Which place is cheaper, Mandalay or Chumphon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chumphon or Mandalay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chumphon or Mandalay? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Chumphon or Mandalay?
Chumphon
Sometimes tourism has a tendency to spoil the natural beauty of a place. This is not the case in the magical city of Chumphon, Thailand. As the gateway to the Chumphon Archipelago, this city has maintained natural, untouched beauty. Its miles of coastline are full of fine beaches with fishing, swimming and a number of other activities.
Mandalay
Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChumphon $36Mandalay $15
The average daily cost (per person) in Chumphon is $36, while the average daily cost in Mandalay is $15. 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 Chumphon and Mandalay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChumphon $16Mandalay $8.65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChumphon $32Mandalay $17
Compare Hotels in Chumphon and Mandalay
Looking for a hotel in Chumphon or Mandalay? 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: Chumphon Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chumphon $6.32Mandalay -
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
- From Private Transfer to Bagan: $150
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Chumphon or Mandalay?
Prices for flights to both Mandalay and Chumphon 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 dayChumphon $13Mandalay $5.95
Typical Food Prices in Chumphon
For Chumphon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Ice Cream$0.16
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Fruit at the Market$0.55
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Breakfast$1.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.
- Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
- Bamboo Bike Food Tour: $42
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chumphon $10Mandalay -
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-night in Pyin Oo Lwin next day to Gokteik tour: $226
- Kayah Villages Full Day Tour (Pan Pet & Hta Nee La): $260
- 2 Days Private Tour in Mandalay: $176
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Adventure Road Trip from Mandalay to Monywa – Bagan : $174
- Amarapura,Mingun,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $85
- Ancient Capitals of Myanmar Tour: $106
- Around Mandalay Tour in 2 Days : $100
- Day Tour Of Mingun/Sagaing/Amarapura: $75
- Full Day Adventure: $153
- Half day to Mandalay city tour: $65
- Half-Day Private Tour to Mingun: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChumphon $11Mandalay -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chumphon
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chumphon are as follows:
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Beer (2)$3.82
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chumphon and Mandalay, we can see that Chumphon is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay 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 Chumphon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chumphon than you might in Mandalay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chumphon Expensive? and Is Mandalay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chumphon or Mandalay?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Chumphon. When comparing the sizes of Chumphon and Mandalay, 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.