Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Guilin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Guilin or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Guilin and Koh Tao can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Guilin or Koh Tao?
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGuilin $68Koh Tao $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Guilin is $68, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $40. 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 Guilin and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGuilin $35Koh Tao $15
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGuilin $70Koh Tao $30
Compare Hotels in Guilin and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Guilin 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Guilin $5.87Koh Tao $9.42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
-
Taxi$2.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin: $389
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhangjiajie: $389
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $197
- Guilin Airport to Yangshuo: Private Transfer for up to 15 Pax: $190
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo/Guilin to Sanjiang and stops Longji Rice Terraces: $160
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Guilin hotel: $120
- Private Transfer: Guilin Airport to Yangshuo Hotel: $115
- Live Show of Impression Liu San Jie including the Transfer Services: $102
- Guilin Private Transfer (English-speaking) Between Guilin Hotels & Yangshuo: $93
- 2-hours Yangshuo Yulong Bamboo Boat Tour with the Round-way Private Transfers: $83
- Haikou Meilan Airport Chauffeur Service, Haikou Airport Transfer, Pick up: $75
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
-
Motorbike Rental$5.63
-
Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$19
Is it cheaper to fly into Guilin or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Guilin 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 dayGuilin $23Koh Tao $10
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
-
Fresh Coconut Drink$1.41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
-
Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.93
-
Breakfast$4.45
-
Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.56
-
Fancy Dinner (for Two)$15
-
Pancake$2.07
-
American Breakfast (for Two)$8.30
-
Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$8.00
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Guilin $28Koh Tao $29
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Self-Guided Guilin Tour with 4 Star Boat, Yangshuo and Longji Terraces : $200
- Full-Day Guilin Li-River Cruise with 4 star boat and Reed Flute Cave Tour: $262
- Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour with the Ping'an and Dazhai Village: $209
- 1 Day Guilin to Yangshuo with top scenery & culture private tour : $120
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver: $219
- 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $169
- 1 Day Relaxing Li River Cruise Private Tour with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room: $251
- 1 Day Yangshuo private Day Tour with the Scooter: $105
- 1 day Guilin Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Countryside with Scooter Private Tour: $204
- 1 day Li River cruise & Yangshuo countryside private day tour : $108
- 1-DAY Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Villages Tour: $70
- 1-DAy Private Guilin -Li River Cruise-Yangshuo Highlights tour: $70
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Kayak Rental (One Hour)$7.41
-
Snorkel Rental$2.96
-
Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.96
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: $24
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $24
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $25
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $26
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $31
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $36
- Full Day Boat Tour Snorkelling Around Koh Tao : $51
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $118
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayGuilin $5.83Koh Tao $7.76
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
-
Beer$1.93
-
Bottle of Wine$11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Guilin and Koh Tao, we can see that Guilin 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 Guilin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guilin 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 Guilin Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Guilin or Koh Tao?
Guilin has a larger population, and is about 470 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Guilin 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 Guilin or Koh Tao?
Guilin 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 Guilin or Koh Tao in the Summer?
Both Koh Tao and Guilin during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
In the summer, Guilin is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Guilin in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
Koh Tao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. Guilin usually gets more rain in July than Koh Tao. Guilin gets 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyGuilin 30°C (86°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Guilin and Koh Tao. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Guilin is generally around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Guilin average around 23°C (73°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Guilin usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Guilin gets 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGuilin 23°C (73°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Koh Tao in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Guilin as well as Koh Tao. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Guilin is much colder than Koh Tao in the winter. The daily temperature in Guilin averages around 10°C (49°F) in January, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Guilin usually gets less rain in January than Koh Tao. Guilin gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGuilin 10°C (49°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Guilin or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Guilin are popular destinations to visit in the spring 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 spring, Guilin is cooler than Koh Tao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Guilin in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Guilin. In April, Guilin usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Guilin gets 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilGuilin 20°C (68°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Guilin
| Guilin | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 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.