A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chiang Rai vs. Coffs Harbour for Attractions, Food, Families, and Nightlife

Should you visit Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is a charming, cultural, and beautiful city. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and hiking.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is a nature-filled, lively, and relaxing vacation town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Chiang Rai and Coffs Harbour: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Coffs Harbour than Chiang Rai. While Chiang Rai is larger than Coffs Harbour, Coffs Harbour has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Coffs Harbour is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and hiking, while Chiang Rai attracts visitors for its museums, food, and historical sights. Coffs Harbour is more touristy than Chiang Rai and is known for its popularity as a holiday destination, diverse marine environment, and the iconic "Big Banana". It is also well known for the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Chiang Rai is famous for its intricate temples, unique cuisine, and being the gateway to the Golden Triangle.

How is Chiang Rai different from Coffs Harbour?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Coffs Harbour and Chiang Rai. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

Chiang Rai is very popular for its museums and history. Also, Coffs Harbour is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Chiang Rai from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. The Old City is filled with breathtaking temples and cultural sites. Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple) is an iconic sight, but you should also visit the Black House, and Wat Rong Seua Ten (the Blue Temple). Wat Tham Pla is the Monkey Temple and has a dramatic effect with its steep staircase. It's a short drive from Chiang Rai, but worth the trip as it's overrun with monkeys.

Coffs Harbour offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The town is home to the infamous Big Banana Fun Park. It's a large amusement park that's become recognized for the "Big Banana" at the entrance - which is the first of the "Big Things" found in Australia. The town also has several other landmarks to check out such as the Forest Sky Pier, the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, and the Butterfly House.

Is the Food Better in Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Chiang Rai is very popular for its restaurants. Also, Coffs Harbour is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Many restaurants in Chiang Rai have been singled out for their culinary prowess. The regional cuisine is famous for its unique dishes and flavors. It's slightly less spicy than the southern Thai cuisine and the dishes are rich in flavor. Northern Thai sausage is a must-try dish, as is Khao Soi Curry, and Khao Soi Gai Nong (coconut curry and chicken soup).

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Coffs Harbour. It's a popular tourist destination, and there are plenty of cafes and restaurants that cater to families, couples, and all types of vacations. There are quaint cafes as well as fine dining restaurants and the cuisine ranges from local seafood to modern Australian favorites, or international treats.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for Nightlife?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Chiang Rai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Coffs Harbour has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. It's a vacation spot that attracts visitors who want to enjoy the evening activities. The Jetty Strip is popular for its nightlife scene, but you'll find no shortage of bars and pubs in other areas as well.

Chiang Rai has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The small city has a laid back nightlife scene with a number of bars and cafes along Jetyod Road. You'll find a mix of expats and locals, without the usual backpacker crowds that are common in some cities.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for Resorts?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Chiang Rai is not a resort destination.

Coffs Harbour is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. There's a huge range of accommodation types in the area with everything from camping to luxury resorts. There are also budget-friendly hostels and family-friendly hotels.

Chiang Rai is not a resort destination.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its diving and snorkeling. However, Chiang Rai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors go to Coffs Harbour to enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling. Scuba diving and snorkeling is popular in the area, as this is where the Solitary Islands Marine Park begins. The area sees a mix of the warm water from the Great Barrier Reef and the cooler waters from around Sydney, so the marine life is diverse. There are sheltered areas that offer snorkeling for all ages and you'll see a great mix of tropical and sub-tropical marine life, as well as both soft and hard corals.

Chiang Rai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for Beaches?

Coffs Harbour is an amazing vacation town to visit for the beache. However, Chiang Rai is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Coffs Harbour are among the best in the world. People come for the beaches, and they won't disappoint. You can enjoy everything from surfing, swimming, fishing, or simply walking and taking in the beauty. Popular beaches in the area include Emerald Beach, Woolgoolga, and the family-friendly Jetty Beach.

Chiang Rai is not a beach destination.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for its Old Town?

Chiang Rai is an excellent place to visit for its historic old town. However, Coffs Harbour does not have a historic old town.

Chiang Rai is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The Old City is filled with intricate temples and impressive beauty. The area is very walkable and you can easily visit the famed Wat Ming Muang, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Phra Singh.

Coffs Harbour does not have a historic old town.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for Hiking?

