Which place is cheaper, Chiang Rai or Surat Thani?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Surat Thani or Chiang Rai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Surat Thani and Chiang Rai can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Surat Thani or Chiang Rai?
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
Chiang Rai
If you find yourself dreaming of a vacation in Northern Thailand, consider the metropolitan city of Chiang Rai. This centrally located capital of the Chiang Rai province provides an excellent home base for exploring the surrounding areas. While it serves well as a home base, it has its own charms worth wandering.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, and The Best Budget Tours to Thailand.
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Surat Thani Prices
Thailand PricesChiang Rai Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurat Thani $71Chiang Rai $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $71, while the average daily cost in Chiang Rai is $53. 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 Surat Thani and Chiang Rai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurat Thani $27Chiang Rai $20
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurat Thani $54Chiang Rai $40
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Chiang Rai
Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Chiang Rai? 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 Rai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surat Thani $27Chiang Rai $3.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $78
- Surat Thani Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khao Sok: $90
- Surat Thani Airport to/From Ratchaprapa Dam Private Transfer: $81
- Samui Airport Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $39
- Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
- Private Transfer Koh Samui Airport to The Ritz Carlton Koh Samui: $22
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $16
- Koh Samui: Zipline Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $62
- From URT Airport: Shared Transfer to Koh Samui/Koh Phangan: $3.10
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Rai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Chiang Rai:
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Bus to White Temple$1.26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Rai
Also for Chiang Rai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- 2 Days 1 Night Slow Boat Transfer to Luang Prabang: $71
- Private Airport Transfer in Chiang Rai: $25
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chiang Rai International Airport to Hotel: $23
Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Chiang Rai?
Prices for flights to both Chiang Rai and Surat Thani 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
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Food Meals for one daySurat Thani $28Chiang Rai $22
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Koh Samui: Evening Thai Cooking Class with Organic Garden: $121
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Private Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Rai: $38
- Full Day Trekking & bamboo cooking Tour in Chiang Rai: $57
- From Chiang Rai Jungle Adventure Group Trekking Bamboo Cooking: $57
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class with organic ingredients: $57
- One Day Trekking Chiang Rai Jungle Adventure and Bamboo Cooking: $57
- 1 Day Trekking Group Tour With Bamboo Cooking / Chiang Rai: $57
- Lanna Home Cooking Class at Give Green Farm House: $57
- Chiang Rai Night Adventure: Dinner, Cultural Show & Trishaw Ride: $121
- Chiang Rai by Night: Incredible Temples, Market and Northern Dinner: $147
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surat Thani $5.72Chiang Rai $8.50
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- A Walking Tour of Surat Thani's Most Beautiful and Historic Sites: $174
- Adventure trip in koh Phangan: $127
- Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $79
- Dolphin Watching Tan and Pig Island Tour from Koh Samui : $65
- From Ko Pha Ngan: Angthong Marine Park Speedboat Adventure: $81
- Full-Day Speedboat Tour to Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan with Lunch: $69
- Khao Sok ATV Jungle Trail Adventure Experience: $57
- Ko Pha Ngan: Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan Snorkeling Adventure: $81
- Koh Phangan: Quad ATV Jungle Adventure with Scenic Views: $73
- Koh Samui Island Hopping Adventure in Coral and Pig Island: $53
- Koh Samui: Feed & Shower with Elephants Experience: $65
- Koh Samui: Surron Electric Dirt Bike Jungle Adventure 2H: $93
Tours and Activities in Chiang Rai
For Chiang Rai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Chiang Rai Temples Tour in Thailand: $112
- Sightseeing Join Tour Chiang Rai / PICK UP ONLY IN CHIANG RAI: $43
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle Royal Vila: $168
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $143
- Ancient City Tour from Chiang Rai with Golden Triangle and Royal Villa: $102
- Chiang Mai - Full Day Chiang Rai &Golden Triangle Tour with Lunch: $199
- Chiang Rai 7 Incredible Highlights Tour Lunch Included: $57
- Chiang Rai City Temples Private Day Tour: $191
- Chiang Rai City and Temples Tour: $76
- Chiang Rai Food & Night Market Walking Tour with Local Host: $114
- Chiang Rai Half-Day City Highlights Tour: $86
- Chiang Rai Join Day Tour: $43
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurat Thani $5.71Chiang Rai $9.39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surat Thani and Chiang Rai, we can see that Surat Thani is more expensive. And not only is Chiang Rai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chiang Rai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chiang Rai 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 Surat Thani would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surat Thani than you might in Chiang Rai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surat Thani Expensive? and Is Chiang Rai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surat Thani or Chiang Rai?
Chiang Rai has a larger population, and is about 78760 times larger than the population of Surat Thani. When comparing the sizes of Surat Thani and Chiang Rai, 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.
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.