Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Kunming?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Kunming? 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 Kunming?
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.
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Ao Nang Prices
Thailand PricesKunming Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $131Kunming $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $131, while the average daily cost in Kunming 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 Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $50Kunming $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $100Kunming $70
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Kunming? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Ao Nang Hotel Prices and Kunming Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $62Kunming $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Phuket - Krabi, Aonang: $150
- From Krabi: Private Taxi Transfer to Phuket: $120
- Krabi: Private Transfer Between Ao Nang Area and Ko Lanta: $107
- From Ao Nang (Krabi): Private To Phuket (Phuket) Transfer: $86
- Krabi: 4 Islands Speed Catamaran Tour with Lunch/Transfers: $75
- Krabi : Muay Thai Live Fight Experience with Transfer: $55
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $46
- Ferry Transfer from Aonang To Phuket (Rassada Pier): $39
- Krabi ATV Jungle Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $37
- Railay : Ferry Transfer from Railay to Ko Lanta: $34
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $34
- Krabi: 4-Island Deluxe Speedboat Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $31
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! : $36
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $88
- Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming 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 $47Kunming $41
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: Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Local Chef: $37
- Authentic Thai Local Cooking Class: $38
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class Krabi Province: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Dinner & Snorkeling: $40
- Krabi: 7 Islands Sunset Tour by Longtail Boat & BBQ Dinner: $43
- Krabi: Hong Island Cruise with Thai Buffet Dinner: $45
- From Ao Nang Hong Island Longtail Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $49
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $51
- Krabi: Romantic Beachfront Sunset Dinner: $64
- Krabi: Ao Thalane Sunset Kayaking & BBQ Dinner: $110
- Local Krabi: Cooking Demo, Market Walk, Bamboo Raft & Fruit: $133
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Discovery more Kunming evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $12Kunming $19
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV adventure (30 min) and Archery (30 min): $39
- ATV adventure 1hour drive: $45
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $33
- ATV adventure and shooting range: $79
- Ao Nang Kayak Adventure: Explore the Stunning Flooded Forest: $27
- Ao Nang Night Tour – Swim with bioluminescent plankton: $28
- 4 Island Awesomeness Adventure: $48
- ATV Ride and Natural Swimming Experience: $54
- Crystal Pool Kayaking, ATV, and Pineapple Farm Tour: $74
- Hong Islands Full day Tour with Lunch and 360 view: $38
- Horse Riding Tour and kayaking clongrood: $75
- Hot Springs, Emerald Pool, and Tiger Cave Day Tour: $43
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $290
- 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
- 1-Day Kunming tour with the Green Lake,Bird & Flower market and Yuantong Temple: $201
- 1-Day Private Tour:Stone Forest and Western Hill(Dragon Gate) from Kunming: $245
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- 1-Day Stone Forest Geological Park Private Tour with the Lunch from Kunming: $201
- 2 Days Honghe Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Private Tour: $198
- All inclusive Dongchuan red earth tour start from Kunming: $150
- Dongchuan Red Land Private Tour: $87
- Dynamic Yunnan Cultural Show Ticket in Kunming: $32
- Essences of Kunming Downtown Day Tour: $189
- From 15-Day Private Tour to Guilin and Yangshuo: $3,149
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $17Kunming $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Ao Nang
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ao Nang:
- K-Bunk Pub Crawl - The Best Bars in Ao Nang in One Night!: $1.20
- Krabi: Summer Club Pub Crawl with Fire Show: $15
- Krabi Pub Crawl - Join Nomads For The Best Night in Ao Nang!: $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Kunming, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Kunming much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kunming would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kunming 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 Kunming.
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 Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Kunming, 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.
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.