Which place is cheaper, Mandalay or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chiang Mai or Mandalay?
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 Mandalay. 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 Mandalay?
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.
Mandalay
Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $49Mandalay $9.45
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $49, while the average daily cost in Mandalay is $9.45. 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 Mandalay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $28Mandalay $5.60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $56Mandalay $11
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Mandalay
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Mandalay? 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 $3.94Mandalay -
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
- ATV Riding and Grand Canyon Chiang Mai Include Pickup Transfer: $100
- Chiang Dao to Chiang Mai Airport CNX Private Departure Transfer: $28
- 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 Arrival – Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $14
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- 2 Days in Mandalay Region, 3 Night in Monywa and 4 Days to transfer Bagan: $260
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $200
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150
- From Private Transfer to Bagan: $150
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Mandalay?
Prices for flights to both Mandalay 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 $11Mandalay $3.85
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
- Morning Cooking Class in Organic Garden | Chiang Mai: $25
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $25
- Afternoon Cooking Class in Organic Garden in Chiang Mai: $25
- Evening Cooking Class in Organic Garden Chiang Mai: $25
- Half-day Thai Cooking Class from scratch by an Expert Chef: $27
- Evening Cooking Class and Local Market Visit: $27
- We Cook Thai Home Garden Cooking School: $27
- Cooking Class, Market and Thai Herbs Garden Tour: $27
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.
- Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $14Mandalay -
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.
- Chiang Mai Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.21
- 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
- Chiang Mai Old City & Temples Guided Walking Tour - 3 Hrs: $15
- Historical and Culture Exploration Walking Tour: $15
- Chiang Mai Michelin Food Walking Tour with Professional Tour Guide: $15
- Art in Paradise Illusion Museum Entry Ticket: $15
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-night in Pyin Oo Lwin next day to Gokteik tour: $226
- Kayah Villages Full Day Tour (Pan Pet & Hta Nee La): $260
- 2 Days Private Tour in Mandalay: $176
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Amarapura,Mingun,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $85
- Amarapura,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $75
- Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing : $75
- Ancient Capitals of Myanmar Tour: $110
- Ancient City Tour in Mandalay : $70
- Day Trip Tour From Mandalay To Pyin Oo Lwin: $105
- Full Day Adventure: $153
- Full day Adventure Trip in Mandalay & Amarapura : $61
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $7.34Mandalay -
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 Mandalay, we can see that Chiang Mai is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay 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 Mandalay.
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 Mandalay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Mandalay?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 21% larger than the population of Chiang Mai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Mandalay, 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.