Which place is cheaper, Tainan City 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 Tainan City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chiang Rai or Tainan City, 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 Tainan City?
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.
Tainan City
The oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan was once the nation's capital during imperial times and is today famous for its temples and historic buildings which speak to this distant past. Additionally Tainan has become known for its lively night markets and fantastic snack foods available from a large concentrate of street vendors located throughout the city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Taiwan.
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Chiang Rai Prices
Thailand PricesTainan City Prices
Taiwan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Rai $52Tainan City $143
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Rai is $52, while the average daily cost in Tainan City is $143. 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 Tainan City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Rai $19Tainan City $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Rai $38Tainan City $122
Compare Hotels in Chiang Rai and Tainan City
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Rai or Tainan City? 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 Tainan City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Rai $3.58Tainan City $19
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$1.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai
Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Chiang Rai Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $31
- Private Transfer Chiang Rai Airport to and from Mueang Chiang Rai: $41
- 2 Days 1 Night Slow Boat Transfer to Luang Prabang: $82
- 2 days tour in Chiang rai, included hotel, lunch,pick up&transfer: $140
- Chiang Rai:Private Transfer to Chiang Mai & Temples Visit: $266
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Rai or Tainan City?
Prices for flights to both Tainan City 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 $22Tainan City $70
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
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $56
- Jungle Trek and Bamboo Cooking in Chiang Rai: $56
- 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $56
- One Day Trekking Chiang Rai Jungle Adventure and Bamboo Cooking: $56
- Trekking & bamboo cooking Tour: $57
- Private Local Food Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $59
- Chiang Rai City Highlights with Traditional Dinner & Show: $106
- Chiang Rai by Night: Incredible Temples, Market and Northern Dinner: $132
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Rai $8.31Tainan City $11
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
- Half Day Joyfull Tour in Chiang Rai Downtown: $31
- Scenic View ATV Tour and Pineapple Farm Visit in Chiang Rai: $35
- White Temple, Blue and Red Temple Tour from Chiang Rai: $35
- One Day Group Tour Experience in Chiangrai: $41
- Full Day Group Tour in Chiang Rai: $42
- Chiang Rai Discovery: Full‑Day Guided Tour & Free Lunch Buffet: $42
- Sightseeing Join Tour Chiang Rai / PICK UP ONLY IN CHIANG RAI: $42
- All stunning tour : Khun Korn waterfall-White Temple-Red Temple: $47
- Half Day Cycling Tour to the White temple: $49
- Chiang Rai 7 Incredible Highlights Tour Lunch Included: $51
- ChiangRai 7 Major Sites & River view Buffet +All ticket included: $69
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Rai $9.18Tainan City $5.91
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Rai and Tainan City, we can see that Tainan City 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 Tainan City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tainan City 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 Tainan City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Rai or Tainan City?
Tainan City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Chiang Rai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Rai and Tainan City, 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.