A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yangon vs. Airlie Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Yangon or Airlie Beach?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yangon or Airlie Beach, 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: Yangon or Airlie Beach?

Yangon

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is the largest city and economic center for the nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. The city is a mix of British, Burmese, Chinese, and Indian influences, and is host to beautiful 19th-century colonial architecture as well as modern skyscrapers. The people of Yangon mainly follow the Buddhist religion and it is common to see monks wandering along the busy streets amidst gilded temples.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach, in Queensland, offers the closest port to the Whitsunday Islands on the Great Barrier Reef. It's a small town of only 25,000 and has grown out of the area's popularity as a tourist destination. It's main industry remains tourism and, as such, there are many venues set up to accommodate travelers hoping to make trips to the Whitsunday Islands and the Outer Great Barrier Reef. The town has the feel of a vacation destination. While in the past Airlie Beach appealed specifically to the backpacker crowd, it's popularity has spread and now there are facilities catering to all travel types. The area has become more commercialized and there are plenty of large resorts to choose from. Even so, you'll still find no shortage of affordable accommodation around town.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Airlie Beach or Yangon?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Yangon is $70, while the average daily cost in Airlie Beach is $165. 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 Yangon and Airlie Beach in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yangon $31
    Airlie Beach $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yangon $62
    Airlie Beach $118
Compare Hotels in Yangon and Airlie Beach

Looking for a hotel in Yangon or Airlie Beach? 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 Yangon


Hotels in Airlie Beach


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: Airlie Beach Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yangon $2.38
    Airlie Beach $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yangon

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Yangon:

  • Bagan Airport Transfer with Private Car: $13
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU) to Hotel: $14
  • Private Airport Transfer at Yangon Airport to Center of Yangon: $23
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Yangon International Airport (RGN) to Hotel: $23
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Yangon International Airport (RGN): $23
  • Bagan (Nyaung Oo) Airport Private Transfer : $27
  • Private Transfer from or to Rangon International Airport (YIA): $32
  • Yangon Airport Private Transfer : $45
  • Yangon Airport Private Arrival Transfer : $60
  • Private Yangon Departure Transfer: Hotel to Yangon Airport: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Airlie Beach

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Airlie Beach:

  • Whitsundays: Airport Transfer to/from Airlie Beach: $16
  • One Way Airport Transfer: Proserpine-Airlie Beach (or vice versa): $17
  • Transfer from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $17
  • Established Return Airport Transfer Proserpine to Airlie Beach: $28
  • Airport Transfer to Shute Harbour / Renta Yacht / Freedom Shores: $32
  • Private Transfer to/from Shute Harbour: $134
  • Private Transfer to/from Whitsunday Coast Airport: $148

Is it cheaper to fly into Yangon or Airlie Beach?

Prices for flights to both Airlie Beach and Yangon 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
    Yangon $17
    Airlie Beach $55

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yangon

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Yangon.

  • Morning Yangon Food Tour: $24
  • Yangon Street Food Tours: $28
  • Yangon morning food tour with train ride : $45
  • Cooking Myanmar Food and Explore Dala: $46
  • Cooking class in the down town of Yangon, half day tour (07:30 AM - 12:30 PM): $65

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Airlie Beach

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Airlie Beach.

  • 3-Hour Sunset Segway Tour with Dinner: $82
  • Whitsundays Segway Sunset and Boardwalk Tour with Dinner: $83

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yangon -
    Airlie Beach $161

Tours and Activities in Yangon

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yangon are as follows:

  • Yangon Cosmopolitan City Walking Tour: $22
  • Morning Eat, Walk & Ride Tour: $25
  • Half-Day Spiritual Shwedagon Pagoda Join in Tour in Yangon: $33
  • Walking Tour in Downtown Yangon: $35
  • Yangon Breakfast and Market Tour - The must try dishes!: $35
  • Yangon Full Day City Tour: $38
  • Yangon Group Street Food & Walking Tour: $40
  • Yangon City Tour With English Speaking Driver: $40
  • Bagan Sightseeing Tour by Private Guide and Car: $42
  • One Bagan Sightseeing Tour: $45
  • Discover Bagan Day Tour : $45
  • Old Bagan Full Day Tour : $46

Tours and Activities in Airlie Beach

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Airlie Beach are as follows:

  • Private Airlie Beach Tuk-Tuk Tours: $20
  • 2-Hour Sunset Cruise with Sparkling Wine: $45
  • Roundtrip Tour to Cedar Creek.: $45
  • Sundowner Sunset Cruise Airlie Beach: $46
  • Whisper Cruises - One-Hour Turtle Spotting Bay Cruise: $46
  • Airlie Beach Sunset Cruise : $46
  • Airlie Beach Trike Tours: $50
  • Whitsundays Sunset Sailing Cruise: $57
  • Glass-Bottom Boat Tour: $59
  • Airlie Beach Glass Bottom Boat Tour: $59
  • #1 Sightseeing Explorer 3hr tour.: $62
  • Half Day Turtle Tour Sea Kayaking Adventure: $65

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yangon -
    Airlie Beach $9.06


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

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