Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Chongqing?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chongqing or Koh Tao?
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 Chongqing and Koh Tao. 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: Chongqing or Koh Tao?
Chongqing
Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.
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 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) 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 dayChongqing $88Koh Tao $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Chongqing is $88, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $42. 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 Chongqing and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChongqing $50Koh Tao $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChongqing $100Koh Tao $32
Compare Hotels in Chongqing and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Chongqing 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.Chongqing $19Koh Tao $9.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
- Dazu Rock Carvings Private Transfer or Tour: $278
- Chongqing Private Round Trip Transfer to Wulong National Park: $168
- Chongqing Private Round Trip Transfer to Dazu Rock Carvings: $128
- Transfer betwn hotel airport and railway station (Chongqing): $116
- Chongqing Jiangbei Airport Chauffeur Service, Chongqing Airport Transfer, Pickup: $60
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $40
- Private Departure Transfer:Hotel to Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport CKG: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport(CKG) to Hotel: $39
- Private Transfer from Chongqing hotel to Chongqing Train Station : $27
- Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (CKG) private round-trip transfer: $25
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Any Railway Station in Chongqing: $24
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Chongqing Railway Station to Hotel: $24
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$5.87
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$20
Is it cheaper to fly into Chongqing or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Chongqing 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 dayChongqing $25Koh Tao $10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.
- Chongqing Local Flavors Walking Food Tour: $98
- 4 Hour Walking Historical Local Food Tour: $111
- CHONGQING:Strolling through the city(Include dinner): $127
- Chongqing City Private Night Tour with Hot Pot Dinner: $158
- Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner: $183
- Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner: $193
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)$6.18
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Breakfast$4.63
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.71
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$15
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Pancake$2.16
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American Breakfast (for Two)$8.65
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$8.34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chongqing $14Koh Tao $30
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Dazu Rock Carvings Private Day Tour With the baoding Mountain and Beishan site: $251
- 1 Day Chongqing Megacity Walking Tour: $75
- 1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch: $143
- 3-Hour Walking Tour of Chongqing Shancheng (Mountain City) Lane: $65
- 4D3N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Chongqing to Yichang: $638
- 5D4N Yangtze River Victoria Cruise: Yichang to Chongqing: $638
- All-In-One Chongqing Trendy Spots Private Tour: $220
- All-in-one Chongqing Night view private tour: $150
- City Night Cruise and Local Snacks Tour: $218
- Chongqing Dazu stone carving day tour: $193
- Chongqing Half day Private Tour With Entire City Night View: $220
- Chongqing Private City Tour Extention: $220
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)$7.72
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Snorkel Rental$3.09
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$3.09
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: $25
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $25
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $26
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $27
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $33
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $37
- Coco Tip Adventures: $54
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChongqing $7.05Koh Tao $8.09
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$2.01
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Bottle of Wine$11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chongqing and Koh Tao, we can see that Chongqing 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 Chongqing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chongqing 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 Chongqing Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chongqing or Koh Tao?
Chongqing has a larger population, and is about 2870 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Chongqing 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.
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.