Which place is cheaper, Guangzhou or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Guangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Guangzhou? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Ao Nang or Guangzhou?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
Guangzhou
With a population of more than 12 million, Guangzhou is the third largest city in China after Beijing and Shanghai. Though it has a long history, founded in 214 BC, the city has also many modern attractions, a mix of the old and new with temples and parks as well as skyscrapers and shopping centers. Its location on the Pearl River has contributed to this growth, making Guangzhou a major port and commercial hub.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, and The Best 2-Week Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $107Guangzhou $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $107, while the average daily cost in Guangzhou is $89. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Ao Nang and Guangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $52Guangzhou $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $104Guangzhou $114
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Guangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Guangzhou? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $56Guangzhou $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $22
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $23
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $31
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $41
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $41
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $18
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $18
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Krabi to Phuket: $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guangzhou:
- Zhuhai City Private Arrival Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Int'l Airport : $108
- Private Transfer: Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Nan Railway Station: $38
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou South Railway Station to Baiyun Airport : $53
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Int Airport (CAN) to Shekou Port: $68
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou City Center to South Railway Station: $49
- Private Transfer from Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Guangzhou Hotel: $88
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou and Shenzhen City Area: $104
- Private Transfer between Guangzhou Baiyun Mountain and City Area: $44
- Private Guided Guangzhou Pearl River Cruise Tour With Hotel Transfer: $109
- Private Baiyun Airport Transfer to Guangzhou Railway or East Railway Station: $49
- Private Arrival Transfer in English-speaking: Airport to Hotel: $99
- Pearl River Night Cruise with Private Transfers in Guangzhou: $129
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Guangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Guangzhou and Ao Nang change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAo Nang $24Guangzhou $19
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Krabi: Ya's Cookery Late Afternoon Thai Cooking Class: $39
- Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $40
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $46
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $50
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $127
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guangzhou.
- Guangzhou Evening Food Tour Through Local Neighborhood: $65
- Guangzhou Night View Cruise Tour with Dinner: $90
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour VIP Cruise and Dim-Sum Dinner Option: $146
- 3-Hour Guangzhou Private Cooking Class with Local Market Visit : $165
- Private Guangzhou Night Tour with Canton Tower and Dim-Sum Dinner: $176
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Michelin Restaurant&Local Food Market: $180
- Private Guangzhou Food Tour Yumcha and Local Food Market Explore: $180
- Guangzhou Private Night Tour: Lychee Bay, Beijing Road, Cruise, Dinner: $204
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $11Guangzhou $18
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Krabi: South Kayak Klong Root Kayaking Tour: $16
- Krabi ATV adventure drive 30mins: $22
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $22
- Krabi 4 Island One Day Tour by Speed boat or Longtail boat: $24
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $27
- Krabi: Bioluminescent Plankton, Snorkeling & Sunset Tour: $27
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $27
- Krabi: ATV adventure and extreme: $31
- Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $32
- From Hong Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $32
- Krabi: Tiger Cave, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour: $35
- Krabi: Railay Beach Bioluminescent Plankton Ferry Cruise: $35
Tours and Activities in Guangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Guangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Guangzhou Self-Guided Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $75
- Liuxihe National Forest Park Private Day Tour from Guangzhou: $266
- Private Tour of Foshan: The Ancestral Temple and Other Options from Guangzhou : $167
- 1 Day Historical Guangzhou Layover Tour from Airport: $260
- 4 Hours Half Day Guangzhou Airport Layover Visa-Free Private Tour: $180
- 4-Hour Baiyun Mountain Yuntai Garden Private Guangzhou City Tour: $180
- 5-Hour Sai Kwan Walking Tour with Unique Food Tasting: $72
- AAAAA Top National Natural Preserve Dinghu Mountain Private Tour: $300
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Lotus Hill and Shawan Old Town from Guangzhou: $229
- Ancient Foshan Day Tour from Guangzhou: $201
- Best of Guangzhou City Sightseeing: $110
- Big Buddha Mountain Martial Art Culture Countryside Private Tour: $220
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $15Guangzhou $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Guangzhou, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Guangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Guangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Guangzhou and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Guangzhou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Guangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a larger population, and is about 390 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Guangzhou, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Ao Nang or Guangzhou?
Guangzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ao Nang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ao Nang or Guangzhou in the Summer?
Both Guangzhou and Ao Nang during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Guangzhou. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ao Nang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Guangzhou averages at about 29°C (84°F).
In Guangzhou, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. In the summer, Ao Nang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Guangzhou. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Guangzhou receives 220 hours of full sun.
Guangzhou gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in July than Guangzhou. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 228 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Guangzhou 29°C (84°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Guangzhou in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Guangzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round.
In October, Ao Nang is generally a little warmer than Guangzhou. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 27°C (81°F), and Guangzhou fluctuates around 25°C (76°F).
Ao Nang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Guangzhou during autumn. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Guangzhou receives 192 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Guangzhou. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAo Nang 27°C (81°F)Guangzhou 25°C (76°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Guangzhou in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Guangzhou. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Ao Nang is much warmer than Guangzhou in the winter. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Guangzhou fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Ao Nang this time of the year. In the winter, Ao Nang often gets more sunshine than Guangzhou. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Guangzhou receives 133 hours of full sun.
Ao Nang usually gets less rain in January than Guangzhou. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Guangzhou 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Guangzhou in the Spring?
Both Guangzhou and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year.
In the spring, Ao Nang is a little warmer than Guangzhou. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ao Nang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Guangzhou averages at about 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Guangzhou during spring. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Guangzhou receives 78 hours of full sun in the spring.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guangzhou. It's quite rainy in Ao Nang. In April, Ao Nang usually receives less rain than Guangzhou. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Guangzhou receives 182 mm (7.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAo Nang 29°C (84°F)Guangzhou 22°C (72°F)
Typical Weather for Guangzhou and Ao Nang
| Ao Nang | Guangzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 85 mm (3.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 182 mm (7.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 258 mm (10.1 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 228 mm (9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 221 mm (8.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 172 mm (6.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.