A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Darjiling vs. Ayutthaya for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Darjiling or Ayutthaya?

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

Should I visit Darjiling or Ayutthaya? 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: Darjiling or Ayutthaya?

Darjiling

What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.

Ayutthaya

Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Ayutthaya or Darjiling?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Ayutthaya is $62. 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 Darjiling and Ayutthaya in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Darjiling $13
    Ayutthaya $21
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Darjiling $26
    Ayutthaya $42
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Ayutthaya

Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Ayutthaya? 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.

Hotels in Darjiling


Hotels in Ayutthaya


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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Ayutthaya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Darjiling $7.48
    Ayutthaya $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling

Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
  • Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ayutthaya

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:


  • River Ferry Crossing
    $0.55

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ayutthaya

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ayutthaya:

  • Transfer from Bangkok: $97

Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Ayutthaya?

Prices for flights to both Ayutthaya and Darjiling 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Darjiling $14
    Ayutthaya $20

Typical Food Prices in Ayutthaya

Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:


  • Lunch for 2
    $3.82
  • Ice Cream
    $0.82
  • Breakfast for 2
    $3.82
  • Breakfast for 2
    $9.55

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ayutthaya

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ayutthaya.

  • Bangkok: VELA Dinner Cruise Ticket: $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Darjiling $12
    Ayutthaya $27

Tours and Activities in Darjiling

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.

  • Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
  • Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $25
  • Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
  • Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
  • Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
  • Mirik Lake Day tour From Darjeeling: $37
  • Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $62
  • Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $62
  • Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
  • Best of Gangtok (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $84

Typical Entertainment Prices in Ayutthaya

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:


  • Temple Entrances (2)
    $5.46
  • Wat Entrance
    $1.36

Tours and Activities in Ayutthaya

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ayutthaya are as follows:

  • AYUTTHAYA : Private Car Rental & Customize Tour with Driver: $49
  • Ayutthaya 1-day Private Tour : UNESCO World Heritage Site: $141
  • Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour: $35
  • Ayutthaya’s Heritage Revealed A Day Tour from Bangkok: $632
  • Ancient City Temple Tour: $162
  • Colors of UNESCO Heritage 6 hour Bicycle Tour: $54
  • From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Day Tour Small Group: $57
  • From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Full Day Private Guided Tour: $350
  • From Bangkok: Tour Ayutthaya + Lunch + Spanish guide: $146
  • The Incredible Ayutthaya Ancient Temple Tour: $51

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Darjiling $8.77
    Ayutthaya $18


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Ayutthaya, we can see that Ayutthaya is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Ayutthaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ayutthaya than you might in Darjiling.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Ayutthaya Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Ayutthaya?

Darjiling has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of Ayutthaya. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Ayutthaya, 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.