Comparison · Bangkok vs Chiang Mai · Thailand
Bangkok vs Chiang Mai
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Bangkok for Grand Palace and Street food; choose Chiang Mai for Doi Suthep, Old city temples, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Chiang Mai is generally less expensive, and the two are about 582 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 582 km
- Less expensive
- Chiang Mai
- Best time for Bangkok
- November–February
- Best time for Chiang Mai
- November–February
Side by side
| Bangkok | Chiang Mai | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Thailand | Thailand |
| Known for | Grand Palace, Street food and Buddhist temples | Doi Suthep, Old city temples and Khao soi |
| Best time to visit | November–February | November–February |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$180 | $60–$140 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 35°C (95°F) | April, 36°C (97°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 31°C (88°F) | December, 28°C (82°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | BKK, DMK | CNX |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bangkok for…
Grand Palace and Street food. Bangkok is a sprawling, humid megacity on the Chao Phraya River where gilded temples, canals and street-food stalls sit beside glass malls and rooftop bars. The old royal island of Rattanakosin holds the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, with Wat Arun across the…
Choose Chiang Mai for…
Doi Suthep, Old city temples, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Founded in 1296 as the capital of the Lanna kingdom, Chiang Mai keeps a square old city ringed by a moat and fragments of brick wall, with dozens of temples inside. Beyond the moat are the café district of Nimmanhaemin, the Ping River and the forested slopes…
Top sights compared
| # | Bangkok | Chiang Mai |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew | Wat Phra That Doi Suthep |
| 2 | Wat Pho | Wat Phra Singh |
| 3 | Wat Arun | Wat Chedi Luang |
| 4 | Chatuchak Weekend Market | Wat Chiang Man |
| 5 | Chao Phraya Express Boat | Tha Phae Gate and the old city walls |
Food compared
| Bangkok | Chiang Mai |
|---|---|
| Pad thai | Khao soi |
| Tom yum goong | Sai ua |
| Som tam | Nam prik noom |
| Khao man gai | Gaeng hang lay |
Which is cheaper?
Chiang Mai is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $60–$140 per person there, against $90–$180 in Bangkok (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Chiang Mai on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bangkok and Chiang Mai are about 582 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Bangkok and 5 in Chiang Mai.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bangkok or Chiang Mai cheaper?
Chiang Mai is usually less expensive: about $60–$140 a day mid-range against $90–$180 (estimates).
+Is Bangkok or Chiang Mai better for a first trip?
Pick Bangkok for Grand Palace and Street food, or Chiang Mai for Doi Suthep, Old city temples, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Bangkok from Chiang Mai?
About 582 km in a straight line.