Which place is cheaper, Accra or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chiang Mai or Accra?
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 Chiang Mai and Accra. 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: Chiang Mai or Accra?
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is both the cultural center of northern Thailand and a launching point for trips into the rural areas, small towns, and lush jungles of the country's northern regions. Known for great food, historic temples, arts and crafts, and a lively night market, Chiang Mai is a very popular destination for travelers. In some areas, tourists and ex-pats dominate, but it's quite easy to get away from the tourist scene and into the real culture of Thailand, as Chiang Mai (and the surrounding countryside) is quite large.
Accra
Accra is the capital city of Ghana, located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. Popular attractions include the National Museum of Ghana, local beaches, markets, and cultural landmarks like those dedicated to Civil Rights activist W.E.B. DuBois.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 10-Day Tours in Ghana, and The Best Adventure Tours to Ghana.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $45Accra $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $45, while the average daily cost in Accra is $37. 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 Chiang Mai and Accra in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $26Accra $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $52Accra $38
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Accra
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Accra? 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: Chiang Mai Hotel Prices and Accra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Mai $3.61Accra $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$1.09
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Moped Rental$4.89
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Transfer to Hotel Or From Hotel To Airport : $5.44
- Chiang Mai Private Car :Airport To Hotel transfer (one way) : $7.50
- Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Private Transfer: $8.00
- Private Airport Transfer in Chiang Mai to/from Chiangmai Town: $8.92
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Departure Transfers: $10
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX): $11
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Chiang Mai HTL-APT(CNX): $12
- Try find your better than us!Airport transfer service in Chiang Mai APT-HTL(CNX): $12
- Chiang Mai Airport (CNX): One-Way Private Transfer: $12
- Chiang Mai Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $13
- Chiang Mai Shared Arrival or Departure Transfer: $14
- Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Arrival Shared Transfer: $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Accra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Accra:
- Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $130
- Kotoka Airport Exclusive Wheelchair Accessible Transfers!: $115
- Private Transfer from Kotoka Airport Accra Ghana (ACC) to Accra city: $109
- Arrival Transfer From Accra Airport To Hotel: $100
- Accra Airport Hotel City Transfers: $58
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Accra?
Prices for flights to both Accra and Chiang Mai 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 dayChiang Mai $10Accra $9.28
Typical Food Prices in Chiang Mai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:
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Sit Down Dinner (for One)$5.30
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Roti Snack (Bread)$0.65
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Casual Breakfast$1.09
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.43
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Mangoes$0.82
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Coffee$1.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Evening Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $11
- Cooking Morning Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market : $11
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Show from Chiang Mai: $19
- Khantoke Dinner with Traditional Performance: $22
- Afternoon Cooking Class in Organic Garden in Chiang Mai: $22
- Evening Cooking Class in Organic Garden Chiang Mai: $22
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $22
- Cooking Class, Market and Thai Herbs Garden Tour: $25
- Authentic Easy Thai Recipes for Home-Style Cooking Half Day AM: $25
- Half Day Evening Cooking Class with Yummy Tasty Thai Cooking School: $25
- Half-Day Thai Cuisine Cooking Experience in Chiang Mai : $27
- Thai and Isaan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Accra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Accra.
- Private Ghanaian Cuisine Cooking Class: $40
- Local Ghanaian Cooking Class in Accra to help support wellness community center: $45
- Cooking Class: $75
- Flavors of Ghana: Food Tour Experience.: $78
- Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Lessons: $80
- Home Cooking Class by Auntie K: $89
- Cooking Class with Auntie KK in Osu: $89
- Ghanaian Cooking Class Authentic Tour: $100
- Savor & Learn: Authentic Ghanaian Cooking Experience: $128
- Quad Biking, Landmark Tours and Dinner in Aburi: $204
- Ghanaian Local Foods Cooking Class: $216
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $13Accra $3.32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Thai Cooking Class$35
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Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket$1.63
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Kratong Lessons$2.72
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Pedicure$4.08
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$4.89
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- Scavenger Hunt City Tour for Your Smartphone: $7.73
- Chiang Mai Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $7.84
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Art in Paradise Illusion Museum Entry Ticket: $11
- Mae Ping River Cruise: $12
- Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Local Food and Markets Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Skip the Line: Chiang Mai Art in Paradise Admission Ticket: $14
- Tweechol Botanic Garden Half Day Adventure : $15
- Chiang Mai Michelin Food Walking Tour with Professional Tour Guide: $15
- Chiang Mai Old City & Temples Guided Walking Tour - 2 Hrs: $15
- Circuit Karting Experience at Chiang Mai Circuit - Go Kart: $16
Tours and Activities in Accra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Accra are as follows:
- 1 Day Accra City Tour: $71
- Accra City Tour: $161
- Accra E-waste and Recycling experience in Agbogbloshie: $100
- Accra Zoo, Canopy Walk and Botanical Gardens Private Tour: $145
- 3 Days Special Tour of Ghana: $950
- 6 Hours Cape Coast Tour: $210
- 6-Day Electric Enchantment-Off the grid Tour: $1,650
- 7 Hours Cape Coast Tour From Accra: $174
- A Day tour to the Cape Coast Castle and Kakum National Pack: $180
- Aburi Botanic Gardens and Boti Falls Full-Day Private Tour: $180
- Aburi Botanical Gardens And Boti Falls Private Tour: $220
- Accra - Guided City Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $6.73Accra $4.76
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Wine$2.72
Sample the Local Flavors in Chiang Mai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
- Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: The Best Bars & Pubs in Chiang Mai!: $9.55
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and Accra, we can see that Chiang Mai is more expensive. And not only is Accra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chiang Mai is in Asia and Accra is in Africa, 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 Accra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Accra 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 Mai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chiang Mai than you might in Accra.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chiang Mai Expensive? and Is Accra Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Accra?
Accra has a larger population, and is about 96% larger than the population of Chiang Mai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Accra, 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.
When is the best time to visit Chiang Mai or Accra?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Accra in the Summer?
Both Accra and Chiang Mai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Accra year-round.
June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai. It rains a lot this time of the year in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai usually gets more rain in July than Accra. Chiang Mai gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Accra receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the summer, Chiang Mai is a little warmer than Accra. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chiang Mai in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Accra averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyChiang Mai 30°C (86°F)Accra 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Accra in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chiang Mai and Accra. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round. Accra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season. Chiang Mai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Chiang Mai usually receives more rain than Accra. Chiang Mai gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Accra receives 49 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Chiang Mai is generally around the same temperature as Accra. Daily temperatures in Chiang Mai average around 29°C (83°F), and Accra fluctuates around 26°C (79°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberChiang Mai 29°C (83°F)Accra 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Accra in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Chiang Mai as well as Accra. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Accra throughout the year.
Also, November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season. Chiang Mai usually gets less rain in January than Accra. Chiang Mai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Accra receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
Chiang Mai is cooler than Accra in the winter. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 23°C (74°F) in January, and Accra fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryChiang Mai 23°C (74°F)Accra 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Accra in the Spring?
Both Accra and Chiang Mai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chiang Mai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Accra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Chiang Mai is June to September. It rains a lot this time of the year in Accra. In April, Chiang Mai usually receives less rain than Accra. Chiang Mai gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Accra receives 117 mm (4.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
The heat can be very extreme in Chiang Mai. In the spring, Chiang Mai is a little warmer than Accra. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chiang Mai in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Accra averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilChiang Mai 31°C (88°F)Accra 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Accra and Chiang Mai
| Chiang Mai | Accra | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| May | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) |
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.