Which place is cheaper, Mandalay or Mount Everest?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Mount Everest or Mandalay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Mount Everest and Mandalay. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Mount Everest or Mandalay?
Mount Everest
More commonly known as Mount Everest, Qomolangma is the highest mountain in the world with a peak reaching 8,848 meters above sea level. Pilgrims trek long distances to worship its divine aura, climbing enthusiasts run great risks to challenge its high altitude, and visitors from all over come to see where the tallest reaches of earth meet the heavens.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Kathmandu, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Pokhara.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMount Everest $40Mandalay $15
The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Everest is $40, while the average daily cost in Mandalay is $15. 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 Mount Everest and Mandalay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMount Everest $6.84Mandalay $8.65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMount Everest $14Mandalay $17
Compare Hotels in Mount Everest and Mandalay
Looking for a hotel in Mount Everest or Mandalay? 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.Mount Everest -Mandalay -
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
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $150
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $150
- From Private Transfer to Bagan: $150
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- Inle Lake Land transfer from Mandalay: $213
Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Everest or Mandalay?
Prices for flights to both Mandalay and Mount Everest 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 dayMount Everest $26Mandalay $5.95
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.Mount Everest $18Mandalay -
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMount Everest -Mandalay -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Everest and Mandalay, we can see that Mount Everest 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 Mount Everest would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mount Everest 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 Mount Everest Expensive? and Is Mandalay 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.