Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chiang Mai or Boracay?
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 Boracay. 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 Boracay?
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.
Boracay
A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.
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 Philippines, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $49Boracay $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $49, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $57. 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 Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $28Boracay $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $56Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Boracay? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Mai $3.94Boracay $28
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$1.19
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Moped Rental$5.33
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 2-Day Transfer Luang Prabang from Chiang Mai by Sleeper Bus : $92
- Chiang Mai #1 Way Private Car transfer to/from Bangkok City: $300
- Chiang Mai #Private Car transfer to/from Mae Sot: $216
- Chiang Mai : Sticky Waterfall transfer by van (half-day ): $29
- Chiang Mai Airport (CNX): One-Way Private Transfer: $18
- Chiang Mai Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $14
- Chiang Mai Airport PRIVATE Arrival or Departure Transfer : $23
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $10
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Departure Transfers: $10
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Transfer to Hotel Or From Hotel To Airport : $6.01
- Chiang Mai Half Day Tour: Sticky Waterfall & Hotel Transfer: $29
- Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Arrival Shared Transfer: $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $108
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $84
- Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $71
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $56
- Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer to Boracay: $51
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $45
- Caticlan: Ferry Boat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $35
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $31
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $30
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay 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 $11Boracay $14
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)$5.78
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Roti Snack (Bread)$0.71
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Casual Breakfast$1.19
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.93
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Mangoes$0.89
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Coffee$1.48
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 Morning Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market : $12
- Chiang Mai : Small Group Thai Cooking class with market tour: $19
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Show from Chiang Mai: $22
- Khantoke Dinner with Traditional Performance: $24
- Afternoon Cooking Class in Organic Garden in Chiang Mai: $25
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $25
- Half-day Thai Cooking Class from scratch by an Expert Chef: $27
- Evening Cooking Class and Local Market Visit: $27
- Cooking Class, Market and Thai Herbs Garden Tour: $27
- We Cook Thai Home Garden Cooking School: $27
- Private Virtual Thai Cooking Class: $28
- Half-Day Thai Cuisine Cooking Experience in Chiang Mai : $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $14Boracay $16
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$39
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Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket$1.78
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Kratong Lessons$2.96
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Pedicure$4.45
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$5.33
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- Sights & Highlights Walking tour: $6.60
- Chiangmai: Temple Walking Tour with ex-monk, part 1.: $9.76
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Mae Ping River Cruise: $13
- Local Food and Markets Guided Walking Tour: $14
- 3 Hour Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Chiangmai: Temple Walking Tour with ex-monk, part II: $15
- Historical and Culture Exploration Walking Tour: $15
- Chiang Mai Old City & Temples Guided Walking Tour - 3 Hrs: $15
- Art in Paradise Illusion Museum Entry Ticket: $15
- Chiang Mai Old City Twilight Walking Tour: $16
- Circuit Karting Experience at Chiang Mai Circuit - Go Kart: $18
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Boracay Land Tour via Etrike: $27
- Aklan Tibiao Antique Tour : $190
- Atv Mainland Adventure with lunch: $65
- Beyond Jungle-River Adventure & Sunset Cruise: $58
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.30
- Boracay ATV Tour and Kawa Hot Bath: $85
- Boracay Buggy Car Adventure: $105
- Boracay Cliff Jumping & Snorkeling Experience (Private): $105
- Boracay Eco-Hopping Tour: $88
- Boracay Helicopter Tour with Red Whale Party Yacht: $231
- Boracay Hopping Tour with Standard Boodle Fight Lunch: $37
- Boracay Island Hopping +Banana Boat (Shared Tour): $43
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $7.34Boracay $16
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$2.96
Sample the Local Flavors in Chiang Mai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
- Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: The Best Nightlife in Town!: $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and Boracay, we can see that Boracay is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Mai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chiang Mai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Mai 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 Boracay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Boracay than you might in Chiang Mai.
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 Boracay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Boracay?
Chiang Mai has a larger population, and is about 430 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Boracay, 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.