Which place is cheaper, Guilin or Chiang Mai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Chiang Mai or Guilin?
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 Chiang Mai and Guilin. 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: Chiang Mai or Guilin?
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is both the cultural center of northern Thailand and a launching point for trips into the rural areas, small towns, and lush jungles of the country's northern regions. Known for great food, historic temples, arts and crafts, and a lively night market, Chiang Mai is a very popular destination for travelers. In some areas, tourists and ex-pats dominate, but it's quite easy to get away from the tourist scene and into the real culture of Thailand, as Chiang Mai (and the surrounding countryside) is quite large.
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
-
Chiang Mai Prices
Thailand PricesGuilin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $61Guilin $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $61, while the average daily cost in Guilin is $84. 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 Chiang Mai and Guilin in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $30Guilin $35
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $60Guilin $70
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Guilin
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai or Guilin? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Chiang Mai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Mai $4.18Guilin $5.85
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:
-
Tuk Tuk Ride$1.26
-
Moped Rental$5.65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Dao to Chiang Mai Airport CNX Private Departure Transfer: $71
- Chiang Mai Airport Arrival – Private Transfer from Airport to Hotel: $14
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Chiang Dao Private Arrival Transfer: $71
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Chiang Dao Round Trip Private Transfer: $143
- Chiang Mai Airport CNX to Pai Thermal Resorts Arrival Transfer: $190
- Chiang Mai Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $14
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Transfer – Arrival or Departure: $25
- Chiang Mai Airport Private Transfer – Hotel or Airport: $7.96
- Chiang Mai Airport Transfer by Private Van – Arrival or Departure: $54
- Chiang Mai Airport Transfers by Private Car: $32
- Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Temples Tour with Premium Transfer: $240
- Chiang Mai Highlights: Top 2 Tours & Airport Transfers Included: $287
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
-
Taxi$2.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- Private Transfer from/to Zhangjiajie to Guilin: $387
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Longji rice terraces area: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Hongjiang: $267
- Private Transfer: Guilin to/from Zhangjiajie/Fenghuang: $256
- Guilin Airport to Yangshuo: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $190
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Longji terraces: $168
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo/Guilin to Sanjiang and stops Longji Rice Terraces: $160
- Private Transfer from Haikou (HAK) airport to/from Sanya hotel: $120
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Guilin hotel: $120
- Guilin Private Transfer in English-speaking Services: Airport to Hotel Roundtrip: $99
- 2-hours Yangshuo Yulong Bamboo Boat Tour with the Round-way Private Transfers: $83
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Guilin?
Prices for flights to both Guilin and Chiang Mai 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 dayChiang Mai $21Guilin $39
Typical Food Prices in Chiang Mai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:
-
Sit Down Dinner (for One)$6.12
-
Roti Snack (Bread)$0.75
-
Casual Breakfast$1.26
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.28
-
Mangoes$0.94
-
Coffee$1.57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Evening Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $10
- Cooking Morning Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market : $10
- Chiang Mai Khantoke Dinner and Cultural Show Experience: $22
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner and Show from Chiang Mai: $22
- Chiang Mai Khantoke Dinner and Cultural Show Experience: $22
- Half-day Thai Cooking Class from scratch by an Expert Chef: $27
- Morning Thai cooking class : $29
- Evening Thai cooking class : $29
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $29
- The Rice Barn Thai Cooking Farm Chiangmai : $29
- Cooking class in organic garden and local market tour ThaiCottage: $29
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner & Cultural Show Tour in Chiang Mai: $31
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
-
Fresh Coconut Drink$1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
- Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $14Guilin $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Thai Cooking Class$41
-
Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket$1.88
-
Kratong Lessons$3.14
-
Pedicure$4.71
-
Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$5.65
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- Doi Suthep Temple Tour by Local Red Car 3 Hour Adventure: $13
- Doi Suthep Temple Tour by Local Red Car – 3 Hours Experience: $13
- Old Town History and Culture Walking Tour at Chiang Mai: $15
- Art in Paradise: Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum Experience: $16
