A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chiang Mai vs. Tiger Leaping Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chiang Mai or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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 Tiger Leaping Gorge. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge or Chiang Mai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $45, while the average daily cost in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $41. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chiang Mai $26
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chiang Mai $52
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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.

Hotels in Chiang Mai


Hotels in Tiger Leaping Gorge


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chiang Mai $3.63
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Mai

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:


  • Tuk Tuk Ride
    $1.09
  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Chiang Mai $10
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $16
Typical Food Prices in Chiang Mai

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:


  • Sit Down Dinner (for One)
    $5.32
  • Roti Snack (Bread)
    $0.65
  • Casual Breakfast
    $1.09
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $5.46
  • Mangoes
    $0.82
  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chiang Mai $13
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chiang Mai

For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Thai Cooking Class
    $35
  • Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket
    $1.64
  • Kratong Lessons
    $2.73
  • Pedicure
    $4.09
  • 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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chiang Mai $6.76
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.36
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chiang Mai

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:


  • 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 comparing the travel costs between Chiang Mai and Tiger Leaping Gorge, 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive?.