Which place is cheaper, Canberra or Bagan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bagan or Canberra?
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 Canberra can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Canberra?
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.
Canberra
There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $19Canberra $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $19, while the average daily cost in Canberra is $140. 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 Canberra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $4.76Canberra $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $9.52Canberra $172
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Canberra
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Canberra? 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: Canberra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $2.31Canberra $26
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra
Also for Canberra, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Canberra Airport (CBR) to Canberra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $70
- Canberra Int'l Airport to Canberra - Arrival Private Transfer: $35
- Canberra Transfer: Airport（CBR）to/from City Center: $100
- Canberra to Canberra Int Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $35
- Guided Tour of Floriade Festival with Transfers: $124
- Private Transfer from Canberra Airport CBR to Eden Cruise Port : $84
- Private Transfer from Canberra city hotels to Eden Cruise Port: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Canberra?
Prices for flights to both Canberra 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 $3.85Canberra $36
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 Canberra
For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch$17
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bagan $37Canberra $18
Tours and Activities in Bagan
Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Acient Capitals of Myanmar Tour: $149
- BAGAN TEMPLES FULL DAY GUIDED BY ELECTRIC BIKE ( Private Tour ): $64
- Bagan Classics Private Temples Tour: $159
- Bagan Instagram Photo Tour: $179
- Bagan Sightseeing Tour with Horse Cart: $86
- Bagan and Mount Popa Private Tour (2 Days): $90
- Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
- Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
- Excellent Private Guided Tour Around Bagan With Lunch: $88
- Faces of Bagan Private Photography Tour: $199
- Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
- Full day Adventure Trip to Mt. Popa & Salay: $65
Tours and Activities in Canberra
For Canberra, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- First Australians Tour | 3pm Daily: $14
- Museum Highlights Tour | 1pm Daily: $14
- Building + Architecture Tour | 10am Daily: $14
- Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour: $15
- Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour in Canberra: $31
- Badass Women of The Women Behind the Capital Tour: $41
- Spies in the Capital: Women in Espionage Walking Tour: $41
- Women's History Walking Tour with Local Guide: $42
- LGBTQIA+ History Walking Tour: $42
- Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines: $45
- Best of Wildlife Tour: $93
- Best of Wildlife and Birds Tour: $104
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Canberra $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Canberra
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:
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Drinks at a Bar$9.59
Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra
Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Indulgence Wine Tasting with Matched Elements for 2 - Canberra: $91
- Canberra Brewery and Beer Tour in 3 Hours: $104
- Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $128
- CanBEERa Explorer: Capital Brewery Full-Day Tour: $129
- From Winery, Distillery, & Tasting Tour with Lunch: $155
- Canberra Wine Tour: $167
- Full-Day Canberra Brewery, Wineries & Distillery tour /w lunch: $171
- Premium Wine Tasting Experience and 2-Course Lunch: $188
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Canberra, we can see that Canberra 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 Canberra 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 Canberra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Canberra 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 Canberra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Canberra?
Canberra has a larger population, and is about 1090 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Canberra, 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.