A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chiang Rai vs. Pyeongchang for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chiang Rai or Pyeongchang?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chiang Rai or Pyeongchang, 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 Pyeongchang?

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.

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.


Which place is cheaper, Pyeongchang or Chiang Rai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Rai is $44, while the average daily cost in Pyeongchang is $121. 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 Pyeongchang in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chiang Rai $20
    Pyeongchang $65
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chiang Rai $40
    Pyeongchang $130
Compare Hotels in Chiang Rai and Pyeongchang

Looking for a hotel in Chiang Rai or Pyeongchang? 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.

Hotels in Chiang Rai


Hotels in Pyeongchang


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 Pyeongchang Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chiang Rai $3.61
    Pyeongchang $26
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
    $1.24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai

Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • SUV Private car Chiang Mai transfer to/from Chiang Rai: $170
  • Private Transfer Chiang Rai Airport to and from Mueang Chiang Rai: $41
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Chiang Rai International Airport to Hotel: $22
  • Private Airport Transfer in Chiang Rai: $25
  • From Chiang Rai:Transfer to Laos Immigration: $29
  • Private Transfer From Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai: $170
  • Private Transfer From Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai: $155
  • Private Airport (CEI) Transfer to Hotel: $25
  • Chiang Rai Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Saen Border: $71
  • Chiang Rai Airport: Transfer To Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai: $89
  • Chiang Rai Airport (CEI): Private Chiang Rai Hotel Transfer: $19
  • Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Saen Border: $161

Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Rai or Pyeongchang?

Prices for flights to both Pyeongchang 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 day
    Chiang Rai $13
    Pyeongchang $29

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:

  • Chiang Mai: Traditional Thai-Akha Cooking Class& Market Tour: $44
  • 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $54
  • Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $57
  • Jungle Adventure-Group Trekking & Bamboo Cooking: $62
  • The Adventure of Trekking & Bamboo Cooking: $64
  • 1 day trek only walk and bamboo cooking.: $68
  • Chiang Rai Private Cooking Class - Cooking With Ann: $81
  • Chiang Rai City Tour with Dinner and Show: $98
  • Chiang Rai by Night: Incredible Temples, Market and Northern Dinner: $146

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chiang Rai $8.36
    Pyeongchang $53

Tours and Activities in Chiang Rai

For Chiang Rai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Chiang Rai Temples Tour in Thailand: $95
  • Sightseeing Join Tour Chiang Rai / PICK UP ONLY IN CHIANG RAI: $41
  • 4 Days Mae Hong Son Loop Motorcycle Tour from Chiang Mai: $1,610
  • Akha Hill Tribes, Chiang Saen, Mae Sai & Golden Triangle Day Tour : $106
  • Akha Home Cookery Experience Half Day Trip: $120
  • Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai including Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $174
  • Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle Royal Vila: $167
  • Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle Royal Vila: $151
  • Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $143
  • Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $101
  • Bus Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang: Amazing Experience: $56
  • Chiang Mai: Chiang Rai & Doi Mae Salong Tea Plantation Tour: $361

Tours and Activities in Pyeongchang

For Pyeongchang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Balwangsan Cable Car & Samyang Ranch One Day Tour: $94

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chiang Rai $9.42
    Pyeongchang $9.27


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Rai and Pyeongchang, we can see that Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang Expensive?.