Which place is cheaper, Zhangye or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Zhangye?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Zhangye? 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 Zhangye?
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.
Zhangye
Zhangye, China is a city in the Gansu Province in the central north part of the country, close to Mongolia. This ancient city has often been used as a military strong hold, having been the headquarters of General Huo among many others. Zhangye is a fabulous day trip city to visit when staying in larger nearby cities.
Zhangye is privy to beautiful summer weather, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the high 70's Fahrenheit. The best times to visit are between July and September, when temperatures and sunshine are at their highest. Autumn, Winter, and Spring tend to be a little chillier and rainier.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $121Zhangye $87
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $121, while the average daily cost in Zhangye is $87. 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 Zhangye in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $58Zhangye $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $116Zhangye $78
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Zhangye
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Zhangye? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $63Zhangye $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $20
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $20
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $24
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $24
- Krabi: Ao Nang To/From Phi Phi By Fast Speed Boat Transfer: $27
- Krabi ATV Extreme Experience with Transfer and Adventure: $28
- One way Private transfer from Krabi airport to Ao Nang: $33
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $35
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $45
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $45
- Ko Lanta: Speed Boat Transfer Direct to Aonang: $56
- Krabi: Private Transfer Between Ao Nang Area and Ko Lanta: $113
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangye
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zhangye:
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Hotel to Zhangye Airport (YZY): $59
- Private Airport Transfer: Zhangye Airport (YZY) to Zhangye Hotel: $59
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Zhangye?
Prices for flights to both Zhangye 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 $28Zhangye $26
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: 7-Island Sunset & Dinner - Join tour by Longtail boat: $42
- Krabi: Ya's Cookery Late Afternoon Thai Cooking Class: $43
- Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $45
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $52
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $56
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $142
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $12Zhangye $11
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: $18
- Krabi ATV adventure drive 30mins: $24
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $25
- Ao Nang Kayak Adventure: Explore the Stunning Flooded Forest: $27
- Krabi 4 Island One Day Tour by Speed boat or Longtail boat: $27
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $30
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $30
- Krabi: ATV adventure and extreme: $30
- Krabi: Saitai Mountain Tail ATV Adventure: $30
- Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $35
- Krabi: Tiger Cave, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour: $36
- ATV adventure and achery (1้hour ): $36
Tours and Activities in Zhangye
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zhangye are as follows:
- Private day tour to Zhangye Danxia Landform the Rainbow Mountain: $150
- Private Day Tour: Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes and Zhangye Danxia Landform: $299
- Private Hiking Tour: Binggou Danxia and Zhangye Danxia Geopark from Zhangye: $299
- Private Hiking Tour: Pingshanhu Grand Canyon and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes: $235
- Private day tour to Zhangye Mati temple & Giant Buddha Temple start from Zhangye: $155
- Zhangye Danxia Half Day tour: $195
- Zhangye One Day City Tour: $77
- Zhangye Rainbow Danxia Private Day Tour: $214
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $17Zhangye $7.09
Sample the Local Flavors in Ao Nang
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ao Nang:
- Guided Bar Crawl with Shots and a T-Shirt: $20
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Zhangye, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Zhangye much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangye would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangye 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 Zhangye.
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 Zhangye Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Zhangye?
Zhangye has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Zhangye, 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.