Which place is cheaper, Ayutthaya or Chennai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chennai or Ayutthaya?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Ayutthaya? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Chennai or Ayutthaya?
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
Ayutthaya
Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in India, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in India, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $29Ayutthaya $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $29, while the average daily cost in Ayutthaya is $68. 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 Chennai and Ayutthaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Ayutthaya $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Ayutthaya $46
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Ayutthaya
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Ayutthaya? 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: Chennai Hotel Prices and Ayutthaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.60Ayutthaya $30
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- A Private Transfer:From Chennai Airport To Chennai city: $24
- VIP Chennai Airport Transfer: Comfort & Convenience: $24
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chennai International Airport: $28
- Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport Private Transfer: $30
- Private Transfer from Chennai (MAA) Airport to Chennai City: $38
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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River Ferry Crossing$0.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ayutthaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ayutthaya:
- Transfer from Bangkok: $107
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Ayutthaya?
Prices for flights to both Ayutthaya and Chennai 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 dayChennai $6.37Ayutthaya $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Street Food Tour in Sowcarpet Chennai : $37
- Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai: $46
- Private Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai : $48
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
- Private 3-Hour Cooking Lesson and Meal in Chennai: $100
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Private South Indian Cooking Class and Market Visit in Chennai: $152
- Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $216
Typical Food Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Lunch for 2$4.15
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Ice Cream$0.89
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Breakfast for 2$4.15
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Breakfast for 2$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ayutthaya
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ayutthaya.
- Bangkok: VELA Dinner Cruise Ticket: $21
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.75Ayutthaya $29
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- 3-Day Private Tour to Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry: $3.37
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $17
- Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $17
- Magical Chennai Markets Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $19
- 2 Hour Street Food Walking Tour: $22
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $26
- The Georgetown Bazaar Walking tour : $29
- Private Ayurvedic Meal Experience with a Local Cookbook Author: $30
- George Town Origins Guided Walking Tour: $33
- Food trail in Sowcarpet Market by Wonder tours: $33
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Temple Entrances (2)$5.93
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Wat Entrance$1.48
Tours and Activities in Ayutthaya
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ayutthaya are as follows:
- App self-guided: Tour Bangkok, Thailand: $4.43
- Ayutthaya 1-day Private Tour : UNESCO World Heritage Site: $155
- Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour: $38
- Ayutthaya’s Heritage Revealed A Day Tour from Bangkok: $655
- Ancient City Temple Tour: $179
- Private 1 hour Boat tour Pa Sak River: $89
- UNESCO Heritage Temples and Cafe Day Tour: $69
- Bangkok: Ayutthaya Night Tour (Join Tour): $76
- Colors of UNESCO Heritage 6 hour Bicycle Tour: $59
- From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Day Tour Small Group: $63
- From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Full Day Private Guided Tour: $315
- From Bangkok: Full-Day Guided Tour of Ayutthaya Ancient City: $368
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $3.06Ayutthaya $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Ayutthaya, we can see that Ayutthaya is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Ayutthaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ayutthaya than you might in Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chennai Expensive? and Is Ayutthaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Ayutthaya?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Ayutthaya. When comparing the sizes of Chennai and Ayutthaya, 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.