Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Benxi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Benxi or Koh Tao?
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 Tao 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 Tao?
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 Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBenxi $94Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Benxi is $94, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Benxi and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBenxi $47Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBenxi $94Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Benxi and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Benxi or Koh Tao? 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: Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Benxi $31Koh Tao $8.67
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Benxi or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Benxi 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 dayBenxi $30Koh Tao $9.21
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Benxi $7.29Koh Tao $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBenxi $7.69Koh Tao $7.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Benxi and Koh Tao, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Tao.
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 Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Benxi or Koh Tao?
Benxi has a larger population, and is about 710 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Benxi and Koh Tao, 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 Tao?
Benxi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Tao experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Benxi or Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Benxi as well as Koh Tao. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Benxi is around the same temperature as Koh Tao in the summer. The daily temperature in Benxi averages around 25°C (78°F) in July, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Benxi this time of the year. In the summer, Benxi often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Benxi gets 214 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Benxi receives a lot of rain in the summer. Benxi usually gets more rain in July than Koh Tao. Benxi gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBenxi 25°C (78°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Benxi or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
Both Koh Tao and Benxi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Benxi is much colder than Koh Tao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Benxi in October average around 11°C (52°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. Benxi usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during autumn. Benxi gets 216 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. In October, Benxi usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Benxi gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The rainy season in Koh Tao is October and November.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBenxi 11°C (52°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Benxi or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao and Benxi during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
It's quite cold in Benxi in the winter. In January, Benxi is generally much colder than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Benxi average around -10°C (14°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Benxi often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Benxi gets 167 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun.
Benxi usually gets less rain in January than Koh Tao. Benxi gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year. February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBenxi -10°C (14°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Benxi or Koh Tao in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Benxi and Koh Tao. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Benxi is much colder than Koh Tao in the spring. The daily temperature in Benxi averages around 11°C (51°F) in April, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Tao this time of the year. In Benxi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Benxi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao during spring. Benxi gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Benxi usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Benxi gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBenxi 11°C (51°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Benxi
| Benxi | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -10°C (14°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | -7°C (20°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 2°C (35°F) | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 11°C (51°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (78°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (76°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 18°C (65°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 11°C (52°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 2°C (35°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | -7°C (20°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.