Ah…Thailand. Add a dramatic pause right there! Just the exotic name conjures up all kinds of delicious memories – yes, many are food-based – of one of the most beautiful countries in South-East Asia. Sounds great, but what about costs, and how does Bangkok compare to Chiang Mai in that regard?
Chiang Mai is undoubtedly cheaper than Bangkok in most instances, and if you compare like to like in the two cities, Chiang Mai would be around 25% cheaper. Fewer people travel to this city in northern Thailand, meaning better deals for those who make the effort required.
I have been to Chiang Mai and Bangkok many times, sometimes for months on end, and I assure you that regardless of which is cheapest if you have the spark of adventure in your heart, you will love both Bangkok (BKK) and her northern sister Chiang Mai (CNX).
Insider Tip – Before you even book your flight into Thailand, you will need to decide just how much of an intrepid explorer you are. Whether you take the traveller option or the tourist one, you will almost certainly experience a very different Thailand to that of the option not chosen.
Simplified, if you specifically want security, hotel chains, brand-name shopping, and fancy restaurants, all close to banks and the embassies, you are a tourist and will see a specific side of Thailand.
You will want registered taxis and will change travelers’ cheques at the large banks. Air conditioning and a TV and WiFi are essential, and a swimming pool is de rigueur.
Conversely, if you are on a dangerously tight budget and want cheap yet clean accommodation that can be noisy at all hours, and you intend to eat at street stalls and wherever else the locals eat, you are not a tourist.
Your foreign currency will be changed at money-changers on the streets and in small shops, and you’ll either walk, use tuk-tuks, or, more rarely, buses to get about. TV and aircon in your room hold no allure, and you avoid shopping centers like the plague: You’re a traveler.
This distinction is vital, as you will need to know your niche when picking up information and tips, both in this article and from others you meet, before departure, and once you arrive in the kingdom. We will compare like with like, so you know exactly what to expect, but regardless of which group you choose, Chiang Mai will still be cheaper than Bangkok.
Bangkok, or
Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit to give it its full name!
Bangkok shares its slightly more common name, Krung Thep, with Los Angeles’ nickname, The City of Angels, but you will struggle to find any visitor who calls the city by anything other than Bangkok.
Accommodation in Bangkok (BKK)
- Travelers
Khaosan Road in Banglamphu has been the mecca for travelers in Bangkok since the mid-60s, and if you want to dive right into BKK, this is a great place to start. It’s very central, and there are many hostels in the streets just off Khaosan that offer great deals.
You will be faced with many accommodation options, from a dorm bed in a room of 30 people of both genders through smaller, single-gender dorms to private rooms. Aircon will sometimes be offered but won’t always work, and breakfast might be provided to you, so check what you’re getting before you commit.
Since the bigger dorms are extremely rare in Chiang Mai, let’s focus on private rooms for reasons of comparison:
U$5.00 will get you a small, private room with a ceiling fan and a communal shower. The room will probably be situated directly above the hostel’s restaurant, so expect noise. You might need earplugs.
Close to Khaosan Rd, you can get a double bed in a private room for U$12.00. This price might include WiFi, breakfast, and a swimming pool: Being a traveler doesn’t mean living in squalor unless by choice.
- Tourists
Sukhumvit is wonderfully central, and hotels have wild price swings, but U$40.00 is about the average for a single room at present. Rooms are generally immaculate in this price range, and TV, WiFi, breakfast, and a swimming pool are all provided.
Noise from the streets seldom reaches these hotel rooms with any real intensity, so that you can expect a good night’s sleep.
There are also a great many hotel rooms priced at well over U$100.00 but do your homework, and you’ll have more to spend on that famous Thai shopping spree.
You can, of course, go up or down in price, but this is a good mid-range room in a reputable hotel.
If you want to mix the chic of Sukhumvit with the vibe of Khaosan, you can certainly get an upmarket hostel or hotel room in Banglamphu, in one of the streets near Khaosan Rd. The average price will be around 50-70% of the cost required in Sukhumvit for the same standard.
