A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Chang vs. Benxi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Chang or Benxi?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Chang or Benxi, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Koh Chang or Benxi?

Koh Chang

Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Koh Chang?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Chang is $48, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $94. 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 Koh Chang and Benxi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Chang $24
    Benxi $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Chang $48
    Benxi $94
Compare Hotels in Koh Chang and Benxi

Looking for a hotel in Koh Chang or Benxi? 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 Koh Chang


Hotels in Benxi


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: Koh Chang Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Chang $13
    Benxi $31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang

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

  • Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $26
  • Arrival Bangkok Airport Private Transfer : Trat/ Koh Chang: $116
  • Departure Private Airport Transfer : Koh Chang to Bangkok Airport: $116
  • Private Transfer from Koh Chang to Bangkok Airport or Don Muang Airport: $199
  • Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $209
  • Private Transfer from Trat to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $216

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Chang or Benxi?

Prices for flights to both Benxi and Koh Chang 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
    Koh Chang $17
    Benxi $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Chang $5.46
    Benxi $7.29

Tours and Activities in Koh Chang

For Koh Chang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Kayak Experience in Bang Bao Bay with Lunch: $22
  • Full-Day Koh Chang Tour with Lunch : $54
  • Bubblemaker, experience dive for kids from 8 to 10 years old (Koh Chang): $83
  • PADI Discover Scuba Dive Experience: $152
  • 1-Day Adventure in Diving in Koh Chang: $281

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Chang $4.68
    Benxi $7.69


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

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



When is the best time to visit Koh Chang or Benxi?

Benxi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Chang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Koh Chang or Benxi in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Koh Chang as well as Benxi. Koh Chang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the summer, Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Benxi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Chang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Benxi averages at about 25°C (78°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Benxi. In the summer, Koh Chang often gets less sunshine than Benxi. Koh Chang gets 143 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 214 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Benxi. Koh Chang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Chang usually gets more rain in July than Benxi. Koh Chang gets 440 mm (17.3 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Chang 28°C (82°F) 
    Benxi 25°C (78°F)

Should I visit Koh Chang or Benxi in the Autumn?

Both Benxi and Koh Chang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Chang throughout the year.

In October, Koh Chang is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 27°C (81°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

It's quite sunny in Benxi. Koh Chang usually receives less sunshine than Benxi during autumn. Koh Chang gets 193 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 216 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Koh Chang. In October, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Benxi. Koh Chang gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Chang is November to February. The rainy season in Koh Chang is June to October.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Koh Chang 27°C (81°F) 
    Benxi 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Koh Chang or Benxi in the Winter?

Both Benxi and Koh Chang during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Chang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Benxi can be very cold during winter. Koh Chang is much warmer than Benxi in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 26°C (79°F) in January, and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

It's quite sunny in Koh Chang. In the winter, Koh Chang often gets more sunshine than Benxi. Koh Chang gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 167 hours of full sun.

Koh Chang usually gets more rain in January than Benxi. Koh Chang gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year. November to February is the dry season in Koh Chang.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Chang 26°C (79°F) 
    Benxi -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Koh Chang or Benxi in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Chang and Benxi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Chang year-round.

In the spring, Koh Chang is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Chang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (51°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Benxi this time of the year. In Koh Chang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Koh Chang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Benxi during spring. Koh Chang gets 247 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 241 hours of full sun in the spring.

Koh Chang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Benxi. Koh Chang gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Koh Chang.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Koh Chang 29°C (84°F) 
    Benxi 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Benxi and Koh Chang

Koh Chang Benxi
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) -10°C (14°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) -7°C (20°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 2°C (35°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 11°C (51°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 356 mm (14 in) 18°C (64°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 513 mm (20.2 in) 22°C (72°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 440 mm (17.3 in) 25°C (78°F) 211 mm (8.3 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 514 mm (20.2 in) 25°C (76°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 476 mm (18.7 in) 18°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 280 mm (11 in) 11°C (52°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 2°C (35°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Dec 26°C (79°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) -7°C (20°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)