Should you visit Ayutthaya or Nakhon Ratchasima?
Should I visit Ayutthaya or Nakhon Ratchasima? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Nakhon Ratchasima
If you're planning on traveling from Bangkok to Isaan, you'll likely make Nakhon Ratchasima your pit stop or home base. However, there is so much more to this sprawling metropolis than just a layover. Underneath the chaos of it all, is a charming and traditional Thai city.
Which city is cheaper, Nakhon Ratchasima or Ayutthaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ayutthaya is $58, while the average daily cost in Nakhon Ratchasima is $37. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Ayutthaya and Nakhon Ratchasima in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $19. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Ayutthaya the cost is $38 on average.
The prices for places to stay in Nakhon Ratchasima can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $18, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $36.
Food
Ayutthaya food costs typically run travelers around $19 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
On average, meal and food prices in Nakhon Ratchasima cost around $14 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $5.60.
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Food
Meals for one day
Ayutthaya $19
Nakhon Ratchasima $14
Typical Food prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Lunch for 2
$4.45
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Ice Cream
$0.95
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Breakfast for 2
$4.45
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Breakfast for 2
$11
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Ayutthaya is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $25 per person, per day, on local transportation in Ayutthaya.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Nakhon Ratchasima than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $4.20 on transportation in Nakhon Ratchasima on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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River Ferry Crossing
$0.64
Typical Local Transportation prices in Nakhon Ratchasima
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Nakhon Ratchasima:
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Tuk Tuk
$1.59
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Bus to Vientiane
$1.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nakhon Ratchasima
Also for Nakhon Ratchasima, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer from Nakhon Ratchasima to Ayutthaya:
$174
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Ayutthaya typically cost an average of $25 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing expenses in Nakhon Ratchasima, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $5.42 per day, per person.
Typical Entertainment prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Temple Entrances (2)
$6.36
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Wat Entrance
$1.59
Tours and Activities in Ayutthaya
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Ayutthaya City Culture Bicycle Tour:
$30
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Ayutthaya Day Tour:
$57
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Ayutthaya Day Tour By Car:
$157
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Ayutthaya and Bang Pa-In with minivan and come back with cruise:
$96
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Bangkok Ayutthaya Private Sunset Boat Tour:
$82
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Colors of Ayutthaya Bicycle Tour:
$55
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Private : Ayutthaya Ancient Temples Day Tour:
$112
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Private : Ayutthaya Temples & Floating Market Day Tour:
$119
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Shore Excursion from Laem Cha Bang Port to Ayutthaya (Private tour):
$262
Alcohol
The average person spends about $17 on alcoholic beverages in Ayutthaya per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Nakhon Ratchasima spend on average $9.49 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Nakhon Ratchasima, we can see that Ayutthaya is more expensive. And not only is Nakhon Ratchasima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nakhon Ratchasima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nakhon Ratchasima 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 Nakhon Ratchasima.
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