Which place is cheaper, Mandalay or Bangalore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bangalore or Mandalay?
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 Bangalore and Mandalay can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bangalore or Mandalay?
Bangalore
Bangalore is the capital city of the state of Karnataka, in India. It's also India's third largest city with a population of about 8.5 million. It's considered one of the most liveable cities in the country and was historically known for its many gardens and lush green spaces. Today those areas are all but gone, having given way to the growing population and sprawling metropolises. Bangalore is also the information technology hub of the country and is sometimes referred to as India's Silicon Valley.
Mandalay
Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in India, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangalore $44Mandalay $9.45
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangalore is $44, while the average daily cost in Mandalay is $9.45. 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 Bangalore and Mandalay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangalore $20Mandalay $5.60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangalore $40Mandalay $11
Compare Hotels in Bangalore and Mandalay
Looking for a hotel in Bangalore or Mandalay? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangalore $9.65Mandalay -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangalore
Also for Bangalore, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A Private Transfer: From Chennai to Bangalore Car & Driver: $179
- Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $16
- Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $28
- All-Inclusive Taj Mahal and Agra Private Tour with Transfers: $38
- Bangalore - private arrival transfer from airport to hotel: $35
- Bangalore airport to Hotel Transfer: $18
- One-Way Private City Transfer Mysore & Bangalore: $50
- Bannerghatta Park Day Tour Safari with Private Transfer: $55
- Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR) to Bengaluru City -RoundTrip Private Transfer: $81
- Bengaluru to Bengaluru Airport (BLR) - Departure Private Transfer: $45
- From City to Airport Private Transfer: $22
- From Mysore guided day tour with transfers: $166
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
- From Private Transfer to Bagan: $150
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $200
- Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
- 2 Days in Mandalay Region, 3 Night in Monywa and 4 Days to transfer Bagan: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangalore or Mandalay?
Prices for flights to both Mandalay and Bangalore 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 dayBangalore $13Mandalay $3.85
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bangalore : Street Food tour and Local Market Visit.: $17
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Family: $33
- Indian Cooking Class in Bangalore with an Award Winning Chef: $54
- Discover Bangalore's Cuisine: Private Half-Day Cooking Experience: $60
- Private South Indian Cooking Class in Bangalore with a Local: $62
- South Indian Cooking Class in Mysore with Devika: $66
- Private In-Home Cooking Demonstration and Meal in Bangalore: $68
- 3-Hour Private Cooking Lesson and Meal in a Bangalore Home: $74
- Cooking experience in Bangalore, a half day tour: $101
- Authentic Indian Cooking Class: $149
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.
- Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangalore $11Mandalay -
Tours and Activities in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Bangalore Basavanagudi Heritage Self Guided Walking Tour: $8.54
- FLOWER and FRUIT market tour: $13
- Bangalore Night Walking Tour: $13
- Bangalore Walking Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Cubbon Park Heritage Walk: A self-guided tour of Bangalore's unique history: $15
- Walk of Divinity Bangalore (2 hours guided walking tour): $18
- Bangalore Night Walking Tour (2 hours guided walking tour): $18
- Hire a guide for full day Bangalore city tour with own transport: $24
- Experience Bangalore - Evening City Walk Tour & Market Visit: $32
- Bangalore Private Tour: $35
- Tales of Bangalore a Walking Tour: $35
- Old City Walking Tour: $36
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-night in Pyin Oo Lwin next day to Gokteik tour: $226
- Kayah Villages Full Day Tour (Pan Pet & Hta Nee La): $260
- 2 Days Private Tour in Mandalay: $176
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Amarapura,Mingun,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $85
- Amarapura,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $75
- Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing : $75
- Ancient Capitals of Myanmar Tour: $110
- Ancient City Tour in Mandalay : $70
- Day Trip Tour From Mandalay To Pyin Oo Lwin: $105
- Full Day Adventure: $153
- Full day Adventure Trip in Mandalay & Amarapura : $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangalore $9.03Mandalay -
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangalore
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bangalore:
- pub crawl Bangalore tours: $24
- Pub Crawl Bangalore (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $35
- Pub Crawl Bangalore: $39
- Pub Crawl with Welcome Drinks, Games & Discounts: $43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangalore and Mandalay, we can see that Bangalore is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay 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 Bangalore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangalore than you might in Mandalay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangalore Expensive? and Is Mandalay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangalore or Mandalay?
Bangalore has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Mandalay. When comparing the sizes of Bangalore and Mandalay, 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.