Which place is cheaper, Wuyuan or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chiang Mai and Wuyuan. 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.
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.
Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!
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 Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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 Wuyuan is $57. 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 Wuyuan in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Wuyuan? 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.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Wuyuan 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.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:
For Chiang Mai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wuyuan:
For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and Wuyuan, we can see that Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan Expensive?.
Wuyuan has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Chiang Mai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Both Wuyuan and Chiang Mai are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chiang Mai throughout the year.
In the summer, Chiang Mai is around the same temperature as Wuyuan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chiang Mai in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Wuyuan averages at about 30°C (85°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Wuyuan. It's quite rainy in Chiang Mai. In July, Chiang Mai usually receives less rain than Wuyuan. Chiang Mai gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Chiang Mai is June to September.
Both Wuyuan and Chiang Mai during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Chiang Mai is generally a little warmer than Wuyuan. Daily temperatures in Chiang Mai average around 29°C (83°F), and Wuyuan fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai usually gets more rain in October than Wuyuan. Chiang Mai gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain this time of the year. November to February is the dry season in Chiang Mai.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chiang Mai and Wuyuan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round.
Chiang Mai is much warmer than Wuyuan in the winter. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 23°C (74°F) in January, and Wuyuan fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
In January, Chiang Mai usually receives less rain than Wuyuan. Chiang Mai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter. November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season.
The spring brings many poeple to Chiang Mai as well as Wuyuan. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
The heat can be very extreme in Chiang Mai. In the spring, Chiang Mai is much warmer than Wuyuan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chiang Mai in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Wuyuan averages at about 18°C (64°F).
It's quite rainy in Wuyuan. Chiang Mai usually gets less rain in April than Wuyuan. Chiang Mai gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain this time of the year. June to September in Chiang Mai is the rainy season.
Chiang Mai | Wuyuan | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 123 mm (4.9 in) |
Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) |
May | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
Oct | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |