21
- Eat like a local Food tour, with small group: $69
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ayutthaya $30Datong $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:
-
Temple Entrances (2)$6.18
-
Wat Entrance$1.54
Tours and Activities in Ayutthaya
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ayutthaya are as follows:
- App self-guided: Tour Bangkok, Thailand: $4.39
- Ayutthaya 1-day Private Tour : UNESCO World Heritage Site: $156
- Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour: $39
- Ayutthaya Full-Day Tour with Bang Pa In (Summer Palace): $60
- Ayutthaya Private Guided Day Tour, 3 Historic Attractions: $134
- Ayutthaya Private Guided Day Tour, 4 Ancient Temples: $126
- Ayutthaya’s Heritage Revealed A Day Tour from Bangkok: $649
- Ancient City Temple Tour: $171
- Private 1 hour Boat tour Pa Sak River: $90
- UNESCO Heritage Temples and Cafe Day Tour: $69
- BKK: Ayutthaya Old Capital with 4 Famous Temple Private Tour: $149
- Bangkok: Ayutthaya Night Tour (Join Tour): $77
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $26
- Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket Only: $35
- Pingyao Ancient City Scenic Area Pass Ticket Only: $36
- YungangGrottoe HangingTemple Private Self-guided Tour by Car: $79
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
- 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
- Private Datong Day Tour Arranged by Local Tour Guide Nancy: $129
- Datong Classic Day Tour: $135
- Private city tour Datong Yungang grottoes and Huayan Monastery: $160
- Private day tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple& lunch: $180
- Private Tour: Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery From Datong: $186
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong : $188
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAyutthaya $20Datong $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Datong, we can see that Ayutthaya is more expensive. And not only is Datong much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Datong would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Datong 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 Ayutthaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ayutthaya than you might in Datong.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ayutthaya Expensive? and Is Datong Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ayutthaya or Datong?
Datong has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ayutthaya. When comparing the sizes of Ayutthaya and Datong, 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.