Which place is cheaper, Wuyuan or Khao Lak?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Khao Lak or Wuyuan?
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 Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan?
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.
Wuyuan
Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Khao Lak Prices
Thailand PricesWuyuan Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKhao Lak $148Wuyuan $77
The average daily cost (per person) in Khao Lak is $148, while the average daily cost in Wuyuan is $77. 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 Wuyuan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKhao Lak $56Wuyuan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKhao Lak $112Wuyuan $54
Compare Hotels in Khao Lak and Wuyuan
Looking for a hotel in Khao Lak or Wuyuan? 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 $58Wuyuan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
- Private Transfer Between Ko Lanta and Khao Lak: $231
- Khao Lak any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $189
- Transfer Service from Khao Lak Hotel to Krabi / Aonang: $119
- Carnival Magic Phuket Show Ticket with Transfer from Khao Lak: $103
- Transfer from Khao Lak Hotel to Phuket Airport: $89
- Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary Walk with Hotel Transfer – 2 Hours: $70
- Private Minivan Transfer from Khao Lak hotels to Phuket Airport: $65
- Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak: $55
- 30-Minutes Guided Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $46
- Private Phuket Airport Transfer to or from Khao Lak: $36
- Phuket Airport(HKT)&Hotel Transfers:Private—Phuket/Khao Lak/Krabi: $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Khao Lak or Wuyuan?
Prices for flights to both Wuyuan 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 $58Wuyuan $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
- Khao Sok: Private Authentic Jungle Cooking Experience: $54
- Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak by Amazon Prime Series Chef: $59
- Hands-On Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak with Transfer: $62
- Riverside Thai Cooking Half Day Class: $67
- Khao Lak Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour & Your Own Menu: $85
- Bamboo Cooking Rafting with Khuk Khak Temple Tour from Khao Lak: $111
- Khao Lak : Bamboo Cooking and Bamboo Rafting Tour: $119
- Khao Sok: Private Day Trekking, Jungle Dinner & Night Safari: $179
Typical Food Prices in Wuyuan
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wuyuan:
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Gummy Candy$0.30
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Cookies$0.74
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Khao Lak $21Wuyuan $20
Tours and Activities in Khao Lak
Here are a few actual costs in Khao Lak for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour Guided Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary Observation Tour: $55
- 30 Minutes Khaolak ATV Quadbike & Waterfall Adventure: $76
- Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park: $110
- Bamboo Rafting and Sea Turtle Conservation Center Half Day Tour From Khao Lak: $41
- Cheow Lan Lake Tour in Khao Sok National Park: $125
- Cheow Lan Lake Tour with Cave and Rafthouse from Khao Lak: $121
- Cheow Lan Lake and Diamond Cave Full Day Tour from Khao Lak: $125
- Cheow Lan Lake with Nam Rad Emerald Pool Tour from Khao Lak: $132
- Day Tour with Sea Canoeing at Hong Island from Khao Lak: $94
- From Khao Lak or Phuket: 2-Day Cheow Lan Lake Tour: $312
- From Khao Sok & Cheow Lan Lake Tour with Kayaking: $104
- From Krabi: Surin Islands Snorkeling Tour w/ Meals: $180
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKhao Lak $15Wuyuan $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Khao Lak and Wuyuan, we can see that Khao Lak is more expensive. And not only is Wuyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Wuyuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan.
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 Wuyuan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Khao Lak or Wuyuan?
Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan in the Summer?
Both Wuyuan and Khao Lak during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Lak because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the summer, Khao Lak is around the same temperature as Wuyuan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Khao Lak in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Wuyuan averages at about 30°C (85°F).
Wuyuan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Lak. Khao Lak usually gets more rain in July than Wuyuan. Khao Lak gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKhao Lak 28°C (82°F)Wuyuan 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Khao Lak or Wuyuan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Khao Lak and Wuyuan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Lak year-round.
In October, Khao Lak is generally a little warmer than Wuyuan. Daily temperatures in Khao Lak average around 27°C (81°F), and Wuyuan fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
Khao Lak gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Khao Lak usually receives more rain than Wuyuan. Khao Lak gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. 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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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKhao Lak 27°C (81°F)Wuyuan 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Khao Lak or Wuyuan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Khao Lak as well as Wuyuan. Khao Lak attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Khao Lak is much warmer than Wuyuan in the winter. The daily temperature in Khao Lak averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Wuyuan fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
Khao Lak usually gets less rain in January than Wuyuan. Khao Lak gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKhao Lak 27°C (80°F)Wuyuan 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Khao Lak or Wuyuan in the Spring?
Both Wuyuan and Khao Lak are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Lak throughout the year.
In the spring, Khao Lak is much warmer than Wuyuan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Khao Lak in April average around 29°C (83°F), and Wuyuan averages at about 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Wuyuan. It's quite rainy in Khao Lak. In April, Khao Lak usually receives less rain than Wuyuan. Khao Lak gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 238 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Khao Lak is November to April. The rainy season in Khao Lak is May to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKhao Lak 29°C (83°F)Wuyuan 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Wuyuan and Khao Lak
| Khao Lak | Wuyuan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 123 mm (4.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (83°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 345 mm (13.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 286 mm (11.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 272 mm (10.7 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 417 mm (16.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 48 mm (1.9 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.