A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mandalay vs. Tiger Leaping Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mandalay or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Tiger Leaping Gorge, 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge?

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.

Tiger Leaping Gorge

One of the deepest gorges in the world, Tiger Leaping Gorge gets its name from legend, where a tiger used a great rock in the center of the gorge as a stepping stone to leap from one side to the other. It is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery on either side with the Yangtze River rushing down through its center. Visitors come to Tiger Leaping Gorge to hike and witness its natural beauty.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Tiger Leaping Gorge or Mandalay?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $15, while the average daily cost in Tiger Leaping Gorge is $41. 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mandalay $8.65
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mandalay $17
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $26
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Tiger Leaping Gorge

Looking for a hotel in Mandalay or Tiger Leaping Gorge? 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 Tiger Leaping Gorge


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mandalay -
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $17

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:

  • Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
  • Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
  • From Private Transfer to Bagan: $150
  • Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
  • Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
  • Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
  • Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
  • Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
  • Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Tiger Leaping Gorge?

Prices for flights to both Tiger Leaping Gorge 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 $5.95
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $16

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 -
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $15

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
  • Morning Cycling Tour in Mandalay: $35
  • Private Tour in Mandalay and Amarapura: $41
  • Private Full-Day Mandalay Heritage Charter Car Tour: $45
  • Mandalay Half-Day Tour: $45
  • Half-Day Private Tour to Mingun: $48
  • Mandalay Half-Day Sightseeing: $53
  • Half-Day Sightseeing Tour: $53
  • Mandalay Full-Day Tour: $60
  • Mandalay Fullday Sightseeing: $65
  • Half day to Mandalay city tour: $65
  • Private Full-Day Sightseeing Tour: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mandalay -
    Tiger Leaping Gorge $6.36


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