Which place is cheaper, Nanjing or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chiang Mai or Nanjing?
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 Nanjing. 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 Nanjing?
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.
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $45Nanjing $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $45, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $96. 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 Nanjing in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $26Nanjing $46
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $52Nanjing $92
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Nanjing
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Nanjing? 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 $3.63Nanjing $38
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$4.91
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 : $83
- Chiang Dao to Chiang Mai Airport CNX Private Departure Transfer: $27
- Chiang Mai #1 Way Private Car transfer to/from Bangkok City: $270
- Chiang Mai #Private Car transfer to/from Mae Sot: $195
- Chiang Mai : Sticky Waterfalls transfer: $22
- Chiang Mai Airport (CNX): One-Way Private Transfer: $12
- Chiang Mai Airport Arrival – Private Transfer from Airport to Four Seasons Hotel: $24
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Chiang Dao Round Trip Private Transfer: $55
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Pai Resorts Round Trip Private Transfer: $153
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Pai Thermal Resorts Arrival Transfer: $76
- Chiang Mai Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $13
- Chiang Mai Airport PRIVATE Arrival or Departure Transfer : $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Nanjing Lukou Int Airport (NKG): Private Transfer to Nanjing: $175
- Nanjing to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfers: $163
- Nanjing to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $120
- Nanjing Private Transfer from Nanjing central to Nanjing Lukou Airport (NKG): $114
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou City from Nanjing Lukou Airport : $109
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing: $94
- Nanjing to Huangshan Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $90
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $88
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing : $88
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $80
- Zhenjiang Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $78
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Nanjing?
Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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 $10Nanjing $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)$5.32
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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)$5.46
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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
- Morning Cooking Class in Organic Garden | Chiang Mai: $22
- Afternoon Cooking Class in Organic Garden in Chiang Mai: $22
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $22
- Evening Cooking Class and Local Market Visit: $24
- Cooking Class, Market and Thai Herbs Garden Tour: $24
- Private Virtual Thai Cooking Class: $25
- Half Day Morning Cooking Class with Yummy Tasty Thai Cooking School: $25
- Authentic Easy Thai Recipes for Home-Style Cooking Half Day AM: $25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $13Nanjing $9.27
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$1.64
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Kratong Lessons$2.73
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Pedicure$4.09
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$4.91
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: $7.65
- 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 : $14
- Chiang Mai Old City & Temples Guided Walking Tour - 2 Hrs: $15
- Chiang Mai Michelin Food Walking Tour with Professional Tour Guide: $15
- Circuit Karting Experience at Chiang Mai Circuit - Go Kart: $16
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 2-Day Unlimited Nanjing Private Flexible Tour with Lunch Option : $295
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
- All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $213
- All-inclusive Customized Nanjing Layover Tour: $201
- Beijing Great Wall Tour from Nanjing by Bullet Train with Private Car Service: $282
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $164
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Flexible Zhenjiang Private Day Tour from Nanjing: $197
- Half Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour with Night River Cruise: $165
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $6.76Nanjing $9.46
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$2.73
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!: $9.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Nanjing?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chiang Mai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Nanjing, 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 Nanjing?
Nanjing has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Chiang Mai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Nanjing in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Chiang Mai as well as Nanjing. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Chiang Mai is around the same temperature as Nanjing. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chiang Mai in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Nanjing averages at about 28°C (83°F).
It's quite rainy in Nanjing. Chiang Mai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Chiang Mai usually gets less rain in July than Nanjing. Chiang Mai gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year. June to September in Chiang Mai is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyChiang Mai 30°C (86°F)Nanjing 28°C (83°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Nanjing in the Autumn?
Both Nanjing and Chiang Mai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chiang Mai throughout the year.
In October, Chiang Mai is generally much warmer than Nanjing. Daily temperatures in Chiang Mai average around 29°C (83°F), and Nanjing fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).
It's quite rainy in Chiang Mai. In October, Chiang Mai usually receives more rain than Nanjing. Chiang Mai gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Chiang Mai is November to February.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberChiang Mai 29°C (83°F)Nanjing 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Nanjing in the Winter?
Both Nanjing and Chiang Mai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Nanjing can be very cold during winter. Chiang Mai is much warmer than Nanjing in the winter. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 23°C (74°F) in January, and Nanjing fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).
Chiang Mai usually gets less rain in January than Nanjing. Chiang Mai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year. November to February is the dry season in Chiang Mai.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryChiang Mai 23°C (74°F)Nanjing 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Nanjing in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Chiang Mai and Nanjing. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round.
The heat can be very extreme in Chiang Mai. In the spring, Chiang Mai is much warmer than Nanjing. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chiang Mai in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Nanjing averages at about 15°C (60°F).
Nanjing receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Chiang Mai usually receives less rain than Nanjing. Chiang Mai gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Nanjing receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilChiang Mai 31°C (88°F)Nanjing 15°C (60°F)
Typical Weather for Nanjing and Chiang Mai
| Chiang Mai | Nanjing | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 9°C (48°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 15°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| May | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 25 mm (1 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.