A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hat Yai vs. Zhangjiajie for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hat Yai or Zhangjiajie?

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 Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie?

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.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Hat Yai?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Hat Yai is $16, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $63. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hat Yai $5.11
    Zhangjiajie $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hat Yai $10
    Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Hat Yai and Zhangjiajie

Looking for a hotel in Hat Yai or Zhangjiajie? 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 Hat Yai


Hotels in Zhangjiajie


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hat Yai $0.63
    Zhangjiajie $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hat Yai

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hat Yai:

  • Private Van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pak Bara Pier: $73
  • Private Van transfer from Hatyai City to Pak Bara Pier: $73
  • Private Hatyai Airport Transfer to Pak Bara Pier by Van: $69
  • private van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pabara Pier: $68
  • Transfer from Hatyai Airport to Koh Lipe: $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie

Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187

Is it cheaper to fly into Hat Yai or Zhangjiajie?

Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Hat Yai $10
    Zhangjiajie $20
Typical Food Prices in Hat Yai

Some typical examples of dining costs in Hat Yai are as follows:


  • Roti Snack
    $0.55

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie

For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hat Yai -
    Zhangjiajie $23

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

Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.

  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon and Glass Bridge Ticket: $57
  • Tianmen Mountain day tour: $96
  • Full-Day Private Tour of Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) National Forest Park: $115
  • Full-Day Private Tour of Tianmen Mountain: $122
  • 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
  • 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge and Baofeng Lake Private Day Tour: $147
  • Zhangjiajie Avatar Mountain Glass Bridge day tour: $150
  • 1 Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain and Glass Skywalk Tour: $154
  • Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Private All-inclusive Day Tour: $155
  • Glass Bridge,Zhangjiajie park Avatar Mountain day tour: $160

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hat Yai $2.52
    Zhangjiajie $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hat Yai

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hat Yai:


  • Beer
    $1.64


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hat Yai and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hat Yai or Zhangjiajie?

Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Hat Yai and Zhangjiajie, 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 Hat Yai or Zhangjiajie?

Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Hat Yai as well as Zhangjiajie. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Hat Yai is generally around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 29°C (83°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. Hat Yai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Hat Yai usually gets less rain in July than Zhangjiajie. Hat Yai gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Hat Yai 29°C (83°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)

Should I visit Hat Yai or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?

Both Zhangjiajie and Hat Yai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year.

Hat Yai is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

It's quite rainy in Hat Yai. In October, Hat Yai usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Hat Yai gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The rainy season in Hat Yai is May to December.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Hat Yai 28°C (82°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)

Should I visit Hat Yai or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?

Both Zhangjiajie and Hat Yai during the winter 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 winter, Hat Yai is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hat Yai in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 5°C (42°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. Hat Yai usually gets more rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Hat Yai gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year. January to April is the dry season in Hat Yai.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Hat Yai 28°C (82°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)

Should I visit Hat Yai or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hat Yai and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round.

In April, Hat Yai is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 30°C (85°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Hat Yai usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Hat Yai gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season. Also, May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Hat Yai 30°C (85°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)

Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Hat Yai

Hat Yai Zhangjiajie
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 5°C (42°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 28°C (83°F) 26 mm (1 in) 6°C (44°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 29°C (85°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 11°C (52°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Apr 30°C (85°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 17°C (63°F) 166 mm (6.5 in)
May 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 22°C (72°F) 179 mm (7 in)
Jun 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in) 26°C (78°F) 199 mm (7.8 in)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 101 mm (4 in) 29°C (85°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 29°C (83°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 24°C (75°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 284 mm (11.2 in) 19°C (65°F) 90 mm (3.6 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 588 mm (23.1 in) 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.7 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 404 mm (15.9 in) 7°C (45°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)