A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hongcun vs. Pyeongchang for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hongcun or Pyeongchang?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Hongcun and Pyeongchang 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: Hongcun or Pyeongchang?

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.

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, The Best Adventure Tours to China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hongcun and Pyeongchang, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang than you might in Hongcun.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hongcun Expensive? and Is Pyeongchang Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Hongcun or Pyeongchang?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Hongcun or Pyeongchang in the Summer?

Both Pyeongchang and Hongcun during the summer are popular places to visit.

In the summer, Hongcun is a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hongcun in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 24°C (76°F).

Pyeongchang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. Hongcun usually gets less rain in July than Pyeongchang. Hongcun gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hongcun or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hongcun and Pyeongchang.

In October, Hongcun is generally a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Hongcun average around 19°C (65°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Hongcun usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Hongcun gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Hongcun or Pyeongchang in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hongcun as well as Pyeongchang.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Pyeongchang. It's quite cold in Hongcun in the winter. Hongcun is much warmer than Pyeongchang in the winter. The daily temperature in Hongcun averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

Hongcun usually gets less rain in January than Pyeongchang. Hongcun gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hongcun or Pyeongchang in the Spring?

Both Pyeongchang and Hongcun are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Hongcun is a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hongcun in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 12°C (54°F).

It's quite rainy in Hongcun. In April, Hongcun usually receives more rain than Pyeongchang. Hongcun gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Hongcun