Which place is cheaper, Auckland or Bagan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bagan or Auckland?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bagan and Auckland can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Auckland?
Bagan
Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Auckland
Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $19Auckland $149
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $19, while the average daily cost in Auckland is $149. 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 Bagan and Auckland in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $4.76Auckland $93
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $9.52Auckland $186
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Auckland
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Auckland? 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: Auckland Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $2.31Auckland $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU): $14
- From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $150
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:
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Bus from Airport$10
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Airport Shuttle$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland
Also for Auckland, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Auckland Airport Private Transfer: $86
- Arrival Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Luxury Van: $127
- Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by Luxury Van: $115
- Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by Sedan Car: $90
- Auckland Airport (AKL): Private Transfer to Downtown hotels: $360
- Auckland Airport (AKL): Transfer to North Shore hotels: $334
- Auckland Airport / CBD luxury passenger transfers : $140
- Auckland Airport Arrival Transfer (Individuals and Groups): $113
- Auckland Airport Taxi: Private Transfer One Direction: $74
- Auckland Airport Transfers: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Luxury Car: $134
- Auckland Airport Transfers: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Luxury Van: $127
- Auckland Airport to Whangaparaoa - Gulf Harbour Luxury Transfers: $242
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Auckland?
Prices for flights to both Auckland and Bagan 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 dayBagan $3.85Auckland $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.
- Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91
Typical Food Prices in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Breakfast$5.07
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland
For Auckland, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Auckland:: Japanese Home Cooking: $81
- Auckland Harbour 3-Course Dinner Cruise with Welcome Drink: $99
- Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $102
- Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $108
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bagan $37Auckland $29
Tours and Activities in Bagan
Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amazing Bagan, full day tour by car and guide: $90
- Bagan Antique Day Tour in Bagan: $86
- Bagan Classics Private Temples Tour: $159
- Bagan Cycling Tour ( Villages & Temples Cycling Explorer) : $129
- Bagan Fullday Sightseeing by Car and Horse-cart: $184
- Bagan and Mount Popa Private Tour (2 Days): $90
- Full Day Bagan Tour: $160
- Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
- Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
- Full day Adventure Trip in Bagan with Tuk Tuk : $72
- Full day Adventure Trip to Mt. Popa & Salay: $65
- Half Day Sightseeing With Royal Horse: $76
Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)$35
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Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)$128
Tours and Activities in Auckland
For Auckland, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Auckland Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Maritime Museum Entry Ticket: $15
- Tree Heart Park Adventure Clue Trail Family Package: $16
- Join the locals: 2-Hour Precinct Tour of Dealer Art Galleries: $16
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket: $20
- Skip the Line: Auckland Museum General Admission Entry Ticket: $20
- Skip the Line: Odyssey Sensory Maze Entry Auckland Ticket: $20
- Auckland CBD: Escape Game Adventure: $25
- Auckland Takapuna: Escape Game Adventure: $25
- Auckland Sky Tower General Admission Ticket : $30
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $33
- Auckland Explorer: Hop-on Hop-off Tour : $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Auckland $14
Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland
Also in Auckland, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Ultimate Late Night Bar Crawl: $19
- Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour in Auckland with 3-Course Vineyard Lunch: $108
- Waiheke Island: Scenic Wine Tour Tasting Wines on Waiheke: $114
- Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $145
- Waiheke Island: Tour with Wine Tastings and Restaurant Lunch: $154
- From Waiheke Island Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $157
- Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $169
- Kumeu Wine Tour: $175
- Kumeu Wineries / Brewery : $181
- From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $185
- Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch: $191
- Scenic Wine Tastings Tour with Lunch: $216
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Auckland, we can see that Auckland is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bagan is in Asia and Auckland is in Pacific, 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 Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan 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 Auckland would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Auckland than you might in Bagan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bagan Expensive? and Is Auckland Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Auckland?
Auckland has a larger population, and is about 1390 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Auckland, 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.