Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) 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.
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Should you visit Chiang Rai or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chiang Rai or Nadi (Port Denarau), 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?
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.
Nadi (Port Denarau)
Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Chiang Rai Prices
Thailand PricesNadi (Port Denarau) Prices
Fiji Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Rai $53Nadi (Port Denarau) $198
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Rai is $53, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $198. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Rai $20Nadi (Port Denarau) $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Rai $40Nadi (Port Denarau) $212
Compare Hotels in Chiang Rai and Nadi (Port Denarau)
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Rai or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Rai $3.67Nadi (Port Denarau) $8.81
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Rai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Chiang Rai:
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Bus to White Temple$1.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai
Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chiang Rai International Airport to Hotel: $23
- Private Airport Transfer in Chiang Rai: $25
- 2 Days 1 Night Slow Boat Transfer to Luang Prabang: $71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):
- Zip line Fiji ex Fiji Marriot w/private transfer dropoff Nadi Airport or resort : $168
- Treetops Zipline Tour with Drop off Transfer to Nadi Airport: $128
- Shuttle transfer to Nadi Airport : $49
- Shared transfer- Nadi Airport to Denarau island Fiji: $92
- Shared Transfer from Nadi Airport Fiji to Nadi area hotels: $9.15
- Shared Departure Transfer : Hotel to Airport: $18
- Roundtrip Transfer Nadi Int Airport -Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay(CFC APPROVED): $53
- Roundtrip Transfer :Nadi Airport to Crowne Plaza Hotel Nadi bay: $27
- Roundtrip Nadi Airport -Sofitel Resort & Spa(Private Transfer]: $30
- Round trip Transfer Airport to Coral Coast /Denarau Hotels : $55
- Round Trip Private Transfer From Nadi Airport To Your Resort : $23
- Private Transfers Nadi Airport Fiji to Intercontinental Resort / Yatule Resort: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Rai or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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
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Food Meals for one dayChiang Rai $22Nadi (Port Denarau) $69
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:
- Authentic Private Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $38
- Full Day Trekking & bamboo cooking Tour in Chiang Rai: $57
- From Chiang Rai Jungle Adventure Group Trekking Bamboo Cooking: $57
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $57
- One Day Trekking Chiang Rai Jungle Adventure and Bamboo Cooking: $57
- 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $57
- Lanna Home Cooking Class at Give Green Farm House: $57
- Chiang Rai Night Adventure: Dinner, Cultural Show & Trishaw Ride: $121
- Chiang Rai by Night: Incredible Temples, Market and Northern Dinner: $147
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Rai $8.50Nadi (Port Denarau) $32
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: $27
- White Temple, Blue and Red Temple Tour from Chiang Rai: $35
- Chiang Rai to Golden Triangle One Day Join Tour: $38
- Chiang Rai Join Day Tour: $43
- Sightseeing Join Tour Chiang Rai / PICK UP ONLY IN CHIANG RAI: $43
- From 7 wonder Full-Day Tour and Thai Buffet lunch: $43
- One Day Group Tour Experience in Chiangrai: $43
- Full Day Group Tour in Chiang Rai: $44
- Half Day Cycling Tour to the White temple: $47
- Guided Full-Day Highlights tour with Lunch: $48
- Chiang Rai:Guided Highlights Full-Day Tour-FREE LUNCH BUFFET: $48
- Chiang Rai 7 Incredible Highlights Tour Lunch Included: $57
Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:
- "Coral Coast Adventure: Pottery, Kava, Meke, Dunes & Temple'': $118
- 16 Lines Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour with Lunch in Fiji: $164
- Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $83
- Best Sightseeing Tour : $132
- Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $100
- CFC Hot Spring Mud Pool,Garden Of Sleeping Giant And Village Visit Half Day Tour: $105
- Coral Coast Heritage Tour : $99
- Coral Coast Sightseeing & Pottery Village Tour: $80
- Cultural Night Tour: $80
- Discover Coral Coast & Natadola Beach Tour: $114
- Fiji Adventure: Biausevu Waterfall & Dunes hiking Combo Tour!: $135
- Fiji Island Cultural Experience with Lunch : $184
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Rai $9.39Nadi (Port Denarau) $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Rai and Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Rai or Nadi (Port Denarau)?
Chiang Rai has a larger population, and is about 86% larger than the population of Nadi (Port Denarau). When comparing the sizes of Chiang Rai and Nadi (Port Denarau), 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.