Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chiang Rai or Tiger Leaping Gorge, 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge?
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.
Tiger Leaping Gorge
One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.
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 from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.
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Chiang Rai Prices
Thailand PricesTiger Leaping Gorge Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Rai $53Tiger Leaping Gorge $54
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Rai is $53, while the average daily cost in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $54. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Rai $20Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Rai $40Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
Compare Hotels in Chiang Rai and Tiger Leaping Gorge
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Rai or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Rai $3.67Tiger Leaping Gorge $17
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:
- 2 Days 1 Night Slow Boat Transfer to Luang Prabang: $71
- Private Airport Transfer in Chiang Rai: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chiang Rai International Airport to Hotel: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Rai or Tiger Leaping Gorge?
Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 $22Tiger Leaping Gorge $28
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 $8.50Tiger Leaping Gorge $15
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Rai $9.39Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.46
When comparing the travel costs between Chiang Rai and Tiger Leaping Gorge, we can see that Tiger Leaping Gorge is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Tiger Leaping Gorge Expensive?.
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.