Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Chiang Rai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chiang Rai or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chiang Rai or Whitsundays, 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia, and The Best Walking Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Rai $44Whitsundays $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Rai is $44, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $139. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Rai $20Whitsundays $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Rai $40Whitsundays $144
Compare Hotels in Chiang Rai and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Rai or Whitsundays? 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 $3.61Whitsundays $58
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$1.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai
Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Rai:Private Transfer to Chiang Mai & Temples Visit: $262
- Chiang Khong Border Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $177
- Chiang Mai Transfer: $165
- SUV Private car Chiang Mai transfer to/from Chiang Rai: $165
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Saen Border: $156
- Private Transfer From Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai: $152
- Private Transfer From Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai: $150
- Chiang Mai Hotel to/from Chiang Rai Hotel: Private Transfer: $134
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Rai: $132
- Chiang Rai Airport: Transfer To Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai: $86
- Chiang Rai Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Saen Border: $69
- Chiang Rai Airports: Transfer Chiang Kong, Golden Triangel, and More: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Rai or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 $13Whitsundays $31
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: $43
- 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $52
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $56
- Jungle Adventure-Group Trekking & Bamboo Cooking: $60
- The Adventure of Trekking & Bamboo Cooking: $62
- 1 day trek only walk and bamboo cooking.: $66
- Chiang Rai Private Cooking Class - Cooking With Ann: $79
- Chiang Rai by Night with Show, Dinner and Trishaw Ride: $91
- Chiang Rai City Tour with Dinner and Show: $96
- Chiang Rai by Night: Incredible Temples, Market and Northern Dinner: $142
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $102
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Rai $8.36Whitsundays $26
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: $93
- Sightseeing Join Tour Chiang Rai / PICK UP ONLY IN CHIANG RAI: $40
- 4 Days Mae Hong Son Loop Motorcycle Tour from Chiang Mai: $1,562
- Akha Home Cookery Experience Half Day Trip: $117
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai including Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $170
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle Royal Vila: $147
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle Royal Vila: $163
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $139
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $99
- Bus Chiang Rai to Luang Prabang: Amazing Experience: $56
- Chiang Mai: Chiang Rai & Doi Mae Salong Tea Plantation Tour: $354
- Chiang Mai: Chiang Rai Temples, Golden Triangle & Boat Tour: $68
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $5,159
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $163
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Rai $9.42Whitsundays $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Rai and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays 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.