Which place is cheaper, Lhasa or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chiang Mai or Lhasa?
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 Lhasa. 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 Lhasa?
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.
Lhasa
Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best 3-Day Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $51Lhasa $73
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $51, while the average daily cost in Lhasa is $73. 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 Lhasa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $29Lhasa $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $58Lhasa $80
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Lhasa
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Lhasa? 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 $4.11Lhasa $2.63
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$1.24
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Moped Rental$5.56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zipline Adventure at Chiang Mai with Return Transfer: $214
- Wat Doi Suthep & Wat Phalat transfer (air conditioned van): $17
- Try find your better than us!Airport transfer service in Chiang Mai APT-HTL(CNX): $9.67
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Chiang Mai HTL-APT(CNX): $9.67
- Transfer: Chiang Mai to Huay Xai City, Laos: $50
- Transfer : From Chiang Mai to ChiangKhong Border,Chiang Rai: $47
- Skyline Jungle Luge Ticket + Lunch with Private Transfer: $250
- Siam Dragon cabaret show : Ticket & Optional Transfer: $25
- Private Vehicle: Transfer from Airport in Chiang Mai: $21
- Private Transfer: Chiang Mai to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX): $27
- Private Transfer: Chiang Mai Airport Arrival or Departure ride: $155
- Private Transfer from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai: $170
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa
Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $260
- Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170
- [Airport Transfer] Lhasa Kunga Airport ⇔ Lhasa City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Lhasa?
Prices for flights to both Lhasa 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 $12Lhasa $27
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)$6.02
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Roti Snack (Bread)$0.74
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Casual Breakfast$1.24
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.18
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Mangoes$0.93
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Coffee$1.54
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: $12
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Show from Chiang Mai: $22
- Afternoon Cooking Class in Organic Garden in Chiang Mai: $23
- Khantoke Dinner with Traditional Performance: $24
- Small Group Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $24
- Morning Cooking Class in Organic Garden | 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
- Cooking Class, Market and Thai Herbs Garden Tour: $27
- Evening Cooking Class and Local Market Visit: $27
- Half Day Morning Cooking Class with Yummy Tasty Thai Cooking School: $28
- Half Day Evening Cooking Class with Yummy Tasty Thai Cooking School: $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $14Lhasa $17
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$40
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Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket$1.85
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Kratong Lessons$3.09
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Pedicure$4.63
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$5.56
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- 9 Hours Nature Tour in Inthanon National Park From Chiang Mai: $71
- One Day Doi Inthanon National Park Small Group Guided Tour: $44
- Private Tour of Sacred Sakyant Tattoo in Lamphun Province.: $88
- 1 Day Doi Inthanon Private tour ( Hiking and Sightseeing ): $107
- 1 Day Private Tour Doi Inthanon And Phachor Canyon: $142
- 1 Hr Chiang Mai Buggy Tour (Off-Road): $166
- 10KM Inflatable Kayaking Adventure: $90
- 10km Rafting with 8Adventures from Chiang Mai Include Pickup & Lunch : $114
- 2 Days 1 Night Non Tourist Trek: $136
- 2 Days Hiking Tour in Chiang Mai: $124
- 2 day overnight adventure off road scooter tour; Amaz views: $99
- 2-Day Chiang Dao and Mae Taeng Valley active tour: $256
Tours and Activities in Lhasa
For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 10 Days Everest Base Camp with Lake Namtso Small Group Tour: $2,033
- 11 Days Chengdu to Tibet Everest Base Camp Group Tour: $2,802
- 15 Days Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar Small Group Tour: $2,399
- 15-Day Small Group Sightseeing Tour from Lhasa to Majestic: $2,493
- 4 Days Best of Lhasa Tour - Discover the Holy City: $590
- 4 Days Lhasa City Essence Tour: $644
- 4 Days Lhasa City Tibet Tour included Permit issued: $760
- 5 Days Classic Lhasa Tour with Yamdrok Lake in Tibet: $999
- 6 days Classical Tibet Private Tour to Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse.: $84
- 7 Days Lhasa to Kathmandu Small Group Tour: $1,548
- 8 Days Central Tibet and Namtso Small Group Tour: $1,112
- 8 Days Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Small Group Tour: $1,476
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $7.65Lhasa $7.09
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$3.09
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 Lhasa, we can see that Lhasa 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 Lhasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lhasa 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 Lhasa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Lhasa?
Chiang Mai has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Lhasa, 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.