Which place is cheaper, Chiang Rai or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Beirut or Chiang Rai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut and Chiang Rai. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Beirut or Chiang Rai?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
Chiang Rai
If you find yourself dreaming of a vacation in Northern Thailand, consider the metropolitan city of Chiang Rai. This centrally located capital of the Chiang Rai province provides an excellent home base for exploring the surrounding areas. While it serves well as a home base, it has its own charms worth wandering.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Beirut Prices
Lebanon PricesChiang Rai Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.77Chiang Rai $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.77, while the average daily cost in Chiang Rai is $52. 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 Beirut and Chiang Rai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Chiang Rai $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Chiang Rai $38
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Chiang Rai
Looking for a hotel in Beirut or Chiang Rai? 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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Chiang Rai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Chiang Rai $3.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer | Beirut Airport to Your Hotel: $10
- Paragliding in Lebanon with Hotel Transfer From Beirut: $192
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.99
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $200
- Airport Departure Transfer From Your Beirut Hotel: $10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Rai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Chiang Rai:
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Bus to White Temple$1.22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai
Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Chiang Rai Airport to and from Mueang Chiang Rai: $41
- Private Chiang Rai Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $31
- Chiang Rai:Private Transfer to Chiang Mai & Temples Visit: $265
- 2 Days 1 Night Slow Boat Transfer to Luang Prabang: $83
- Chiang Rai Airport to Chiang Khong & Golden Triangle Transfer: $56
- 2 days tour in Chiang rai, included hotel, lunch,pick up&transfer: $140
Is it cheaper to fly into Beirut or Chiang Rai?
Prices for flights to both Chiang Rai and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $1.23Chiang Rai $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $35
- Private Lebanese Home Cooking Class in Byblos with a Local Family: $86
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Beirut Street Food Tour | Hummus, Knefeh & Manoushe: $135
- Beirut Street Food Tour | 4 Neighbourhoods · All Inclusive: $150
- Private Beirut Street Food Tour with Lunch | Max 6 People: $150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Private Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $37
- Lanna Home Cooking Class at Give Green Farm House: $55
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $56
- 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $56
- One Day Trekking Chiang Rai Jungle Adventure and Bamboo Cooking: $56
- Jungle Trek and Bamboo Cooking in Chiang Rai: $56
- Trekking & bamboo cooking Tour: $57
- Private Local Food Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $59
- Chiang Rai by Night: Incredible Temples, Market and Northern Dinner: $132
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Beirut $0.26Chiang Rai $8.23
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Days Lebanon Holiday Tour Package: $264
- 3 days tour package : Jeita grotto-Byblos-Baalbek & Beirut tour: $295
- Afternoon Tour | Beiteddine Palace & Deir el Qamar | Small Group: $75
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $55
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery Small-Group Tour | Lunch Included: $55
- Anjar, Baalbek & Ksara Winery Small-Group Tour | Lunch included: $55
- Baalbek, Anjar & Ksara Small Group Tour with Lunch from Beirut: $55
- Beirut : Private Custom Walking Tour With A Guide (Private tour): $36
- Beirut City Tour with Street Food: $90
- Beirut Civil War Tour Guided Tour of Historic War Sites: $103
- Beirut Downtown, Corniche and National Museum Tour: $85
- Beirut Private Fishing Tour Experience: $77
Tours and Activities in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Akha Hill Tribes, Chiang Saen, Mae Sai & Golden Triangle Day Tour: $110
- All stunning tour : Khun Korn waterfall-White Temple-Red Temple: $47
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai including Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $203
- Border-Crossing Tour to Myanmar & Scenic Mae Khong River Cruise: $197
- CEI. to Phayao Prov. A day Tour : Temples- Hot Spring- Lake view: $80
- Chiang Mai - Full Day Chiang Rai &Golden Triangle Tour with Lunch: $199
- Chiang Rai 7 Incredible Highlights Tour Lunch Included: $51
- Chiang Rai Akha Culture Waterfall and Big Buddha Tour: $90
- Chiang Rai All Inclusive Day Tour: $70
- Chiang Rai All-in-One Daily Tour: $156
- Chiang Rai Discovery: Full‑Day Guided Tour & Free Lunch Buffet: $42
- Chiang Rai Food & Night Market Walking Tour with Local Host: $142
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBeirut $0.23Chiang Rai $9.09
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Private Wine Tasting Day Tour from Beirut: $75
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun Day Trip: $75
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut (Entrance Fee Included): $91
- Private Baalbek Temples & Ksara Wine Tour | From Beirut: $100
- Private Bekaa Wine Tour | Saint Thomas, Kefraya & Ksara · Beirut: $100
- Private Wine Tour | Chateau Musar, Ixsir & Batroun from Beirut: $100
- Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour | Ksara, Kefraya & Saint Thomas: $100
- Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour | 3 Wineries from Beirut: $100
- Private Full-Day Wine Tasting Tour from Beirut: $100
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
- PRIVATE Wine Tour in Central Bekaa Valley: $113
- Private Cedar Hike & Bekaa Wine Tour | Kefraya & Ksara: $150
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beirut and Chiang Rai, we can see that Chiang Rai is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East and Chiang Rai is in Asia, 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Chiang Rai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chiang Rai than you might in Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Chiang Rai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Chiang Rai?
Beirut has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Chiang Rai. When comparing the sizes of Beirut and Chiang Rai, 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.