Which place is cheaper, Kanazawa or Mandalay?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mandalay or Kanazawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Kanazawa, 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 Kanazawa?
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.
Kanazawa
An important city of the Edo-period, Kanazawa is a well preserved city from a time when samurai, merchants, geisha, and lords made up the core of its culture. Though it is often overlooked by foreigners, the city is a gem of Japanese tourism with a number of preserved historic districts, temples, regional handicrafts, art museums, and some of the best food to be had in Japan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Japan, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $15Kanazawa $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $15, while the average daily cost in Kanazawa is $103. 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 Kanazawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Kanazawa $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Kanazawa $128
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Kanazawa
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Kanazawa? 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: Kanazawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandalay -Kanazawa $9.32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150
- From Private Transfer to Bagan: $150
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanazawa
Also for Kanazawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kanazawa City to/from Wakura City Private transfer: $247
- Noto Airport to/from Kanazawa City Private Transfer: $308
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Kanazawa?
Prices for flights to both Kanazawa 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 $5.95Kanazawa $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 Kanazawa
For Kanazawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sneaking into a Cooking Class for Japanese: $57
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $76
- Private Japanese Cooking Classes in Kanazawa: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandalay -Kanazawa $9.74
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
Tours and Activities in Kanazawa
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kanazawa.
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Monochrome Plan: $13
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Moon Plan: $13
- Selfie Experience in Kanazawa - Color Plan: $19
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $25
- Kenrokuen Tea Ceremony Experience: $30
- Traditional Kimono Rental Experience at WARGO: $37
- Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $55
- Kanazawa Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $55
- Guided Night Tour to Feel the Samurai Culture in Kanazawa: $56
- [Day trip bus tour from Kanazawa Station] Weekend only! World Heritage Shirakawago Day Bus Tour: $66
- [One-day bus tour departing from Kanazawa Station] Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Two World Heritage Villages Enjoyable Bus Tour: $76
- “Be a Local” Kanazawa Izakaya Hop Tour: $78
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Kanazawa $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Kanazawa, we can see that Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Kanazawa?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kanazawa. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay and Kanazawa, 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.