A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mount Kailash vs. Pattaya for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mount Kailash or Pattaya?

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

Should I visit Mount Kailash or Pattaya? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mount Kailash or Pattaya?

Mount Kailash

The main point of entry to Mount Kailash is a small village called Darchen. Once an important sheep station for nomads and their flocks, the village has now grown to provide for the pilgrims wishing to embark towards Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. It contains a number of guest houses and restaurants as well as a hotel where pilgrims must get permission from the Public Security Bureau to make the trek around the mountain. Also in the village are a handful of small stores and kiosks, as well as some grounds for camping. It is about 330 km (a one-day bus drive) from the town of Shiquanhe to the northeast, where Gunsa Airport is located, offering flights twice a week to Lhasa and Chengdu.

Pattaya

Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.

Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket.


Which place is cheaper, Pattaya or Mount Kailash?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Kailash is $71, while the average daily cost in Pattaya is $66. 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 Kailash and Pattaya in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Kailash $27
    Pattaya $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Kailash $54
    Pattaya $48
Compare Hotels in Mount Kailash and Pattaya

Looking for a hotel in Mount Kailash or Pattaya? 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 Mount Kailash


Hotels in Pattaya


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: Pattaya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mount Kailash $31
    Pattaya $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya

Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Big Bee farm Pattaya ( Entry & Return Transfers): $11
  • Private Hotel in Pattaya to U-Tapao Airport Transfer: $37
  • Admission Ticket to Underwater World Pattaya with Return Transfer: $37
  • Bangkok Hotel Transfer: to/from Pattaya Hotel Transfer: $95
  • Bangkok Private Transfer from Pattaya city to Bangkok (BKK) Airport: $142
  • Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya Transfer: $39
  • Bus transfer between Pattaya and Bangkok: $3.69
  • DMK Airport to Pattaya Hotel Transfer (Private): $68
  • Departure Private Airport Transfer : Rayong/Koh Samed Hotel to Bangkok Airport: $97
  • Flower Land Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $59
  • Frost Magical Ice Of Siam at Pattaya with Return Transfer: $24
  • Frost Magical Ice Of Siam at Pattaya with Return Transfer: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Kailash or Pattaya?

Prices for flights to both Pattaya and Mount Kailash 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
    Mount Kailash $24
    Pattaya $22

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya

For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • All Star Dinner Cruise, Cabaret Show & Beer Buffet: $32

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Kailash $15
    Pattaya $21

Tours and Activities in Pattaya

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.

  • Floating Market Entry Ticket: $3.18
  • Pattaya sheep Farm Entrance Tickets: $3.60
  • FlowerLand Pattaya Admission Ticket (Optional Activities): $4.97
  • Fairy Sweet Village Pattaya Entry ticket: $5.41
  • Art in Paradise Pattaya Admission Ticket: $6.00
  • Mini Siam Entry Ticket: $6.62
  • Entry Ticket for Art in Paradise 3D Art Museum in Pattaya: $7.18
  • Pattaya : Coral Island Tour by Speedboat with Indian Lunch & Pick Up from Hotel: $7.59
  • Half-day Coral Island Join Tour with Lunch from Pattaya: $7.73
  • Pattaya Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Mini Siam Miniature World in Pattaya Admission Ticket: $9.44
  • Mini Siam Miniature World at Pattaya Admission Ticket: $9.44

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Kailash $2.76
    Pattaya $8.18


When comparing the travel costs between Mount Kailash and Pattaya, we can see that Mount Kailash is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mount Kailash Expensive? and Is Pattaya Expensive?.