Cost per day · Thailand
Chiang Mai on $20, $60 or $250 a day
How much does Chiang Mai cost per day? Budget travellers get by on about $20 a day, mid-range trips run around $60, and luxury starts near $250 — accommodation, food, transport and activities included.
That makes Chiang Mai the 4th cheapest of 100 cities for a mid-range trip — see all 100 ranked.
The old capital of the Lanna kingdom keeps more than three hundred temples inside and around its moated square city, with Wat Phra That Doi Suthep gleaming on the mountain above. It is cooler, slower and cheaper than Bangkok: night markets, khao soi, cooking schools and ethical elephant sanctuaries in the hills.
Chiang Mai is one of the cheapest good cities in Asia. Guesthouses in the old city cost a few dollars, a bowl of khao soi about $2, and most temples are free or a token fee.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Two hours through the temples inside the moat with a local guide
Get tickets on Tiqets →The White Temple, the Blue Temple and the Black House in one long day
Get tickets on Tiqets →Thailand's highest peak, waterfalls and the royal pagodas, with lunch
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Small, friendly hostel beside the Tha Phae Gate
Social hostel in the old city with a café and private rooms
Quiet family guesthouse in the old city, attached to a cooking school
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Temples of the old city ~$20
Day 2: Doi Suthep ~$20
Day 3: Markets and Nimman ~$25
Eat at the Sunday Walking Street and the North Gate night market. Shared red songthaews are far cheaper than Grab for short hops. Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang ask only a small fee.
Mid-range buys a boutique hotel with a pool in the old city or Nimman, a cooking class, a day at an ethical elephant sanctuary and Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest peak.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
Thailand's highest peak, waterfalls and the royal pagodas, with lunch
Get tickets on Tiqets →The golden mountain temple and Wat Pha Lat's forest monastery before the crowds
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Big modern hotel by the Night Bazaar with mountain views
Lanna-style hotel around a tamarind tree and a pool in the old city
Design hotel in Nimman with a rooftop pool and a spa
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Lanna culture ~$90
Day 2: Elephants ~$130
Day 3: Doi Inthanon ~$100
Choose an elephant sanctuary that does not offer riding or bathing. Cooking schools with a farm visit are worth the extra. A Doi Suthep sunrise tour beats the midday crowds.
Luxury Chiang Mai is a villa among the rice fields at the Four Seasons or a Lanna palace hotel by the river, a private guide to Chiang Rai's temples and dinner at a Michelin-starred table.
✈️ How to Get There
🗺️ What to Do
The White Temple, the Blue Temple and the Black House in one long day
Get tickets on Tiqets →Ziplines and sky bridges through the forest canopy, with transfers
Get tickets on Tiqets →Tram through the park after dark, with tigers, giraffes and a light show
Get tickets on Tiqets →🏨 Where to Stay
Quiet riverside retreat built with northern Thai crafts
Suites around a restored teak house once owned by the Borneo Company
Pavilions and villas among terraced rice fields in the Mae Rim valley
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Temples privately ~$500
Day 2: Chiang Rai ~$550
Day 3: Valley day ~$450
The Four Seasons Resort in the Mae Rim valley and the 137 Pillars House are the two addresses. A private driver for Chiang Rai's White Temple makes the long day bearable.
About Chiang Mai
Tropical savanna: cool dry season (November–February, 15–29°C), hot season (March–May, up to 36°C) with smoke haze, and a green rainy season (June–October).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22° | 24° | 27° | 30° | 29° | 28° | 27° | 27° | 27° | 26° | 24° | 22° |
| 1d | 1d | 2d | 5d | 13d | 16d | 19d | 21d | 17d | 11d | 4d | 1d |
| high | mid | low | mid | low | low | low | low | low | mid | high | high |
No metro. Red songthaew shared trucks go anywhere for a small fare, and Grab and Bolt cover the city. The old city is walkable; scooters are cheap to rent.
A travel eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Thailand — data plans start at $4 — no roaming bill, no queue for a local SIM, and nothing to swap in and out of your phone. Install it before you fly.
The square inside the moat: temples on every street, guesthouses, cafés and massage shops. Walkable and central, and the Sunday market runs through it.
Best for budgetWest of the old city near the university: specialty coffee, malls, coworking spaces and digital nomads.
Best for midrangeAlong the Ping River east of the centre, with colonial houses, boutique hotels and restaurants on the water.
Best for luxuryBetween the old city and the river, the evening market and many mid-range hotels. Convenient, commercial and lively.
Best for midrangeA residential neighbourhood north-west of the old city with excellent cheap food and long-stay apartments.
Best for budgetThe green valley twenty minutes north, with luxury resorts among rice terraces and waterfalls.
Best for luxury- ✓Cover shoulders and knees and remove shoes in temples
- ✓Greet with a wai — palms together, a slight bow
- ✓Stand for the royal anthem before films and at 8am and 6pm in public
- ✓Wear a helmet on a scooter, always
- ✓Join a monk chat at Wat Chedi Luang or Wat Suan Dok
- ✓Choose sanctuaries that do not allow riding elephants
- ✗Criticise the monarchy — it is a serious crime
- ✗Touch anyone's head or point your feet at people or Buddha images
- ✗Let women touch monks or hand them things directly
- ✗Visit February–April without checking the air quality
- ✗Release a lantern outside the permitted festival zones
- ✗Lose your temper; keeping calm is valued
Travel Insurance for Chiang Mai
Travel insurance is strongly recommended for any trip to Chiang Mai. Safety is rated Very safe. Scooter accidents are the real risk; wear a helmet. Air quality can be hazardous during the burning season from February to April. — even in safe destinations, unexpected medical emergencies or trip cancellations can be costly. Make sure your policy covers emergency medical treatment, hospitalisation, trip cancellation, and emergency evacuation.
Visa note: Many nationalities, including UK, US, EU and Australian passports, enter visa-free for up to 60 days; check the current rules before travel. A Thailand Digital Arrival Card is required.. Some countries require proof of travel insurance as part of the visa application.
Get travel insurance for Chiang Mai →FAQ: Chiang Mai Travel Questions
Is Chiang Mai safe to visit? ▾
Very safe. Scooter accidents are the real risk; wear a helmet. Air quality can be hazardous during the burning season from February to April.
When is the best time to visit Chiang Mai? ▾
November–February for cool, dry, clear days and the Yi Peng lantern festival in November. Avoid the smoky burning season (February–April). Tropical savanna: cool dry season (November–February, 15–29°C), hot season (March–May, up to 36°C) with smoke haze, and a green rainy season (June–October).
How much does a trip to Chiang Mai cost per day? ▾
- budget: $20–$40/day
- midrange: $60–$120/day
- luxury: $250–$550/day
Do I need a visa to visit Thailand? ▾
Many nationalities, including UK, US, EU and Australian passports, enter visa-free for up to 60 days; check the current rules before travel. A Thailand Digital Arrival Card is required.
How do I get around Chiang Mai? ▾
No metro. Red songthaew shared trucks go anywhere for a small fare, and Grab and Bolt cover the city. The old city is walkable; scooters are cheap to rent. Taxi base fare ~$2. Day pass ~$3.
Is tipping expected in Chiang Mai? ▾
Tipping is not traditional but appreciated: round up or leave 20–50 baht at restaurants, and tip guides and massage therapists.
What currency is used in Thailand? ▾
The local currency is THB, and the official language is Thai (Northern Thai dialect).