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

Should you visit Mandalay or Dewa Sanzan?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Dewa Sanzan, 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 Dewa Sanzan?

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.

Dewa Sanzan

Dewa Sanzan, Japan is a picturesque city in the Tohoku region which consists solely of the three sacred mountains: Mount Haguro, Mount Gassan, and Mount Yudono. The mountains are considered holy to the Japanese Shinto religion and are a popular pilgrimage site, especially since many ascetic pilgrims live in the mountains and are occasionally spotted throughout the various hiking trails.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Japan, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Dewa Sanzan or Mandalay?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Mandalay Prices
    Myanmar Prices
    Dewa Sanzan Prices
    Japan Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Mandalay $19
    Dewa Sanzan $86

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $19, while the average daily cost in Dewa Sanzan is $86. 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 Dewa Sanzan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandalay $8.65
    Dewa Sanzan $29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandalay $17
    Dewa Sanzan $58
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Dewa Sanzan

Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Dewa Sanzan? 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 Dewa Sanzan


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: Dewa Sanzan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandalay -
    Dewa Sanzan $23

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
  • Mandalay Airport Private Transfer : $55
  • Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
  • From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $200
  • Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
  • Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
  • 2 Days in Mandalay Region, 3 Night in Monywa and 4 Days to transfer Bagan: $260

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Dewa Sanzan?

Prices for flights to both Dewa Sanzan 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 $10
    Dewa Sanzan $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
  • Bamboo Bike Food Tour: $42
  • Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mandalay -
    Dewa Sanzan $9.56

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
  • 2 Days Private Tour in Mandalay: $176
  • A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
  • Adventure to Dee Dote Waterfalls from Mandalay: $63
  • Amarapura,Mingun,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $85
  • Amarapura,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $75
  • Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing : $75
  • Ancient Cities, Pagodas, and Sunset Tour from Mandalay: $194
  • Day Tour Of Mingun/Sagaing/Amarapura: $75
  • Day Trip Tour From Mandalay To Pyin Oo Lwin: $105
  • Full Day Adventure: $153
  • Full Day Mandalay Tour: $130

Tours and Activities in Dewa Sanzan

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

  • Mount Haguro E-Bike Sightseeing Tour in Yamagata, Japan: $202
  • Tsuruoka & Dewa-Sanzan Full-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide: $248

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandalay -
    Dewa Sanzan $7.53


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