Coffs Harbour is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. Also, Chiang Rai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Coffs Harbour. There are many national parks and natural areas nearby with excellent hiking and bush walks. The Coffs Creek Walk is a walking and biking path that's in town and connects the city center to many of the top sights that are nearby. Out of town, there's the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk, the Gumgali Track, Sherwood Nature Reserve and Ulidarra National Park.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Chiang Rai. Head out of town to Khun Korn Forest Park Waterfall if you want to enjoy some hiking. It makes an easy half day trip.

Is the Shopping Better in Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

Shoppers can find a variety of high quality stores in both Chiang Rai and Coffs Harbour.

Chiang Rai is well-known for its shopping. Local markets, night markets, and souvenir shops with handcrafted goods all make shopping a fun experience. Head to the Night Bazaar or the Walking Street for some of the best experiences.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Coffs Harbour. The city has many shopping centers and markets where you can enjoy leisurely shopping or pick up any essentials that you may have forgotten.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for Families?

Coffs Harbour is an amazing vacation town to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Chiang Rai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Coffs Harbour is an amazing family-friendly vacation town to visit. There are great beaches where kids can swim or learn to surf. There are also water parks, including the famous Big Banana Fun Park, as well as amusement parks, nature reserves, and wildlife sanctuaries. Kids and adults alike will enjoy going dolphin or whale watching, or putting on a mask and going snorkeling.

Chiang Rai is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are parks and outdoor spaces to explore such as Singha Park and the Garden of Reeds. For a little bit of silly fun, check out Nava Land Water Park and if you want to get out of town a bit, you'll find some great hiking nearby at Khun Korn Forest Park Waterfall.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for Couples?

Chiang Rai and Coffs Harbour are both high quality to visit as a couple.

Chiang Rai makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Beautiful temples, impressive gardens, and an authentic Thai experience all make this a romantic and fun destination for couples.

Couples visit Coffs Harbour frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. It's a beautiful city and a popular honeymoon destination. Couples will enjoy the impressive beaches and fun activities. There are places to explore nature as well as restaurants and fun evening activities. There's also great scuba diving and snorkeling at the Solitary Islands Marine Park.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chiang Rai and Coffs Harbour are both high quality destinations for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Chiang Rai. There is no shortage of affordable hostels around town. There are also enough backpackers around to keep things fun but not so many that the local vibe is lost.

Coffs Harbour is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of hostels around town as well as great water activities and a lively atmosphere, making this a nice stop off for backpackers.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both Chiang Rai and Coffs Harbour.

Public transit is mostly limited in Chiang Rai. Tuk tuks and taxis are your best bet for getting around town in a vehicle.

Public transit is generally limited in Coffs Harbour. This is a very car dependent area and public transit is very limit. While there are buses, the area is spread out and you need the freedom of having your own vehicle to explore.

Is Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour a more walkable city?

Chiang Rai is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. However, Coffs Harbour is lacking in options for its high level of walkability.

Chiang Rai is very walkable. The old city is easy to explore on foot.

Coffs Harbour is not a walkable city. Most visitors arrive with a car and you'll struggle to fully experience the area if you don't have your own form of transportation.

For even more information, also check out Is Chiang Rai Worth Visiting? and Is Coffs Harbour Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Coffs Harbour or Chiang Rai?

How long in Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

Both Chiang Rai and Coffs Harbour have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Coffs Harbour than in Chiang Rai. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Chiang Rai, and 3-7 days is enough time in Coffs Harbour.

Families should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Chiang Rai. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Coffs Harbour, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Coffs Harbour than Chiang Rai. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Coffs Harbour that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the cultural destination of Chiang Rai. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the relaxing vacation town of Coffs Harbour, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chiang Rai. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Coffs Harbour, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the friendly destination of Chiang Rai. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Coffs Harbour, a popular vacation town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this vacation town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Chiang Rai. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Coffs Harbour is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this vacation town makes for a great vacation. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this vacation town has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Rai and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Rai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chiang Rai is in Asia and Coffs Harbour is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Chiang Rai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Rai 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 Coffs Harbour would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coffs Harbour than you might in Chiang Rai.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chiang Rai Expensive? and Is Coffs Harbour Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Chiang Rai or Coffs Harbour?

Chiang Rai has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Coffs Harbour. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Rai and Coffs Harbour, 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.