A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mandalay vs. Coffs Harbour for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mandalay or Coffs Harbour?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Coffs Harbour, 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 Coffs Harbour?

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.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is in New South Wales between Brisbane and Sydney. Historically, Coffs Harbour has been a popular vacation destination among families, particularly Australian families. Most visitors today are families that are carrying on a longstanding tradition and bringing their children to the holiday destination of their childhood. You'll also find backpackers who spend up to a week here, dividing the trip between Sydney and Brisbane. The area has a well established tourist infrastructure that is not as trendy as that in Byron Bay, but it remains a wonderful community to visit if you're not looking for the party atmosphere.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Coffs Harbour or Mandalay?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $15, while the average daily cost in Coffs Harbour is $135. 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 Coffs Harbour in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandalay $8.65
    Coffs Harbour $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandalay $17
    Coffs Harbour $126
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Coffs Harbour

Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Coffs Harbour? 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 Mandalay


Hotels in Coffs Harbour


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: Coffs Harbour Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandalay -
    Coffs Harbour $22

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 Mandalay or Coffs Harbour?

Prices for flights to both Coffs Harbour 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Mandalay $5.95
    Coffs Harbour $51

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandalay -
    Coffs Harbour $41

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Coffs Harbour

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Coffs Harbour's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Surfing Museum (for 2)
    $7.14

Tours and Activities in Coffs Harbour

For Coffs Harbour, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Daytime Kayak Eco Tour of New South Wales: $40
  • Sunset Kayak Eco Tour with Marine Scientist: $40
  • Coffs Harbour Whale Watch Experience: $63
  • Sunset Experience: $77
  • Rainforest & Waterfall Experience: $126
  • Coastal Adventure: $126

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandalay -
    Coffs Harbour $8.34


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coffs Harbour 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 Coffs Harbour Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Coffs Harbour?

Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Coffs Harbour. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay and Coffs Harbour, 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.