A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Benxi vs. Koh Pha Ngan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Benxi or Koh Pha Ngan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Benxi and Koh Pha Ngan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Benxi or Koh Pha Ngan?

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

Koh Pha Ngan

Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Benxi and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi than you might in Koh Pha Ngan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Benxi Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Benxi or Koh Pha Ngan?

Benxi has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Benxi and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Benxi or Koh Pha Ngan?

Benxi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Pha Ngan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Benxi or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Benxi and Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Benxi is generally around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Benxi average around 25°C (78°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Benxi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Benxi usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Benxi gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Benxi or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Benxi as well as Koh Pha Ngan. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.

Benxi is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Benxi averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

It's quite rainy in Koh Pha Ngan. Benxi usually gets less rain in October than Koh Pha Ngan. Benxi gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season.

Should I visit Benxi or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?

Both Koh Pha Ngan and Benxi are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The weather in Benxi can be very cold. In the winter, Benxi is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Benxi in January average around -10°C (14°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 22°C (72°F).

In January, Benxi usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Benxi gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Pha Ngan is December to March.

Should I visit Benxi or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?

Both Koh Pha Ngan and Benxi during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.

In April, Benxi is generally much colder than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Benxi average around 11°C (51°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

Benxi usually gets less rain in April than Koh Pha Ngan. Benxi gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Benxi