Chiang Mai is Thailand's cultural capital in the north, a city of ancient temples, night markets, and misty mountains. Once the heart of the Lanna Kingdom, it blends centuries of history with a thriving modern scene of cafes, art galleries, and wellness retreats.
Local currency: Thai Baht (THB, ฿).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Chiang Mai.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $6-10/night (dorm bed)
- Budget
- $15-35/night (budget guesthouse private room)
- Midrange
- $55-120/night (boutique hotel)
- Luxury
- $150-500+/night (5-star resort)
Food
- Street
- $1.30-2.50 (bowl of khao soi or pad thai at market stall)
- Local
- $3-6 (sit-down local restaurant for one person)
- Midrange
- $8-18 (mid-range restaurant, two courses)
- Fine
- $40-100+ (fine dining tasting menu)
Transport
- Bus
- $0.85 (30 THB for airport bus; $0.60 songthaew ride)
- Taxi
- $1.50-3 (tuk-tuk short ride)
- Airport
- $1.70-4.30 (30-150 THB; bus vs taxi)
- Daytrip
- $15-60 (organized day tour to Doi Inthanon or elephant sanctuary)
Activities
- Museum
- $0.85-3 (30-100 THB for most Old City cultural sites)
- Sites
- $1.70 (60 THB temple entry)
- Tour
- $10-30 (half-day guided tour)
- Excursion
- $60-100 (full-day elephant sanctuary or Doi Inthanon tour)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Chiang Mai costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$161 for 7 days (excluding flights and visa)
Midrange traveller
$434 for 7 days (excluding flights and visa)
Luxury traveller
$1,281+ for 7 days (excluding flights and visa)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Eat all meals from street stalls, market vendors, and simple local restaurants to keep food costs under $10/day
Use songthaews (red trucks) for all city transport at 20-30 THB per ride instead of taxis
Download Grab app for metered rides that are 30-50% cheaper than negotiated tuk-tuk fares
Book cooking classes and elephant sanctuary tours direct (not through hotel concierge) for 15-25% savings
Visit temples during free hours or times when no monks are present to avoid optional donations pressure
Rent a bicycle (50-100 THB/day) from Old City guesthouses for cheap independent exploration
Get a Thai SIM card at the airport for $3-10/week with unlimited data instead of paying roaming charges
Eat a big lunch at local restaurants where set meals are cheaper than dinner prices
Shop at Warorot Market for souvenirs rather than tourist markets - prices are 30-50% lower
Stay in shoulder season (October-November or March-April) for hotel prices 20-40% below peak
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Walking the Old City
Explore the ancient moat, city gates, and dozens of free temple courtyards on foot
Three Kings Monument
Visit the central plaza and the founding statues of Chiang Mai in the city heart
Warorot Market browsing
Wander the oldest local market in Chiang Mai with no entry charge
Sunday and Saturday Walking Streets
Free to browse the massive pedestrian night markets with entertainment
Nimman Street art and galleries
Stroll the Nimman area and pop into galleries that are free to enter
Monk's Trail hike to Wat Pha Lat
A free 30-minute jungle hike from Huay Kaew Road to a hidden temple
Ping River walk
Walk along Charoenrat Road for river views, street art, and free sunset scenery
Baan Kang Wat artists village
Browse free artist studios and gardens on Suthep Road
Temple photography in the Old City
Free to photograph temple grounds of Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang from outside
Night Bazaar atmosphere
Free entry to browse the Night Bazaar without purchasing
Huay Tung Tao Lake loop walk
6km scenic walk around the reservoir (weekdays free or minimal entry fee)
Sunrise at Tha Phae Gate
The eastern city gate is stunning at golden hour with no crowds before 7 AM