Which place is cheaper, Milford Sound 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 Milford Sound?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Milford Sound, 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 Milford Sound?
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.
Milford Sound
Milford Sound is a fjord in Fiordland that was created by a glacier. The area is known for rain, but if you end up here on a rainy, know that you are seeing the waterfalls at their fullest.
People go to Milford Sound for the natural beauty. It is unlike any other place on earth. If you're the adventurous type, get yourself a kayak to explore the area. Also, if you have the chance, take a cruise to Milford Deep Underwater Observatory.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.
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Mandalay Prices
Myanmar PricesMilford Sound Prices
New Zealand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $19Milford Sound $141
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $19, while the average daily cost in Milford Sound is $141. 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 Milford Sound in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Milford Sound $67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Milford Sound $134
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Milford Sound
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Milford Sound? 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 -Milford Sound $14
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 Milford Sound?
Prices for flights to both Milford Sound 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 $10Milford Sound $58
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 -Milford Sound $38
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 Milford Sound
For Milford Sound, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Milford Sound Heli-Cruise-Heli + Earnslaw Burn Landing | 5hr: $974
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Milford Sound $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Milford Sound, we can see that Milford Sound 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 Milford Sound 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 Milford Sound would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milford Sound 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 Milford Sound Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Milford Sound?
Mandalay has a larger population, and is about 2780 times larger than the population of Milford Sound. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay and Milford Sound, 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.