Which place is cheaper, Kaikoura 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 Kaikoura?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Kaikoura, 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 Kaikoura?
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.
Kaikoura
Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand.
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Mandalay Prices
Myanmar PricesKaikoura Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $19Kaikoura $164
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $19, while the average daily cost in Kaikoura is $164. 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 Kaikoura in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Kaikoura $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Kaikoura $96
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Kaikoura
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Kaikoura? 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: Kaikoura Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandalay -Kaikoura $17
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
- 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
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $230
- 2 Days in Mandalay Region, 3 Night in Monywa and 4 Days to transfer Bagan: $260
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Kaikoura?
Prices for flights to both Kaikoura 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 $10Kaikoura $66
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 -Kaikoura $153
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
- Private Full-Day Mandalay Heritage Charter Car Tour: $45
- Mandalay Bike 'n Bite Tour: $46
- U Bein Bridge Sunset Cycling Day Tour from Mandalay: $60
- 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
- Mandalay Fullday Sightseeing: $80
- Private Pyin Oo Lwin Day Return Tour: $80
- Private Full Day Mandalay City Tour With Professional Guide: $80
Tours and Activities in Kaikoura
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaikoura are as follows:
- Seal Kayaking Adventure in Kaikoura: $74
- Llama Trek (Taster) - Kowhai River Valley and Native Woodland Tour: $80
- Kaikōura: Kayak Sunset Tour with Seal Sightings: $81
- Seal-Watching Pedal Kayak Tour: $81
- Sunset Kayak tour in Kaikoura: $87
- Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $93
- Sunset Evening Kayaking Tour: $93
- Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $93
- Seal Swimming Tour from Kaikoura: $95
- Wildlife Sea Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $99
- Sunset Evening Kayaking Tour - Kaikoura: $99
- Whale Watching Cruise: $101
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Kaikoura -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Kaikoura, we can see that Kaikoura 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 Kaikoura 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 Kaikoura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaikoura 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 Kaikoura Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Kaikoura?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 1760 times larger than the population of Kaikoura. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay and Kaikoura, 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.