A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Phuket vs. Chiang Mai for Food, Nightlife, Backpackers, and Families

Should you visit Phuket or Chiang Mai?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Chiang Mai, 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.

Phuket

Phuket is a energetic, party-hard, and stunning resort island. Phuket is a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See Phuket travel costs.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a natural, temple-filled, and laid-back city. Travelers will also find plenty of sights and attractions here, as it's a big city that attracts lots of visitors. The beauty of Chiang Mai is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the museums, nightlife, and food. See Chiang Mai travel costs.

Phuket and Chiang Mai: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phuket or Chiang Mai?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Chiang Mai than Phuket. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Chiang Mai is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Phuket attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Phuket is famous for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. Chiang Mai is famous for its lively night market, historical temples, local cuisine, and cultural rainforest treks. It is also well known for Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

How is Phuket different from Chiang Mai?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Chiang Mai and Phuket. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Phuket or Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai is an amazing city to visit for its museums and landmarks. However, Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

The museums, monuments, and landmarks in Chiang Mai are among the most recognizable in the world. The city is filled with culture and you'll find many beautiful temples in the area. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a mountain-top temple that is an iconic landmark in the city. Other famous sights include Doi Inthanon and Wat Chedi Luang.

Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Phuket or Chiang Mai? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Chiang Mai is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Known for it's food and restaurant scene, Chiang Mai is always at the top of any foodie's travel list. For many, this city offers some of the best food in all of Thailand. The cuisine is influenced by nearby Burma and China, with ginger and turmeric often used. Curries tend to be a bit milder and dishes are often served with sticky rice. Famous dishes around town include Khao Soi, Larb Kua, and Sai Oua. Cooking classes are also very popular around town and the courses often include a trip to a market.

Phuket has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for Nightlife?

Phuket is a world-class destination for nightlife. Also, Chiang Mai is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

People head to Phuket just to party. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.

Chiang Mai offers plenty to do in the evening. It is the largest city in Northern Thailand, so it has the most active nightlife scene in the area. Whatever your style, you can find something to do at night here. Many people head to the riverside to drink and listen to music. You'll also find clubs concentrated around Nimmanhaemin Road and Loy Kroh Road. There's also the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, which is packed with stalls and people sampling food and drinks.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for Resorts?

Phuket is a world-class destination for its luxury resorts. However, Chiang Mai is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Phuket for its luxury resorts. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.

Chiang Mai is not a resort destination.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Phuket is a great resort island for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Chiang Mai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are many scuba diving and snorkeling spots near Phuket. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.

Chiang Mai is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for Beaches?

Phuket is a world-class destination for its beaches. However, Chiang Mai is not a beach destination.

Phuket offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.

Chiang Mai is not a beach destination.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for its Old Town?

Chiang Mai is a great destination for its old town. However, Phuket does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Chiang Mai to see the historical old town. The old city is about 1.5 square kilometers in size and it has four gates, one on each side. The most famous area is Sunday Walking Street, which comes to life at 4pm every day when it is lined with stalls and filled with people.

Phuket does not have a historic old town.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for Hiking?

Chiang Mai is an amazing city to visit for its hiking experiences. However, Phuket is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Chiang Mai draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. Many people use this city as a base for a trekking excursion into the surrounding countryside. The land is lush and beautiful and many treks also expose you to the welcoming Hilltribe people of Northern Thailand. Treks can be organized at almost any hotel or hostel as well the many tour agencies around town.

Phuket is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Phuket or Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai is an amazing city to visit for its shopping opportunities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Chiang Mai make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is famous for its night markets, which run every night of the year until around midnight. You'll find the streets packed with people and vendors, rain or shine. This is a great place to search for local handicrafts and try some of the city's famous street food. Popular items to buy include rice boxes, silk, and Thai sky lanterns.

Phuket has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai More Beautiful?

Chiang Mai is a great destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

The beauty of Chiang Mai is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. It is famous for it's beautiful surrounding countryside where visitors often enjoy trekking and getting out in nature. The city is also filled with historic temples, night markets, and a relaxed atmosphere.

Phuket offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It is a mix of beautiful beaches and tourist crowds. The island is very developed with a combination of 5 star hotels, souvenir shops, and tour companies. Because of the many excursions leaving from the island, many visitors find it a makes a good base for exploring the area.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for Families?

