Which place is cheaper, Hongcun or Hat Yai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hat Yai or Hongcun?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hat Yai and Hongcun 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: Hat Yai or Hongcun?
Hat Yai
The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHat Yai $16Hongcun $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Hat Yai is $16, while the average daily cost in Hongcun is $52. 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 Hat Yai and Hongcun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHat Yai $5.11Hongcun $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHat Yai $10Hongcun $46
Compare Hotels in Hat Yai and Hongcun
Looking for a hotel in Hat Yai or Hongcun? 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: Hat Yai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hat Yai $0.63Hongcun $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hat Yai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hat Yai:
- Transfer from Hatyai Airport to Koh Lipe: $25
- private van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pabara Pier: $68
- Private Hatyai Airport Transfer to Pak Bara Pier by Van: $69
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pak Bara Pier: $73
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai City to Pak Bara Pier: $73
Is it cheaper to fly into Hat Yai or Hongcun?
Prices for flights to both Hongcun and Hat Yai 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 dayHat Yai $10Hongcun $19
Typical Food Prices in Hat Yai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hat Yai are as follows:
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Roti Snack$0.55
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.83
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.07
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hat Yai -Hongcun $17
Tours and Activities in Hat Yai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hat Yai are as follows:
- One Way Speedboat and Van Ticket Koh Lipe to Hat Yai Airport: $30
- One Way Van and Speedboat Ticket Hat Yai Airport to Koh Lipe: $30
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHat Yai $2.52Hongcun $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hat Yai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hat Yai:
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Beer$1.64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hat Yai and Hongcun, we can see that Hongcun is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Hongcun would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hongcun than you might in Hat Yai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hat Yai Expensive? and Is Hongcun Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Hat Yai or Hongcun?
Hongcun has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Hat Yai experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Hat Yai or Hongcun in the Summer?
Both Hongcun and Hat Yai are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year.
Hat Yai is around the same temperature as Hongcun in the summer. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Hongcun fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. It's quite rainy in Hat Yai. In July, Hat Yai usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Hat Yai gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHat Yai 29°C (83°F)Hongcun 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Hat Yai or Hongcun in the Autumn?
Both Hongcun and Hat Yai during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Hat Yai is a little warmer than Hongcun. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hat Yai in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Hongcun averages at about 19°C (65°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. Hat Yai usually gets more rain in October than Hongcun. Hat Yai gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year. May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHat Yai 28°C (82°F)Hongcun 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Hat Yai or Hongcun in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Hat Yai and Hongcun. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round.
Hongcun can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Hat Yai is generally much warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 28°C (82°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Hat Yai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Hat Yai usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Hat Yai gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the winter. January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHat Yai 28°C (82°F)Hongcun 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Hat Yai or Hongcun in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Hat Yai as well as Hongcun. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Hat Yai is much warmer than Hongcun in the spring. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 30°C (85°F) in April, and Hongcun fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It's quite rainy in Hongcun. Hat Yai usually gets less rain in April than Hongcun. Hat Yai gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season. May to December in Hat Yai is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHat Yai 30°C (85°F)Hongcun 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Hongcun and Hat Yai
| Hat Yai | Hongcun | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 30°C (85°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| May | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (84°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 101 mm (4 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 588 mm (23.1 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 404 mm (15.9 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.