- Chiang Mai Old City & Temples Guided Walking Tour - 3 Hrs: $16
- Skip the Line: Chiang Mai Art in Paradise Admission Ticket: $16
- Chiang Mai Farm Life & Khao Soy Tasting on a Half-Day Boat Tour: $17
- Chiangmai Temple And City Walking Tour with ex monk Part 1: $18
- Bua Thong Waterfalls Adventure Experience : $18
- Chiang Mai Old City & Temples 3 hour Twilight Walking Tour : $18
- Muay Thai Ticket Thapae Boxing Stadium Chiang Mai Live Fight: $19
- Chiang Mai Temples Visit Walking Tour with Ex-Monk Guide Part 2: $19
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Self-Guided Guilin Tour with 4 Star Boat, Yangshuo and Longji Terraces : $200
- Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour with the Ping'an and Dazhai Village: $209
- 1 Day Congjiang Ethnic Dong Village Private Tour from Guilin: $219
- 1 Day Guilin Sanjiang Tour to Dong Villages: $169
- 1 Day Guilin Tour: Village Visit, Waterfall Viewing, Hiking: $230
- 1 Day Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Biking Adventure: $72
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide: $209
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver: $209
- 1 Day Private Cruise Tour at Li River from Guilin with Biking: $198
- 1 Day Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Village Tour: $202
- 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $172
- 1 Day Relaxing Guilin Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Private Tour: $205
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $7.78Guilin $5.81
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:
-
Wine$3.14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chiang Mai and Guilin, we can see that Guilin 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 Guilin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guilin 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 Chiang Mai Expensive? and Is Guilin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Guilin?
Chiang Mai has a larger population, and is about 54% larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai and Guilin, 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 Chiang Mai or Guilin?
Guilin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Chiang Mai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Guilin in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Chiang Mai as well as Guilin. Chiang Mai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Chiang Mai is around the same temperature as Guilin in the summer. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Guilin fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
It's quite rainy in Guilin. Chiang Mai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Chiang Mai usually gets less rain in July than Guilin. Chiang Mai gets 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year. June to September in Chiang Mai is the rainy season.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyChiang Mai 30°C (86°F)Guilin 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Guilin in the Autumn?
Both Guilin and Chiang Mai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Chiang Mai throughout the year.
In the autumn, Chiang Mai is a little warmer than Guilin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Chiang Mai in October average around 29°C (83°F), and Guilin averages at about 23°C (73°F).
It's quite rainy in Chiang Mai. In October, Chiang Mai usually receives more rain than Guilin. Chiang Mai gets 122 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Chiang Mai is November to February.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberChiang Mai 29°C (83°F)Guilin 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Guilin in the Winter?
Both Guilin and Chiang Mai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Chiang Mai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Chiang Mai is generally much warmer than Guilin. Daily temperatures in Chiang Mai average around 23°C (74°F), and Guilin fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
Chiang Mai usually gets less rain in January than Guilin. Chiang Mai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year. November to February is the dry season in Chiang Mai.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryChiang Mai 23°C (74°F)Guilin 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Chiang Mai or Guilin in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Chiang Mai and Guilin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Chiang Mai year-round.
It's very hot in Chiang Mai this time of the year. Chiang Mai is much warmer than Guilin in the spring. The daily temperature in Chiang Mai averages around 31°C (88°F) in April, and Guilin fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
Guilin receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Chiang Mai usually receives less rain than Guilin. Chiang Mai gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Chiang Mai.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilChiang Mai 31°C (88°F)Guilin 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Guilin and Chiang Mai
| Chiang Mai | Guilin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 23°C (74°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (78°F) | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) |
| May | 31°C (87°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 236 mm (9.3 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 228 mm (9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (83°F) | 122 mm (4.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
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.