Chiang Mai is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Chiang Mai is a very kid-friendly city. This city is very friendly and welcoming to kids. There are many cultural and adventurous activities that the whole family can enjoy. One of the most popular kid-friendly places to visit is the Elephant Sanctuary, where kids can get up close and personal with these beautiful animals. Kids will also enjoy heading into the countryside to trek or visit one of Thailand’s Hilltribes. The cultural experience and opportunity to meet a diversity of kids will be an experience your children will never forget. In town, a cooking class is a popular option for budding foodies.

Phuket offers lots of family activities. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for Couples?

Phuket and Chiang Mai are both great to visit as a couple.

Couples visit Phuket frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.

Chiang Mai is a great resort island if you're traveling as a couple. Trekking, rafting, temples, and some of the best food in Thailand all make this city a popular destination for a couple's getaway. The region is perfect for adventurous couples who want to experience more of the authentic side of Thailand.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Chiang Mai is an amazing city to visit for backpackers. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Chiang Mai. This is one of the biggest backpacker mecca's in Southeast Asia, and you'll find the city flooded with budget travelers out to experience it all. There are countless hostels and budget hotels available and most will organize treks and activities for guests. It's easy to meet other backpackers and many visitors end up staying longer than they planned. Prices in Northern Thailand are also much more affordable than many other areas.

Phuket is a good resort island to visit for backpackers. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. While it gets its share of backpackers, many visitors complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Phuket and Chiang Mai.

You'll find some public transit in Phuket, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

While Chiang Mai offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Transportation options include red songthaew (converted pick-up trucks), buses, and tuk-tuks.

Is Phuket or Chiang Mai a more walkable city?

Phuket and Chiang Mai both are nice when exploring on foot.

Phuket is a somewhat walkable place. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.

Chiang Mai is a somewhat walkable resort island. Although there are a few walking streets, the city can get very crowded and many places are easier to access with a tuk tuk or taxi.

For even more information, also check out Is Phuket Worth Visiting? and Is Chiang Mai Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chiang Mai or Phuket?

How long in Phuket or Chiang Mai?

Both Phuket and Chiang Mai have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Chiang Mai has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Chiang Mai than Phuket. In general, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Phuket, and 2-7 days is enough time in Chiang Mai.

Families should spend more time in Chiang Mai than Phuket. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Chiang Mai, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Chiang Mai than Phuket. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Chiang Mai that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chiang Mai than Phuket if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Chiang Mai.

One day in Phuket or Chiang Mai?

With shopping and nightlife around the energetic resort island of Phuket, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Chiang Mai is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Phuket or Chiang Mai?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Phuket, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Chiang Mai is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Phuket or Chiang Mai?

Phuket, a popular resort island, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this resort island. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chiang Mai. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Phuket or Chiang Mai?

Phuket is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this resort island makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this resort island has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Chiang Mai is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in Thailand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Chiang Mai, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Mai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chiang Mai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Mai 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket than you might in Chiang Mai.

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

Which is Bigger, Phuket or Chiang Mai?

Chiang Mai has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Chiang Mai, 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.

When is the best time to visit Phuket or Chiang Mai?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Phuket or Chiang Mai in the Summer?

Both Chiang Mai and Phuket during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round.

June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than Chiang Mai. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the summer, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Chiang Mai. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chiang Mai receives 146 hours of full sun.

In July, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Chiang Mai. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Chiang Mai fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).

Should I visit Phuket or Chiang Mai in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Chiang Mai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season. Chiang Mai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Chiang Mai. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chiang Mai this time of the year. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Chiang Mai during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Chiang Mai receives 226 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Phuket is around the same temperature as Chiang Mai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Chiang Mai fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Should I visit Phuket or Chiang Mai in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Chiang Mai. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chiang Mai throughout the year.

Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, November to February in Chiang Mai is the dry season. Phuket usually gets more rain in January than Chiang Mai. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chiang Mai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the winter, Phuket often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chiang Mai. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chiang Mai receives 283 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Phuket is a little warmer than Chiang Mai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phuket in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Chiang Mai averages at about 23°C (74°F).

Should I visit Phuket or Chiang Mai in the Spring?

Both Chiang Mai and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The rainy season in Phuket is June to October. The rainy season in Chiang Mai is June to September. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than Chiang Mai. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Chiang Mai receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Chiang Mai. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Chiang Mai during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Chiang Mai receives 275 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's very hot in Chiang Mai this time of the year. In April, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Chiang Mai. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 29°C (84°F), and Chiang Mai fluctuates around 31°C (88°F).

Typical Weather for Chiang Mai and Phuket