Which place is cheaper, Shangri-La or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chiang Mai or Shangri-La?
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 Shangri-La. 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 Shangri-La?
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.
Shangri-La
The original Shangri-La existed in the fictional world of James Hilton's novel "The Lost Horizon." It was a hidden paradise, a place so beautiful that it couldn't possibly exist on earth. The Shangri-La that exists in Yunnan, China today was renamed from its former title Zhongdian in 2001 in order to associate the place with the mystical allure created in Hilton's novel. Visitors come to admire the traditional monasteries and temples set against a backdrop of mountain preserves and pristine lakes.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best 3-Day Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $49Shangri-La $47
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $49, while the average daily cost in Shangri-La is $47. 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 Shangri-La in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $28Shangri-La $19
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $56Shangri-La $38
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Shangri-La
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Shangri-La? 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 $3.94Shangri-La $11
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:
- Private Airport Transfer - Chiang Mai International Airport: $4.17
- Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Private Transfer: $8.00
- Chiang Mai Private Car :Airport To Hotel transfer (one way) : $8.24
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Chiang Mai HTL-APT(CNX): $9.67
- Private Airport Transfer in Chiang Mai to/from Chiangmai Town: $9.77
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Arrival Transfers: $10
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Departure Transfers: $10
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX): $11
- Chiang Mai Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $14
- Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Departure Shared Transfer: $15
- Chiang Mai Shared Arrival or Departure Transfer: $15
- Private Arrival Transfer : Chiang Mai International Airport (SHA Plus): $16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shangri-La
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Shangri-La:
- Private Transfer from Shangri-La to Lijiang and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $160
- Private Transfer from Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel to Lijiang/Shuhe hotel : $149
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Shangri-La?
Prices for flights to both Shangri-La 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 $11Shangri-La $19
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: $21
- Khantoke Dinner with Traditional Performance: $24
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $24
- Morning Cooking Class in Organic Garden | Chiang Mai: $24
- Afternoon Cooking Class in Organic Garden in Chiang Mai: $24
- Cooking Class, Market and Thai Herbs Garden Tour: $27
- We Cook Thai Home Garden Cooking School: $27
- Evening Cooking Class and Local Market Visit: $27
- Half-day Thai Cooking Class from scratch by an Expert Chef: $27
- Half-Day Thai Cuisine Cooking Experience in Chiang Mai : $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $14Shangri-La $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.
- Chiang Mai Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $4.25
- Sights & Highlights Walking tour: $6.64
- Self-Guided Audio Tour: $11
- Art in Paradise Illusion Museum Entry Ticket: $12
- Mae Ping River Cruise: $13
- 3 Hour Old City and Temples Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Local Food and Markets Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Chiang Mai Michelin Food Walking Tour with Professional Tour Guide: $15
- Chiang Mai Old City & Temples Guided Walking Tour - 3 Hrs: $15
- Historical and Culture Exploration Walking Tour: $15
- Skip the Line: Chiang Mai Art in Paradise Admission Ticket: $16
- Chiang Mai Old City Twilight Walking Tour: $16
Tours and Activities in Shangri-La
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Shangri-La are as follows:
- 1 Day Shangri-la City Tour with Pudacuo National Park: $209
- 1-Day Shangri-La Private Tour: Potatso National Park and Baiji Temple: $169
- 1-Day Shangri-La Tour to Ganden Monastery, Nixi Pottery Village and Tibetan Town: $185
- 1-Day Shangri-La tour with Ganden Monastery, Napahai Lake and Tibetan Town: $190
- Private tour Songzanlin Monastry & Tibetan lunch from Zhongdian: $199
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $7.34Shangri-La $13
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!: $7.45
When comparing the travel costs between Chiang Mai and Shangri-La, we can see that Chiang Mai is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Shangri-La Expensive?.
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.