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Chiang Mai on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Chiang Mai is one of Asia's classic budget bases. A realistic minimum is about 1,150 baht (roughly €30) per person a day: 400 baht for a bed, 350 for food, 300 for sights and 100 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | baht400 | baht1,100 | baht4,000 |
| Food & drink | baht350 | baht800 | baht2,000 |
| Sights & tickets | baht300 | baht1,200 | baht2,500 |
| Local transport | baht100 | baht300 | baht1,000 |
| Per person, per day | baht1,150 | baht3,400 | baht9,500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Chiang Mai day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walking the Old City and the courtyards of Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chiang Man.
- Monk chat at Wat Chedi Luang, talking with novice monks (temple entry fee applies).
- The Monk's Trail through the forest to Wat Pha Lat.
- The Sunday Walking Street on Ratchadamnoen Road.
- Wualai Road's Saturday market in the silversmith quarter.
- Browsing Warorot Market and Ton Lamyai's flower stalls.
Cheap eats
- Khao soi at a morning shop: roughly 50–90 baht.
- Khao kha moo (stewed pork leg on rice) at Chang Phueak Gate: a cheap night-market dinner.
- Sai ua with sticky rice at Warorot Market: about 30–60 baht.
- Khanom jeen nam ngiao for breakfast: roughly 40–60 baht.
- Kaeng hang lay with rice: about 50–80 baht.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Old City guesthouses and hostels, with private rooms from about 500–1,000 baht and dorm beds less. Nimman is a little more expensive but good for cafés.
Getting around cheaply
Walk inside the Old City and use shared red songthaews (about 30–50 baht) or Grab. The airport is only 15–20 minutes from the Old City. From Bangkok, the overnight train (about 11–13 hours) is the classic cheap option.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang (about 100 baht).
- Lunch: khao soi near Wat Fa Ham (about 70 baht).
- Afternoon: songthaew to the Monk's Trail and Wat Pha Lat (about 80 baht return).
- Evening: Sunday Walking Street snacks and a massage (about 400 baht).
- Total: about 1,150 baht including a 400-baht bed share.
More ways to save
- Eat the big meal at midday, when the best noodle and khao soi shops are open.
- Look for the yellow 'jay' flag for cheap vegetarian food.
- Choose a half-day sanctuary visit instead of a full day if budget is tight.
- Refill water bottles at stations rather than buying new ones.
- Take the overnight train from Bangkok to save a night's accommodation.
- Visit in the rainy season for lower room prices and greener countryside.
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Common questions
Can you visit Chiang Mai on a budget?
Easily. Guesthouses, market food and songthaews keep a day to about 1,150 baht.
What is the cheapest way to get from Bangkok?
The overnight train (about 11–13 hours) or a budget flight of about 1h15.
Where should budget travellers stay?
Old City guesthouses, from about 500–1,000 baht a room, within walking distance of the temples.