Which place is cheaper, Mandalay or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Mandalay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling 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: Darjiling or Mandalay?
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.
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 Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $35Mandalay $15
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, 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 Darjiling and Mandalay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Mandalay $8.65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Mandalay $17
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Mandalay
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.48Mandalay -
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150
- From Private Transfer to Bagan: $150
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Mandalay?
Prices for flights to both Mandalay 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
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Food Meals for one dayDarjiling $14Mandalay $5.95
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.Darjiling $12Mandalay -
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
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 dayDarjiling $8.77Mandalay -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Mandalay, we can see that Darjiling 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 Darjiling would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darjiling 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 Darjiling Expensive? and Is Mandalay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Mandalay?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling 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.