Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Chiang Rai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Chiang Rai or Guangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chiang Rai or Guangzhou, 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.
Where Should I go: Chiang Rai or Guangzhou?
Chiang Rai
If you find yourself dreaming of a vacation in Northern Thailand, consider the metropolitan city of Chiang Rai. This centrally located capital of the Chiang Rai province provides an excellent home base for exploring the surrounding areas. While it serves well as a home base, it has its own charms worth wandering.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
-
Chiang Rai Prices
Thailand PricesGuangzhou Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Rai $51Guangzhou $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Rai is $51, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $111. 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 Rai and Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Rai $19Guangzhou $62
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Rai $38Guangzhou $124
Compare Hotels in Chiang Rai and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Rai or Guangzhou? 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 Rai Hotel Prices and Guangzhou Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Rai $3.48Guangzhou $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Rai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Chiang Rai:
-
Bus to White Temple$1.19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai
Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Rai 4 Temples and Lalitta Cafe Full Day Tour with Transfer: $67
- Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai Private Scenic Transfer Tour: $150
- 2 Days 1 Night Slow Boat Transfer to Luang Prabang: $81
- Chiang Rai:Private Transfer to Chiang Mai & Temples Visit: $260
- Private Chiang Rai Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $30
- Private Transfer from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai: $138
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- [Airport transfer] Guangzhou Airport - Guangzhou city transfer service with a good reputation! <Private charter: $27
- Zhuhai City Private Arrival Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l Airport: $108
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Guangzhou APT-HTL (CAN): $80
- Private transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to hotel: $33
- Private Transfer in Guangzhou with Fluent English Speaking Driver: $90
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou city hotels to Shekou Cruise Port: $168
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $45
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou Chimelong Safari Park and City Center: $38
- Private Round-Trip Airport Transfers in English-speaking Services: $197
- Private Baiyun Airport Transfer to Guangzhou Railway or East Railway Station: $49
- Private Baiyun Airport Arrival Transfer to Guangzhou South Railway Station: $53
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Rai or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou and Chiang Rai 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 dayChiang Rai $21Guangzhou $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lanna Home Cooking Class at Give Green Farm House: $54
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $55
- 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $55
- Jungle Trek and Bamboo Cooking in Chiang Rai: $55
- Trekking & bamboo cooking Tour: $57
- Chiang Rai Private Thai and Akha Cooking Class with Market Visit: $61
- From Chiang Rai Jungle Adventure Group Trekking Bamboo Cooking: $61
- Private Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $65
- Chiang Rai Jungle Trekking with Bamboo Cooking and Hot Springs: $71
- Chiang Rai Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour at Suwannee: $73
- Jungle Trekking with Waterfall and Bamboo Cooking in Chiang Rai: $76
- Suwannee Thai Cooking and Market Visit from Chiang Rai: $77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Guangzhou Local Life Street Food Tour Hidden Spots and Markets: $39
- Old Town Guided Food Tour with Tastings: $79
- Half Day Cantonese Cooking Class for Chinese Culinary Experience: $80
- Food Tour - Eat Like Local + Rice Roll Workshop: $96
- Tanxiu Banquet Immersive Drama and Dinner Experience in Foshan: $98
- Guangzhou Night Tour with Pearl River Cruise & Dim Sum Dinner: $110
- Guangzhou Evening Walk: Canton Tower, Pearl River Cruise & Dinner: $140
- Guangzhou walking tour with dimsum dinner&Zhujiang river cruise: $160
- Pearl River Night Cruise and Karaoke Tour with Buffet Dinner in Guangzhou: $179
- Morning Tea, Cantonese Opera, and Food Tour: $183
- Cantonese Dim Sum Dinner with Pearl River Night Cruise in Guangzhou: $199
- Guangzhou Pearl River Night Cruise and Din Tai Feng Dinner: $199
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Rai $8.08Guangzhou $19
Tours and Activities in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half Day Join Tour Chiang Rai Pick Up Only In Chiang Rai: $26
- Half Day Joyfull Tour in Chiang Rai Downtown: $29
- Chiang Rai Tribes & Trekking: Mountain Adventure (Shared Tour): $37
- Chiang Rai ATV Tour with Scenic Views Pineapple Farm and More: $37
- Chiang Rai 7 Highlights Join Tour: White Temple & Golden Triangle: $39
- Explore Full-Day Tour & Lunch Buffet: $40
- Full Day Group Tour in Chiang Rai: $40
- Chiang Rai ATV Jungle Adventure with Waterfalls and Viewpoints: $40
- Chiang Rai Discovery Full Day Guided Tour and Free Lunch Buffet: $41
- Sightseeing Join Tour Chiang Rai / PICK UP ONLY IN CHIANG RAI: $41
- Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park and Chiang Rai city tour: $43
- Stunning tour at Golden Triangle and 3 countries border view: $43
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Guangzhou City Highlight Layover Tour from Airport: $276
- 1 Day Relaxing Exploring Tour in Guangzhou: $156
- 3-Hour Private Tour to Museum of Nanyue King Tomb in Guangzhou: $91
- 4-Hour Private Flexible Guangzhou City Tour in Your Way: $100
- 6-Day Guangzhou to Guilin Scenic Tour: $1,598
- 7-Hour Customised Private Guangzhou Sightseeing and Shopping Tour: $200
- 8-Hour Guangzhou Private CityTour with Canton Tower and Top Sites: $194
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Lotus Hill and Shawan Old Town from Guangzhou: $229
- Ancient Foshan Day Tour from Guangzhou: $201
- Canton Tower and Pearl River Cruise Guangzhou Private Night Tour: $200
- Casual Tour in Guangzhou: $259
- Chimelong Circus Ticket with Hotel Round Trip Private Transport: $260
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Rai $8.92Guangzhou $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Rai and Guangzhou, we can see that Guangzhou is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Rai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Guangzhou would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guangzhou 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 Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Rai or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Chiang Rai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Rai and Guangzhou, 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.