Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Ayutthaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie? 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: Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie?
Ayutthaya
Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.
Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in 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 dayAyutthaya $87Zhangjiajie $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Ayutthaya is $87, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $65. 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 Ayutthaya and Zhangjiajie in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAyutthaya $24Zhangjiajie $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAyutthaya $48Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Ayutthaya and Zhangjiajie
Looking for a hotel in Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie? 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: Ayutthaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ayutthaya $31Zhangjiajie $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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River Ferry Crossing$0.62
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ayutthaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ayutthaya:
- Transfer from Bangkok: $109
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $18
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Round Trip Private Transfer: $52
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $63
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Aizhai bridge area: $187
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $324
Is it cheaper to fly into Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie?
Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie and Ayutthaya 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 dayAyutthaya $40Zhangjiajie $21
Typical Food Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Lunch for 2$4.32
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Ice Cream$0.93
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Breakfast for 2$4.32
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Breakfast for 2$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ayutthaya
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ayutthaya.
- Bangkok: VELA Dinner Cruise Ticket: $27
- Eat like a local Food tour, with small group: $69
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ayutthaya $30Zhangjiajie $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Temple Entrances (2)$6.18
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Wat Entrance$1.54
Tours and Activities in Ayutthaya
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ayutthaya are as follows:
- Ayutthaya 1-day Private Tour : UNESCO World Heritage Site: $187
- Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour: $39
- Ayutthaya Full-Day Tour with Bang Pa In (Summer Palace): $60
- Ayutthaya Private Guided Day Tour, 4 Ancient Temples: $113
- Ayutthaya’s Heritage Revealed A Day Tour from Bangkok: $646
- Ancient City Temple Tour: $172
- Private 1 hour Boat tour Pa Sak River: $90
- UNESCO Heritage Temples and Cafe Day Tour: $69
- BKK: Ayutthaya Old Capital with 4 Famous Temple Private Tour: $149
- Bangkok: Ayutthaya 3 Historic Attractions Private Day Tour: $121
- Bangkok: Ayutthaya Night Tour (Join Tour): $68
- Colors of UNESCO Heritage 6 hour Bicycle Tour: $60
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
- Tianmen Mountain day tour: $92
- Join-in Tour: Day Tour to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge : $125
- Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $125
- Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $130
- 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
- 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
- Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain Glass Bridge day tour: $150
- Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Private All-inclusive Day Tour: $155
- Glass Bridge & Grand Canyon,Yellow Dragon Cave day tour: $160
- Discovery Tour to Shiyanping Tujia Village with Accomondation and Private Car : $161
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAyutthaya $20Zhangjiajie $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Ayutthaya is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Ayutthaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ayutthaya than you might in Zhangjiajie.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ayutthaya Expensive? and Is Zhangjiajie Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie has a larger population, and is about 5% larger than the population of Ayutthaya. When comparing the sizes of Ayutthaya and Zhangjiajie, 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 Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ayutthaya experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Ayutthaya as well as Zhangjiajie. Ayutthaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Ayutthaya is around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ayutthaya in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 29°C (85°F).
It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. Ayutthaya receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ayutthaya usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Zhangjiajie. Ayutthaya gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAyutthaya 29°C (84°F)Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?
Both Zhangjiajie and Ayutthaya are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ayutthaya throughout the year.
In October, Ayutthaya is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Ayutthaya average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
It's quite rainy in Ayutthaya. In October, Ayutthaya usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Ayutthaya gets 180 mm (7.1 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Ayutthaya is October to April. The rainy season in Ayutthaya is May to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAyutthaya 28°C (82°F)Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?
Both Zhangjiajie and Ayutthaya during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ayutthaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Ayutthaya is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the winter. The daily temperature in Ayutthaya averages around 25°C (78°F) in January, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).
Ayutthaya usually gets less rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Ayutthaya gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAyutthaya 25°C (78°F)Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)
Should I visit Ayutthaya or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ayutthaya and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ayutthaya year-round.
The heat can be very extreme in Ayutthaya. In the spring, Ayutthaya is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ayutthaya in April average around 31°C (88°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 17°C (63°F).
Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Ayutthaya usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Ayutthaya gets 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. October to April in Ayutthaya is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Ayutthaya.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAyutthaya 31°C (88°F)Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)
Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Ayutthaya
| Ayutthaya | Zhangjiajie | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (78°F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 30°C (85°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (88°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 151 mm (5.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (85°F) | 102 mm (4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 292 mm (11.5 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 180 mm (7.1 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) |
| Dec | 25°C (77°F) | 13 mm (0.5 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.