A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chiang Rai vs. Wollongong for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Chiang Rai or Wollongong, 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.

Chiang Rai

Chiang Rai is a beautiful, friendly, and charming city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Wollongong

Wollongong is a vibrant, student-friendly, and trendy coastal city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking.

Chiang Rai and Wollongong: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Wollongong than Chiang Rai, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Wollongong is more popular for its nightlife, beaches, and big city activities, while Chiang Rai is known for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty. Chiang Rai is popular for its intricate temples, unique cuisine, and being the gateway to the Golden Triangle. Wollongong is popular for its surrounding nature and urban beaches. It is also home to Grand Pacific Drive.

How is Chiang Rai different from Wollongong?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Wollongong and Chiang Rai. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

Chiang Rai is an unbeatable place for its historical sights. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Chiang Rai has many famous sights for visitors. The Old City is filled with breathtaking temples and cultural sites. Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple) is an iconic sight, but you should also visit the Black House, and Wat Rong Seua Ten (the Blue Temple). Wat Tham Pla is the Monkey Temple and has a dramatic effect with its steep staircase. It's a short drive from Chiang Rai, but worth the trip as it's overrun with monkeys.

Many visitors head to Wollongong specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are several museums like the Wollongong Science Centre and Wollongong Planetarium and the railway museum Trainworks. There's also the Illawarra Museum, which is housed in the former post and telegraph office.

Is the Food Better in Chiang Rai or Wollongong? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Chiang Rai is an unbeatable place for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

For foodies, Chiang Rai is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The regional cuisine is famous for its unique dishes and flavors. It's slightly less spicy than the southern Thai cuisine and the dishes are rich in flavor. Northern Thai sausage is a must-try dish, as is Khao Soi Curry, and Khao Soi Gai Nong (coconut curry and chicken soup).

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Wollongong makes for a great culinary experience. In recent years a younger crowd of entrepreneurs and self-starters has moved into the city, and with them has come a growing food scene. You'll find local cafes, fine dining restaurants, and many great beachfront restaurants where you can dine.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong Better for Nightlife?

Wollongong is an excellent place to visit for nightlife and partying. Also, Chiang Rai is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Wollongong has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The nightlife scene has seen a revitalization in recent years, and in addition to the standard bars and pubs, you'll find local venues that range from quirky to lively.

Chiang Rai has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The small city has a laid back nightlife scene with a number of bars and cafes along Jetyod Road. You'll find a mix of expats and locals, without the usual backpacker crowds that are common in some cities.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong Better for Beaches?

Wollongong is an excellent place to visit for the beache. However, Chiang Rai is not a beach destination.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Wollongong. There are urban beaches, as well as more hidden coastal areas that attract locals and visitors alike. In the heart of the city you'll find North Wollongong Beach and Wollongong City Beach, both of which have picnic areas and are popular with locals.

Chiang Rai is not a beach destination.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong Better for its Old Town?

Chiang Rai is great for its historic old town charm. However, Wollongong does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Chiang Rai. The Old City is filled with intricate temples and impressive beauty. The area is very walkable and you can easily visit the famed Wat Ming Muang, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Phra Singh.

Wollongong does not have a historic old town.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong Better for Hiking?

Chiang Rai and Wollongong are both places where visitors can find good hiking trails.

Chiang Rai has hiking trails worth exploring. Head out of town to Khun Korn Forest Park Waterfall if you want to enjoy some hiking. It makes an easy half day trip.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Wollongong. The surrounding area has many great hikes that can be done as a day trip or even a half day trip. There are waterfalls, city views, and forest walks. Some of the most popular trails include Brokers Nose and Clover Hill Trail.

Is the Shopping Better in Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

Chiang Rai is great for its shopping areas. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Chiang Rai. Local markets, night markets, and souvenir shops with handcrafted goods all make shopping a fun experience. Head to the Night Bazaar or the Walking Street for some of the best experiences.

Wollongong is a great destination for shopping. The most popular shopping area is Wollongong Central Shopping Centre, which has international brands and all of the big fashion names.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong Better for Families?

Chiang Rai and Wollongong are both very good destinations for the whole family.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Chiang Rai is very family-friendly. There are parks and outdoor spaces to explore such as Singha Park and the Garden of Reeds. For a little bit of silly fun, check out Nava Land Water Park and if you want to get out of town a bit, you'll find some great hiking nearby at Khun Korn Forest Park Waterfall.

Wollongong is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The beaches, nearby nature, and ubiquitous bike trails make this a fun coastal city to explore with kids. There are also interactive museums such as Discovery Space and plenty of playgrounds. Kid-friendly surf lessons as well as the Nan Tien Temple make this a fun and fascinating family destination.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong Better for Couples?

Chiang Rai and Wollongong are both very good to visit as a couple.

Chiang Rai makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Beautiful temples, impressive gardens, and an authentic Thai experience all make this a romantic and fun destination for couples.

Couples visit Wollongong frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The scenic natural areas, including the Grand Pacific Drive or the many bush walks, make this a wonderful couples retreat. There are water sports like surfing as well as horseback riding and even helicopter rides. In the evening, enjoy a nice meal and a sunset view.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chiang Rai is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Chiang Rai. There is no shortage of affordable hostels around town. There are also enough backpackers around to keep things fun but not so many that the local vibe is lost.

Wollongong is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a couple of hostels as well as many outdoor areas to explore, so backpackers who want to escape the traditional backpacker scene will appreciate some time here.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong Better for Students?

Wollongong is a nice place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Chiang Rai is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Wollongong. It's not too far from Sydney and has a smaller, more laid back coastal vibe that appeals to many students.

Chiang Rai is not popular with students.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Wollongong is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Chiang Rai is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit in Wollongong can get you to some places easily. There's a free Gong shuttle bus that travels around the city center. It runs a loop from Wollongong Station to Wollongong University in both directions. There are also other bus services in town.

Public transit is generally limited in Chiang Rai. Tuk tuks and taxis are your best bet for getting around town in a vehicle.

Is Chiang Rai or Wollongong a more walkable city?

Chiang Rai and Wollongong are very good when it comes to walkability.

Chiang Rai is a very walkable city. The old city is easy to explore on foot.

Wollongong is a very walkable destination. There are walking paths in the city center so it's possible to walk to many tourist destinations.

For even more information, also check out Is Chiang Rai Worth Visiting? and Is Wollongong Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Wollongong or Chiang Rai?

How long in Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

It's fun to spend time in either Chiang Rai or Wollongong. In our opinion, Chiang Rai has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Chiang Rai than Wollongong. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Chiang Rai than Wollongong. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Chiang Rai, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Chiang Rai than Wollongong. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Chiang Rai that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chiang Rai than Wollongong if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Chiang Rai.

One day in Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

With museums and nightlife around the beautiful city of Chiang Rai, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and nightlife around the student-friendly coastal city of Wollongong, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Chiang Rai, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Wollongong, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city.

Five days in Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

Chiang Rai, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Wollongong, a popular coastal city, is full of activities for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

Chiang Rai is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Wollongong is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Australia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Australia.

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

Which is Bigger, Chiang Rai or Wollongong?

Wollongong has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Chiang Rai. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Rai and Wollongong, 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.