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

Should you visit Koh Chang or Guilin?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Chang or Guilin, 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 Guilin?

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.

Guilin

Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.

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


Which place is cheaper, Guilin or Koh Chang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Chang is $70, while the average daily cost in Guilin is $84. 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 Guilin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Chang $28
    Guilin $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Chang $56
    Guilin $70
Compare Hotels in Koh Chang and Guilin

Looking for a hotel in Koh Chang or Guilin? 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 Guilin


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 $15
    Guilin $5.85

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang

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

  • Koh Chang to BKK or DMK Airport Private Transfers : $161
  • Private Transfer from Trat to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $236
  • Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $229
  • Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $30

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:


  • Taxi
    $2.80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:

  • [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter> *: $23
  • Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Guilin hotel: $120
  • Transfer from Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Guilin City Center: $41
  • Transfer from Guilin Hotels to Yangshuo Town: $37
  • Private Transfer: Guilin to/from Zhangjiajie/Fenghuang: $256
  • Private Transfer from/to Zhangjiajie to Guilin: $387
  • Private Transfer from Yangshuo/Guilin to Sanjiang and stops Longji Rice Terraces: $160
  • Private Transfer from Haikou (HAK) airport to/from Sanya hotel: $120
  • Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Longji terraces: $168
  • Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Longji rice terraces area: $267
  • Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Hongjiang: $267
  • Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $267

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Chang or Guilin?

Prices for flights to both Guilin 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 $33
    Guilin $39

Typical Food Prices in Guilin

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:


  • Fresh Coconut Drink
    $1.40

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.

  • Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
  • Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
  • Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Chang $6.28
    Guilin $28

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: $25
  • Snorkeling Adventure at Koh Chang – Departing from Koh Chang: $32
  • PADI Discover Scuba Dive Experience: $175

Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin

Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Entrance to the Caves
    $17

Tours and Activities in Guilin

Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2-Day Self-Guided Guilin Tour with 4 Star Boat, Yangshuo and Longji Terraces : $200
  • Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour with the Ping'an and Dazhai Village: $209
  • 1 Day Congjiang Ethnic Dong Village Private Tour from Guilin: $219
  • 1 Day Guilin Sanjiang Tour to Dong Villages: $169
  • 1 Day Guilin Tour: Village Visit, Waterfall Viewing, Hiking: $230
  • 1 Day Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Biking Adventure: $72
  • 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide: $209
  • 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver: $209
  • 1 Day Private Cruise Tour at Li River from Guilin with Biking: $198
  • 1 Day Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Village Tour: $202
  • 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $172
  • 1 Day Relaxing Guilin Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Private Tour: $205

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Chang $5.38
    Guilin $5.81


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



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

Guilin 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 Guilin in the Summer?

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

Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Guilin in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Guilin fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).

Guilin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Chang. Koh Chang usually gets more rain in July than Guilin. Koh Chang gets 440 mm (17.3 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Chang 28°C (82°F) 
    Guilin 30°C (86°F)

Should I visit Koh Chang or Guilin in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Koh Chang is a little warmer than Guilin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Chang in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Guilin averages at about 23°C (73°F).

Koh Chang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Guilin. Koh Chang gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn. November to February in Koh Chang is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Koh Chang.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Koh Chang 27°C (81°F) 
    Guilin 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Koh Chang or Guilin in the Winter?

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

In January, Koh Chang is generally much warmer than Guilin. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 26°C (79°F), and Guilin fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).

Koh Chang usually gets less rain in January than Guilin. Koh Chang gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to February in Koh Chang is the dry season.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Chang 26°C (79°F) 
    Guilin 10°C (49°F)

Should I visit Koh Chang or Guilin in the Spring?

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

Koh Chang is a little warmer than Guilin in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Guilin fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. It's quite rainy in Koh Chang. In April, Koh Chang usually receives less rain than Guilin. Koh Chang gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Koh Chang is June to October.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Koh Chang 29°C (84°F) 
    Guilin 20°C (68°F)

Typical Weather for Guilin and Koh Chang

Koh Chang Guilin
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 26°C (79°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 10°C (49°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Feb 27°C (81°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 11°C (51°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 15°C (59°F) 129 mm (5.1 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 111 mm (4.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 263 mm (10.3 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 356 mm (14 in) 25°C (77°F) 334 mm (13.2 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 513 mm (20.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 320 mm (12.6 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 440 mm (17.3 in) 30°C (86°F) 206 mm (8.1 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 514 mm (20.2 in) 30°C (86°F) 168 mm (6.6 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 476 mm (18.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 280 mm (11 in) 23°C (73°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 17°C (63°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Dec 26°C (79°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 12°C (53°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)