A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bagan vs. Tiger Leaping Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bagan or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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 Tiger Leaping Gorge can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bagan or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge or Bagan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $19, while the average daily cost in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $42. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bagan $4.76
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bagan $9.52
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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.

Hotels in Bagan


Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bagan $2.31
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:

  • From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $150
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU): $14

Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bagan $3.85
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $16

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bagan $37
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15

Tours and Activities in Bagan

Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
  • Mount Popa Tour: $42
  • Old Bagan Sightseeing Tour: $43
  • Private Bagan Cultural Tour : $46
  • Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
  • Visiting Mount Popa from Bagan - Private Tour: $48
  • Private Day Tour to Mt Popa: $48
  • Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
  • Half Day Local Color Tour In Bagan: $57
  • BAGAN TEMPLES FULL DAY GUIDED BY ELECTRIC BIKE ( Private Tour ): $64
  • Full day Adventure Trip to Mt. Popa & Salay: $65
  • Tuk Tuk tour to Mt. Popa : $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bagan -
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.49


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Tiger Leaping Gorge, we can see that Tiger Leaping Gorge is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive?.