Which place is cheaper, Fraser Island or Mandalay?
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 Mandalay or Fraser Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Fraser Island, 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 Fraser Island?
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.
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.
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Mandalay Prices
Myanmar PricesFraser Island Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $19Fraser Island $259
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $19, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $259. 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 Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Fraser Island $109
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Fraser Island $218
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Fraser Island
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Fraser Island? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandalay -Fraser Island $99
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
- Mandalay Airport Private Transfer: $55
- Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $180
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $180
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $230
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island 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 $10Fraser Island $88
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.Mandalay -Fraser Island $48
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
- Mandalay Bike 'n Bite Tour: $45
- Full day Adventure Trip in Mandalay & Amarapura: $61
- Mandalay Half-Day Sightseeing: $65
- Mandalay Half-Day Tour: $70
- Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing: $75
- Private Tour for Amarapura, Mingun, Sagaing and Inwa (AVA): $77
- Private Full Day Mandalay City Tour With Professional Guide: $80
- Mandalay Fullday Sightseeing: $80
- Half-Day Private Tour to Mingun: $82
- Half day to Mandalay city tour: $88
- Full day Adventure Trip to Amarapura, Sagaing & Ava: $89
Tours and Activities in Fraser Island
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:
- Great Sandy Straits Seven Island Ultimate Wildlife Cruise: $64
- Hervey Bay: Best Value Half Day Whale Watching Cruise: $85
- Hervey Bay Ultimate Whale Watching Cruise: $85
- K'gari (Fraser Island) Day Tour - From Rainbow Beach: $188
- Remote K'gari (Fraser Island) & Whale Experience: $191
- Remote K'gari (Fraser Island) Experience: $191
- K'gari (Fraser Island) All Inclusive Day Tour: $198
- K'gari (Fraser Island) 4WD Adventure - From Noosa: $202
- Fraser Experience Small Group Full Day Guided Tour: $220
- Hervey Bay to K'gari/Fraser Island 2-Day Tour (Beach House): $370
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Fraser Island $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fraser Island 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 Fraser Island 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.