Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai: which is sunnier?
🇹🇭 Thailand vs 🇹🇭 Thailand · 163 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Chiang Rai is the sunnier overall: about 2,393 hours of sunshine a year to Chiang Mai's 2,275. Chiang Rai has the higher Sunshine Score in 3 of 12 months; the other 9 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,275 | 2,393 |
| Sunniest month | February (91/100) | February (92/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 89/100 | 90/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 65/100 | 66/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,246 mm | 1,328 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 9 (very high) | 9 (very high) |
Chiang Mai vs Chiang Rai month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | |
| January | 89 | 89 | 28° | 27° | 15 | 19 |
| February | 91 | 92 | 32° | 30° | 5 | 5 |
| March | 62 | 70 | 35° | 34° | 23 | 26 |
| April | 40 | 48 | 37° | 36° | 63 | 72 |
| May | 52 | 52 | 34° | 34° | 189 | 178 |
| June | 66 | 67 | 32° | 32° | 141 | 141 |
| July | 65 | 65 | 31° | 31° | 178 | 245 |
| August | 65 | 65 | 30° | 30° | 237 | 284 |
| September | 65 | 65 | 30° | 31° | 222 | 210 |
| October | 70 | 75 | 29° | 30° | 123 | 99 |
| November | 85 | 87 | 28° | 28° | 37 | 34 |
| December | 90 | 90 | 27° | 26° | 13 | 15 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar Chiang Rai · Apr Chiang Rai · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct Chiang Rai · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Chiang Mai averages 89/100, Chiang Rai 90/100. Daytime highs are similar (29°C vs 28°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Chiang Rai (average score 57/100 vs 51). Daytime highs are similar (35°C vs 35°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Chiang Mai averages 65/100, Chiang Rai 66/100. Daytime highs are similar (31°C vs 31°C).
- September–October: too close to call — Chiang Mai averages 68/100, Chiang Rai 70/100. Daytime highs are similar (30°C vs 31°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Chiang Mai weather by month · Chiang Rai weather by month · Best time to visit Thailand.
More comparisons: Chiang Mai vs Yangon · Chiang Mai vs Phitsanulok · Chiang Rai vs Yangon · Chiang Rai vs Jinghong (Gasa) · Chiang Rai vs Phitsanulok · all head-to-heads