Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Chengdu?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chengdu or Railay Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chengdu and Railay Beach. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Chengdu or Railay Beach?
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
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 Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChengdu $51Railay Beach $115
The average daily cost (per person) in Chengdu is $51, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $115. 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 Chengdu and Railay Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChengdu $21Railay Beach $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChengdu $42Railay Beach $138
Compare Hotels in Chengdu and Railay Beach
Looking for a hotel in Chengdu 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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chengdu $6.05Railay Beach $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- Chengdu to Chengdu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $22
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Arrival Private Transfer: $22
- [Airport Transfer] Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Kosheng City Transfer High reputation for service! : $22
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chengdu International Airport (CTU) to Hotel: $23
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu International Airport (CTU): $23
- Private Transfer from Chengdu hotel to Chengdu Train Station: $27
- Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chengdu : $28
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chengdu Railway Station to City Hotel: $28
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chengdu Airport (CTU or TFU): $34
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $40
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $43
- Arrival Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu City by Sedan: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Chengdu or Railay Beach?
Prices for flights to both Railay Beach and Chengdu 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 dayChengdu $22Railay Beach $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half-Day Chengdu Farm Cooking Class & Spice Market Exploration: $75
- Chengdu Evening Food Tour: $76
- Tuk Tuk Food Tour with Unlimited Beer and Soda: $79
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
- Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience: $81
- Hot Pot Dinner Sichuan Opera and Local tea tasting: $88
- Half-Day Dandan Noodles Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $100
- Street Gems Guided Food Tour with Beer and Tastings: $106
- Chengdu evening food tour by local guide: $117
Typical Food Prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.93
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Pizza$5.04
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chengdu $16Railay Beach $25
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Agent ticket booking service: Online ticket booking in China: $10
- Sichuan Opera night show Jinjiang theater tickets: $13
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Half Day Tour(Private): $16
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $18
- Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan One-Day Private Tour: $18
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $18
- Panda Breeding Base Private Tour or Tickets Only: $19
- Giant Panda Base tickets booking option tours: $19
- Panda Breeding Base Tickets Booking: $22
- Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding e-Ticket: $22
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Rock Climbing (for Two)$21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChengdu $4.01Railay Beach $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Beer$1.78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chengdu and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach is more expensive. And not only is Chengdu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chengdu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chengdu 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 Chengdu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chengdu Expensive? and Is Railay Beach Expensive?.
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.