Which place is cheaper, Yangon or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Chiang Mai or Yangon?
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 Yangon. 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 Yangon?
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.
Yangon
Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is the largest city and economic center for the nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The city is a mix of British, Burmese, Chinese, and Indian influences, and is host to beautiful 19th-century colonial architecture as well as modern skyscrapers. The people of Yangon mainly follow the Buddhist religion and it is common to see monks wandering along the busy streets amidst gilded temples.
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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Chiang Mai Prices
Thailand PricesYangon Prices
Myanmar Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $58Yangon $70
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $58, while the average daily cost in Yangon is $70. 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 Yangon in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $29Yangon $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $58Yangon $62
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Yangon
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Yangon? 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 $3.97Yangon $2.38
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$1.19
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Moped Rental$5.37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Gems Gallery Chiang Mai with Round Trip Hotel Transfers: $2.30
- Shared AC Minivan Transfer Chiang Mai to Mon Jam (Return Option): $8.12
- Chiang Mai to Pai Shared Minivan Transfer with Hotel Pickup: $9.66
- Chiang Mai Mae Kampong One Way Shared Minivan Transfer: $11
- Chiang Mai to Pai Scenic Mountain Shared Minivan Transfer: $12
- Direct One Way Van Transfer Between Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon: $12
- Shared Minivan Transfer to Chiang Mai and Mae Kampong Village: $13
- One Way Van Transfer Between Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon: $14
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX): $14
- Chiang Mai International Airport Arrival Shared Transfer: $15
- Private Chiang Mai Airport Transfer to or from Mae Rim Hotels: $16
- Half Day Chiang Mai Sticky Waterfall and Hotel Transfer: $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangon
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Yangon:
- Private Yangon Departure Transfer: Hotel to Yangon Airport: $80
- Yangon Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $60
- Yangon Airport Private Transfer: $45
- Private Airport Transfer: Yangon Airport (RGN) → Yangon Hotel: $36
- Private Transfer from or to Rangon International Airport YIA: $31
- Bagan (Nyaung Oo) Airport Private Transfer: $27
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Yangon International Airport (RGN): $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Yangon?
Prices for flights to both Yangon 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 $20Yangon $17
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)$5.82
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Roti Snack (Bread)$0.72
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Casual Breakfast$1.19
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.97
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Mangoes$0.90
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Coffee$1.49
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
- Half-day Thai Cooking Class from scratch by an Expert Chef: $27
- Private Virtual Thai Cooking Class: $28
- Chiang Mai Lanna Thai Cooking Class with Mae Malai Market: $28
- Chiang Mai Cooking Class Adventure Tour: $28
- Morning Thai cooking class: $28
- Evening Thai cooking class: $28
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $28
- Chiang Mai Thai Cooking Class at Grand Canyon and Market Tour: $28
- Half-Day Cooking Class: $28
- The Rice Barn Thai Cooking Farm Chiangmai: $28
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Chaing Mai by Tomyumthai School: $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangon
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Yangon.
- Cooking class in the down town of Yangon, half day tour (07:30 AM - 12:30 PM): $65
- Cooking Class in Yangon,Myanmar: $67
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $14Yangon -
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$1.79
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Kratong Lessons$2.98
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Pedicure$4.48
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$5.37
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- Chiang Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.57
- Relaxing Daycation Massage Experience in Chiang Mai: $9.20
- Doi Suthep Temple Tour by Local Red Car – 3 Hours Experience: $12
- Chiang Mai Old City Temple Tour: $14
- Chiang Mai Art in Paradise Interactive 3D Museum Experience: $14
- Skip the Line: Chiang Mai Art in Paradise Admission Ticket: $16
- Chiangmai Temple And City Walking Tour with ex monk Part 1: $17
- FAM Fahlanna Art Museum Admission Ticket, Chiang Mai: $17
- Chiang Mai Old City & Temples 3 hour Twilight Walking Tour: $18
- Chiang Mai Temples & Old City Hidden Gems Small Group Tour 2 Hrs: $18
- Chiang Mai Farm Life & Khao Soy Tasting on a Half Day Boat Tour: $19
- Chiang Mai 2-Hr Canal Tour: Local Life & Thai Herb Garden: $20
Tours and Activities in Yangon
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yangon are as follows:
- 8hrs - Dalla & Twantay Small Town One Day Tour: $142
- : Memorable Moment in The Heart of Yangon (08:00 AM - 06:00 PM)Full Day Tour: $110
- Bagan Cultrue Tour: $50
- Bagan Sightseeing Tour by Private Guide and Car: $53
- Bago by Train: Full-day sightseeing tour: $117
- Best Yangon City Tour with Experience English Speaking Guide: $142
- Best of Yangon Private Full Day Tour with Shwedagon Pagoda: $134
- Burmese Antiques Heritage Shopping Tour: $87
- Chinese Heritage Cultural Immersion Tour: $138
- Cultural Charm of Full-day Sightseeing Tour: $71
- Dala And Twantay Biking Adventure: $180
- Discover Bagan Day Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $7.39Yangon -
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$2.98
Sample the Local Flavors in Chiang Mai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
- Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: 4 Venues, Beer Buffet & VIP Entry: $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and Yangon, we can see that Yangon 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 Yangon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yangon 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 Yangon Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Yangon?
Yangon has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Chiang Mai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Yangon, 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.