Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chiang Mai or Zhangjiajie?
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 Zhangjiajie. 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 Zhangjiajie?
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.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
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 $45Zhangjiajie $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $45, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $63. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $26Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $52Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Zhangjiajie? 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 $3.63Zhangjiajie $14
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:
- Chiang Mai #1 Way Private Car transfer to/from Bangkok City: $270
- Skyline Jungle Luge Ticket + Lunch with Private Transfer: $250
- Private Transfer to/from Mae Sot: $216
- Private Transfer to/from Mae Sot: $203
- Chiang Mai #Private Car transfer to/from Mae Sot: $195
- Zipline Adventure at Chiang Mai with Return Transfer: $191
- Private Transfer: Chiang Mai Airport Arrival or Departure ride: $155
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Pai Resorts Round Trip Private Transfer: $153
- Private Transfer from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai: $152
- From One-Way Private Transfer to Chiang Rai: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Transfer to Pai (one way): $143
- Private Airport Transfer to or from Chiang Rai: $127
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $10Zhangjiajie $20
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 Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $13Zhangjiajie $23
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.
- Chiang Mai Thapae Muay Thai Boxing Stadium Ticket: $27
- One Day Doi Inthanon National Park Small Group Guided Tour: $39
- Private Tour of Sacred Sakyant Tattoo in Lamphun Province.: $79
- 1 Day Doi Inthanon Private tour ( Hiking and Sightseeing ): $96
- 1 Day Private Tour Doi Inthanon And Phachor Canyon: $128
- 1 Day Private Tour White Temple and Renewed Doichang Coffee: $188
- 1 Hr Chiang Mai Buggy Tour (Off-Road): $149
- 1-Day Bike and River Kayak Adventure from Chiang Mai: $64
- 10KM Inflatable Kayaking Adventure: $81
- 10km Rafting with 8Adventures from Chiang Mai Include Pickup & Lunch : $102
- 2 Days 1 Night Non Tourist Trek: $122
- 2 Days Hiking Tour in Chiang Mai: $111
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Half-Day Self-Guided Fenghuang Night Tour from Zhangjiajie: $200
- (Private Day Tour) Zhangjiajie National Park + Tianzi Mountain: $195
- 1 Day Dragon Sitting Gorge & Red Stone Forest Geo-park TOUR！: $272
- 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain and Glass Skywalk Tour: $154
- 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon(Glass Bridge) & Baofeng Lake Tour: $240
- 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
- 2-Day “Best Of Zhangjiajie”-Avatar World & Tianmen Mountain Tour: $260
- 2-Day Zhangjiajie Happy Foodie&Sightseeing Tour: $300
- 2-Day Zhangjiajie Tour Including Yuanjiajie Mountains: $550
- 2-Full Days Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour : $284
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $6.76Zhangjiajie $16
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 Zhangjiajie, we can see that Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Zhangjiajie?
Chiang Mai has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
Both Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie. Typically, the summer temperatures in Chiang Mai in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 29°C (85°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. It's quite rainy in Chiang Mai. In July, Chiang Mai usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Chiang Mai gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Chiang Mai is June to September.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyChiang Mai 30°C (86°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
Both Zhangjiajie 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 much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Chiang Mai average around 29°C (83°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai usually gets more rain in October than Zhangjiajie. Chiang Mai gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year. November to February is the dry season in Chiang Mai.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberChiang Mai 29°C (83°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chiang Mai and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round.
Chiang Mai is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the winter. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 23°C (74°F) in January, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
In January, Chiang Mai usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Chiang Mai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter. November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryChiang Mai 23°C (74°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Chiang Mai as well as Zhangjiajie. 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 Zhangjiajie. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chiang Mai in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 17°C (63°F).
It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. Chiang Mai usually gets less rain in April than Zhangjiajie. Chiang Mai gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year. June to September in Chiang Mai is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilChiang Mai 31°C (88°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Chiang Mai
| Chiang Mai | Zhangjiajie | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.