Which place is cheaper, Mandalay or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Krabi or Mandalay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Mandalay can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or Mandalay?
Krabi
Krabi is both a large town and region in southern Thailand. While the region is covered in beaches, if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi (where you'll find famous places such as Railay, Ao Nang, Haad Yao, and plenty of others). Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies, and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience. There's a good chance you'll be passing through on your way to one of the famous beaches, so take advantage of your brief time here.
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 10-Day Tours in Thailand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand.
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Krabi Prices
Thailand PricesMandalay Prices
Myanmar Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $70Mandalay $19
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $70, while the average daily cost in Mandalay is $19. 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 Krabi and Mandalay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $40Mandalay $8.65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $80Mandalay $17
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Mandalay
Looking for a hotel in Krabi 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: Krabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krabi $4.15Mandalay -
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.95
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$2.98
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.39
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Longboat Taxi from Town$5.97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ATV Jungle Adventure in Krabi with Roundtrip Transfer: $37
- Air-Conditioned Van Charter for Krabi Airport Transfers & More: $29
- Ao Nang Kayaking at Klong Rud with Hotel Transfer: $29
- Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $135
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Koh Phi Phi: $28
- Aonang any hotel to Khao Lak Private transfer: $103
- Aonang any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $96
- Aonang any hotel to Phuket Airport Private transfer: $88
- From Khao Sok: Private Transfer to Ao Nang/Koh Lanta/Krabi: $64
- From Koh Lanta: Speedboat Transfer to/from Ao Nang: $63
- From Speedboat Transfer to Ko Yao Yai or Koh Yao Noi: $33
- Full Day Krabi Jungle Tour With Elephant Trekking Transfers: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay Airport Private Transfer: $55
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $230
- Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Mandalay?
Prices for flights to both Mandalay and Krabi 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 dayKrabi $24Mandalay $10
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$7.46
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Drinks on the Beach$7.16
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$18
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$33
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Mango Shake$1.49
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Pad Thai$2.98
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Fruit from the Market$1.79
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Pancakes$2.98
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Coffee & Cake$2.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Snorkeling: $32
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $33
- 7 Islands Sunset & Plankton Swim with BBQ Dinner: $35
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $35
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Island Hopping with BBQ Dinner by Big Boat: $35
- Hands on Half-day Cooking Class by Authentic Thai Cooking: $38
- Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Night Snorkeling: $39
- Small-Group Smart Thai Cooking Class in Krabi: $39
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $40
- Krabi Best of 7 islands Adventure Tour with Beachside BBQ Dinner: $42
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $43
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
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krabi $11Mandalay -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$9.84
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Thai Massages (for Two)$24
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Bikini & Sarong$18
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$13
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$7.46
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$57
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- DIY tour - Finest selection of Krabi Hidden Gems: $7.87
- 4 Island Tour by Longtail Boat Krabi + Lunch + Pick Up + Drop Off: $20
- Klong Root Kayaking and Swimming with ATV Tour From Krabi: $21
- Blue Dragon Cabaret Show Tickets Krabi: $21
- Blue Dragon Cabaret Ticket Dazzling Night from Krabi: $23
- 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $23
- 4 Islands Tour by Longtail Boat & Thai Buffet Lunch: $23
- Jurassic World Filming Tour Kayak and ATV Adventure in Krabi: $23
- 4 Islands Day Tour from Krabi: $24
- Ao Thalane Mangrove Kayaking Tour with Pickup: $24
- Krabi 4 Islands Tour and Snorkeling with Shared boat: $25
- Popular 4 Islands Tour By Classic Longtail Boat From Krabi: $25
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kayah Villages Full Day Tour (Pan Pet & Hta Nee La): $260
- 1-night in Pyin Oo Lwin next day to Gokteik tour: $226
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Amarapura,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $95
- Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing: $75
- Ancient Cities, Pagodas, and Sunset Tour from Mandalay: $194
- Around Mandalay Tour in 2 Days: $100
- Day Trip Tour From Mandalay To Pyin Oo Lwin: $130
- Full Day Adventure: $153
- Full Day Mandalay Tour: $130
- Half day to Mandalay city tour: $88
- Innwa - Amarapura Full-Day Tour: $180
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrabi $4.75Mandalay -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer$2.68
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Cocktails (for Two)$8.95
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
- Krabi Pub Crawl - The Best Nightlife Tour in Ao Nang!: $15
- Railay Pub Crawl: $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Mandalay, we can see that Krabi 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 Krabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krabi 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 Krabi Expensive? and Is Mandalay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krabi or Mandalay?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi 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.