Shopping in Sukhumvit will be more expensive than in the area around Banglamphu, but brand stores carry original goods, not knock-offs, so at least you know where you stand when buying souvenirs, clothing, etc.
Getting To Chiang Mai
BKK to CNX is a trip of around an hour and 20 minutes by air, and a return ticket in economy class will cost you less than U$30.00 at the time of writing this article. Bus and train trips do exist for the more budget-conscious, but the train is still U$20.00, so the saving is negligible.
Right now, U$D1 = THB 31.3 (Thai Baht). It’s a very stable currency, but check closer to your departure, so your calculations are accurate.
A taxi from Banglamphu – a popular suburb for travelers – is around U$7.50 to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Still, if you’re staying in Banglamphu, chances are you’re backpacking and would prefer to take a bus. This is a perfectly feasible option and the one I always use.
The current price on the S1 bus from Khaosan Road to the airport is 60 THB (U$2.00), and the trip takes 90 minutes.
If you prefer a three to five-star holiday, then you may enjoy Sukhumvit, a suburb for shoppers and tourists (as against travelers)
There are several ways to reach Suvarnahabumi International Airport from Sukhumvit:
- Bus – Around U$7.50
- Taxi – Around U$9.20
- Train – Around U$1.90
Caveat
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, national and regional entry-exit restrictions are frequently updated and subject to change. Please read the latest policies before traveling.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a lot more laid-back than bustling Bangkok. It’s a compact city that is easy to get around despite increasing traffic, and visitors can easily escape the city for a re-charging of batteries. After Bangkok, however, your batteries will fill quickly just strolling along Chiang Mai’s quiet Sois. (term used in Thailand for a side street branching off a major street.)
Head to the mountains, nature parks, and lakes surrounding this jewel in the kingdom’s rather large crown. Accommodation options are readily available, WiFi is ubiquitous, and the cost of living is wonderfully low. Expect to end up staying longer than you’re planning.
Accommodation in Chiang Mai
- Travelers
The Nimman Area, which also refers to the area surrounding Nimman Road, is the go-to place for young people, students, bloggers, students and has the best and trendiest of the Chiang Mai nightlife. This suburb is where the ex-pats hang out, so western restaurants abound, and great coffee is to be had quite easily.
If you’re on a relatively tight budget, you’ll find fewer cheap hostels here than in Bangkok, but for the same U$12.00 that you might spend in Bamglamphu, you will get far more in Chiang Mai. Gardens, balconies, pools, etc., are commonplace as far more land is available, of course.
- Tourists
I’d suggest you consider a hotel or guesthouse in the Old City, where a 3-star establishment will offer you a double room at U$19.00. This suburb is very central and very safe. The one I generally use provides each room with a desk, a flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom.
If we look for a similar hotel quality to the ones offering rooms at U$40 in Sukhumvit, the average would be U$30.00. There we see the 25% lower price bar in CNX already.
Airport Transfer
The airport bus is the cheapest way to reach the city center from Chiang Mai Airport. A ticket costs only (U$0.70), and these buses pass famous landmarks and the heart of Chiang Mai, Nimman Road. If you don’t want the chore of trudging to your hotel on foot, you can get a taxi or a tuk-tuk for a private transfer.
Tuk-tuks will cost you around U$3.00, depending – as with many things in Thailand – on your ability to bargain. I’d suggest you take the bus into Chiang Mai and catch a tuk-tuk to your guesthouse or hotel once you alight.
The airport is about 5km / 3 mi from the city, and traffic is seldom heavy, usually taking 15-20 minutes for the short trip.
Conclusion
Chiang Mai is certainly cheaper than Bangkok, but this will mainly be noticeable in accommodation, (Which makes up 70% of your daily expenditure on average) as meals and transportation are similar in price in both cities.
เดินทางปลอดภัย
(Bon Voyage!)