Make it a trip · Chiang Mai, Thailand
What Chiang Mai costs
once you land
Real prices, from the airport ride to a room for the night, each with where we found it. Checked October 2026, around Old City and Nimman.
Prices as the source quoted them.
Half a villa or 4-star room, two meals out, a coffee, two beers and the signature experience.
Arriving
-
Grab from the airport to the Old City, from Range
Usually 150 to 200 THB. About 15 minutes. The shared red songthaew from the official stand costs 200 baht.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
-
Visa free for 30 days Fixed
For AU, NZ, GB, US, CA, IE, NL, DE, FR, SG passports.
Cut from 60 to 30 days on 15 September 2026. A 300 baht tourist fee has been announced but was not being charged at the time of writing.
Sources: TAT Newsroom (2026-09), Wego, Thailand tourist entry fee (2026)
Free
Getting around
-
Scooter hire, per day, from Range
Usually 150 to 300 THB. A Honda Click 125. Cheaper by the week. Bring a motorcycle licence and international permit.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿150 Rent a scooter
Eating and drinking
-
Street food plate, from Range
Usually 30 to 80 THB. Pad thai or rice dishes at markets.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿30 -
Sit-down dinner for two in Nimman, from Range
Usually 500 to 1,000 THB. Pad thai or green curry at a Western-style restaurant, 250 to 500 baht a head.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿500 -
Coffee at a local café, from Range
Usually 50 to 90 THB. Nimman specialty cafés charge 80 to 150 baht.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿50 -
Singha at a market or local bar, from Range
Usually 60 to 80 THB. Nimman bars charge 150 to 220 baht.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿60
At the supermarket
-
Khao soi, from Range
Usually 50 to 80 THB. Chiang Mai’s curry noodle soup, at a local shop like Khao Soi Khun Yai.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿50
Doing
-
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Fixed
Entry. The cable car up costs 50 baht, or climb the 306 steps free. A Grab there and back costs 350 to 500.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿30 Get tickets -
Thai cooking class, full day with market, from Range
Usually 1,000 to 1,200 THB. Evening classes cost 300 to 500 baht.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿1,000 Get tickets -
Ethical elephant sanctuary, half day, from Range
Usually 1,800 to 2,500 THB. Pick a sanctuary with no riding.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿1,800 Book the tour
Sleeping, per night
-
Hostel dorm bed, Old City, from Range
Usually 200 to 400 THB.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿200 Find a hostel -
Guesthouse private room, from Range
Usually 400 to 800 THB.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿400 Find a guesthouse -
Boutique hotel, from Range
Usually 1,500 to 3,500 THB.
Source: Byklo, Chiang Mai budget travel guide (2026-05)
฿1,500 Find a hotel
Prices change. Fixed fees come from official or widely reported figures; ranges are what travellers and operators report for 2026. Some links are affiliate links: they never change what you pay. How we make money.
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