Which place is cheaper, Qingdao or Khao Lak?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Khao Lak or Qingdao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Khao Lak and Qingdao 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: Khao Lak or Qingdao?
Khao Lak
Resiliency and relaxation. Those are the two words used to describe one of Thailand's most breathtaking cities. Khao Lak is located in southern Thailand, and when the tsunami of 2004 hit, this area saw the most damage. With more than 4,000 fatalities, 3,000 still unaccounted for and enormous structural damages, many thought Khao Lak would not be able to bounce back. They have proved everyone wrong with a strong and impressive recovery. Now it has returned to its status of vacation hotspot. Unlike neighboring Phuket, though, the resorts in Khao Lak are designed for families and some peace and quiet.
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKhao Lak $112Qingdao $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Khao Lak is $112, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $58. 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 Khao Lak and Qingdao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKhao Lak $51Qingdao $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKhao Lak $102Qingdao $52
Compare Hotels in Khao Lak and Qingdao
Looking for a hotel in Khao Lak or Qingdao? 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: Khao Lak Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Khao Lak $52Qingdao $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
- Similan Island Snorkeling Adventure -Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $119
- Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak: $44
- Private Transfer from Khao Lak to Phuket (HKT) Airport: $100
- Phuket: Private One-Way Transfer to/from Khao Lak by Car: $30
- Krabi Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khaolak: $111
- Khao Lak/Bang Sak: 1-Way Private Transfer to Phuket Airport: $41
- Khao Lak To Khao Sok Private Minivan & Car Transfer: $56
- From Carnival Magic Phuket Ticket with Transfer: $106
- 30-Minutes Guided Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $42
- 2-Hour Guided Eco-Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Khao Lak or Qingdao?
Prices for flights to both Qingdao and Khao Lak 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 dayKhao Lak $31Qingdao $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak with Market Tour by Pakinnaka School: $56
- Riverside Thai Cooking Half Day Class: $57
- Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour.: $59
- Thai Cooking Class in a Garden with Transfer: $59
- Thai Cooking Class in Khaolak: $61
- 3 hours Khao Lak Cooking Class and Market Visit: $68
- Half-Day Cooking Class and Ingredient Hunt: $68
- 3-Hour Khaolak Cooking Class with Food Market Visit: $69
- Khao Sok Local Life Adventure & Traditional Cooking Class: $89
- Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary, Cooking Class and Waterfall Tour: $97
- ATV Quad Bike Excursion to Stunning Waterfalls with Dinner: $97
- Thai Food Cooking Class & ATV Adventure Tour: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Khao Lak $19Qingdao $20
Tours and Activities in Khao Lak
Here are a few actual costs in Khao Lak for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours-Early Bird Guide Tour in Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary: $68
- 30 Minutes Khaolak ATV Quadbike & Waterfall Adventure: $53
- 30-Minutes ATV Quads and Waterfall Experience in Khaolak : $55
- 4 hours Tour with Khaolak ATV Quad Bike and Rescued Elephant: $97
- Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park: $140
- Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park: $140
- Bamboo Rafting and Sea Turtle Conservation Center Half Day Tour From Khao Lak: $37
- Cheow Lan Lake: 2-Day Guided Tour with Meals and Activities: $176
- Day Tour with Sea Canoeing at Hong Island from Khao Lak: $81
- Early Bird Phi Phi Islands Adventure From Khao Lak: $112
- Eco Grand Canyon with Hot Springs and Elephant Retreat Tour: $97
- From Khao Lak Or Khok Kloi : Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip with Lunch: $103
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKhao Lak $13Qingdao $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Khao Lak and Qingdao, we can see that Khao Lak is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Qingdao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Qingdao 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 Khao Lak would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Lak than you might in Qingdao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Khao Lak Expensive? and Is Qingdao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Khao Lak or Qingdao?
Qingdao has a larger population, and is about 970 times larger than the population of Khao Lak. When comparing the sizes of Khao Lak and Qingdao, 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 Khao Lak or Qingdao?
Qingdao has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Khao Lak experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Khao Lak or Qingdao in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Khao Lak as well as Qingdao. Khao Lak attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Khao Lak is generally a little warmer than Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Khao Lak average around 28°C (82°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Lak this time of the year. In the summer, Khao Lak often gets more sunshine than Qingdao. Khao Lak gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 183 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Qingdao. Khao Lak receives a lot of rain in the summer. Khao Lak usually gets more rain in July than Qingdao. Khao Lak gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKhao Lak 28°C (82°F)Qingdao 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Khao Lak or Qingdao in the Autumn?
Both Qingdao and Khao Lak are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Lak throughout the year.
Khao Lak is much warmer than Qingdao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Khao Lak averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Qingdao fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It's quite sunny in Qingdao. Khao Lak usually receives less sunshine than Qingdao during autumn. Khao Lak gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 220 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It's quite rainy in Khao Lak. In October, Khao Lak usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Khao Lak gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Khao Lak is November to April. The rainy season in Khao Lak is May to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKhao Lak 27°C (81°F)Qingdao 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Khao Lak or Qingdao in the Winter?
Both Qingdao and Khao Lak during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Lak because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Qingdao. In the winter, Khao Lak is much warmer than Qingdao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Khao Lak in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Qingdao averages at about -0°C (32°F).
It's quite sunny in Khao Lak. In the winter, Khao Lak often gets more sunshine than Qingdao. Khao Lak gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Qingdao receives 185 hours of full sun.
Khao Lak usually gets more rain in January than Qingdao. Khao Lak gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKhao Lak 27°C (80°F)Qingdao -0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Khao Lak or Qingdao in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Khao Lak and Qingdao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Lak year-round.
In April, Khao Lak is generally much warmer than Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Khao Lak average around 29°C (83°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Qingdao this time of the year. In Khao Lak, it's very sunny this time of the year. Khao Lak usually receives more sunshine than Qingdao during spring. Khao Lak gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Qingdao receives 224 hours of full sun in the spring.
Khao Lak gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Khao Lak usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Khao Lak gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. November to April in Khao Lak is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Khao Lak.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKhao Lak 29°C (83°F)Qingdao 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Qingdao and Khao Lak
| Khao Lak | Qingdao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (83°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 345 mm (13.6 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 286 mm (11.3 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 272 mm (10.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 417 mm (16.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 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.