Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Mandalay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandalay or Airlie Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Airlie Beach, 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.
Where Should I go: Mandalay or Airlie Beach?
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.
Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $15Airlie Beach $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $15, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $141. 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 Mandalay and Airlie Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Airlie Beach $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Airlie Beach $116
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Airlie Beach
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Airlie Beach? 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: Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandalay -Airlie Beach $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150
- From Private Transfer to Bagan: $150
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:
- Private Transfer to Whitsunday Coast Airport: $314
- Airport Transfers - Return (round fare) share shuttle service: $28
- Crayfish Beach Hook Island Camping Transfer: $139
- One Way Only - Airport Transfer share shuttle service: $17
- Return Transfer PPP Airport Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $59
- South Molle Island Camping Transfer: $47
- Whitehaven Beach Club Transfers from Airlie Beach: $92
- Whitsunday: Prosperpine Airport to Airlie Beach Transfer: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Airlie Beach?
Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Mandalay 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 dayMandalay $5.95Airlie Beach $32
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.
- 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $72
- Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandalay -Airlie Beach $160
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Morning Cycling Tour in Mandalay: $35
- Private Tour in Mandalay and Amarapura: $41
- Private Full-Day Mandalay Heritage Charter Car Tour: $45
- Mandalay Half-Day Tour: $45
- Half-Day Private Tour to Mingun: $48
- Mandalay Half-Day Sightseeing: $53
- Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $53
- Mandalay Full-Day Tour: $60
- Mandalay Fullday Sightseeing: $65
- Half day to Mandalay city tour: $65
- Private Full-Day Sightseeing Tour: $65
Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:
- Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours: $20
- 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
- Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
- Whisper Cruises - One-Hour Turtle Spotting Bay Cruise: $46
- Sundowner Sunset Cruise Airlie Beach: $46
- Airlie Beach sightseeing Tour: $50
- Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
- Whitsundays Sunset Sailing Cruise: $53
- Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $58
- 2 Hour Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise: $59
- Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
- 1 hour Mimosa Morning Turtle Spotting Cruise: $59
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Airlie Beach $8.99
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Airlie Beach, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandalay is in Asia and Airlie Beach 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 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 Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach 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 Mandalay Expensive? and Is Airlie Beach Expensive?.
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.