A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Benxi vs. Railay Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Benxi or Railay Beach?

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 Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach?

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.

Railay Beach

If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.

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


Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Benxi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Benxi is $97, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $119. 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 Railay Beach in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Benxi $48
    Railay Beach $71
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Benxi $96
    Railay Beach $142
Compare Hotels in Benxi and Railay Beach

Looking for a hotel in Benxi or Railay Beach? 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.

Hotels in Benxi


Hotels in Railay Beach


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Benxi $32
    Railay Beach $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Benxi or Railay Beach?

Prices for flights to both Railay Beach 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Benxi $31
    Railay Beach $24

Typical Food Prices in Railay Beach

Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $6.18
  • Pizza
    $5.25

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Benxi $7.50
    Railay Beach $26

Typical Entertainment Prices in Railay Beach

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Rock Climbing (for Two)
    $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Benxi $7.90
    Railay Beach $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Railay Beach

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Beer
    $1.85


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

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



When is the best time to visit Benxi or Railay Beach?

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

Should I visit Benxi or Railay Beach in the Summer?

Both Railay Beach and Benxi are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In July, Benxi is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Benxi average around 25°C (78°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

It's quite sunny in Railay Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. Benxi usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach during summer. Benxi gets 214 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. It's quite rainy in Benxi. In July, Benxi usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Benxi gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer. The rainy season in Railay Beach is August to October.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Benxi 25°C (78°F) 
    Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Benxi or Railay Beach in the Autumn?

Both Railay Beach and Benxi during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.

Benxi is much colder than Railay Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Benxi averages around 11°C (52°F) in October, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

It's quite sunny in Benxi. In the autumn, Benxi often gets more sunshine than Railay Beach. Benxi gets 216 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 181 hours of full sun.

Railay Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Benxi usually gets less rain in October than Railay Beach. Benxi gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Railay Beach. August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Benxi 11°C (52°F) 
    Railay Beach 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Benxi or Railay Beach in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Benxi and Railay Beach. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The weather in Benxi can be very cold. In the winter, Benxi is much colder than Railay Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Benxi in January average around -10°C (14°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Railay Beach this time of the year. Benxi usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during winter. Benxi gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Benxi usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Benxi gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter. December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Benxi -10°C (14°F) 
    Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Benxi or Railay Beach in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Benxi as well as Railay Beach. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.

In April, Benxi is generally much colder than Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Benxi average around 11°C (51°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Benxi this time of the year. In the spring, Benxi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach. Benxi gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 249 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Benxi usually gets less rain in April than Railay Beach. Benxi gets 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Benxi 11°C (51°F) 
    Railay Beach 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Benxi

Benxi Railay Beach
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -10°C (14°F) 9 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Feb -7°C (20°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Mar 2°C (35°F) 17 mm (0.7 in) 29°C (84°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Apr 11°C (51°F) 46 mm (1.8 in) 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
May 18°C (64°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 28°C (83°F) 318 mm (12.5 in)
Jun 22°C (72°F) 93 mm (3.7 in) 28°C (82°F) 279 mm (11 in)
Jul 25°C (78°F) 211 mm (8.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Aug 25°C (76°F) 167 mm (6.6 in) 28°C (82°F) 262 mm (10.3 in)
Sep 18°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 399 mm (15.7 in)
Oct 11°C (52°F) 51 mm (2 in) 27°C (81°F) 304 mm (12 in)
Nov 2°C (35°F) 24 mm (0.9 in) 27°C (81°F) 165 mm (6.5 in)
Dec -7°C (20°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 27°C (81°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)


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