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

Should you visit Koh Chang or Jinghong?

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

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

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.

Jinghong

Located in the southernmost part of the Yunnan Province, Jinghong is a city that attracts visitors each year with its rich culture and folklore, Buddhist temples, and tropical rainforest scenery of palms and mango trees amongst others. It is also an area popular with backpackers as well as a waypoint for travelers passing between China and Laos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Jinghong 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 Jinghong is $62. 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 Jinghong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Chang $24
    Jinghong $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Chang $48
    Jinghong $40
Compare Hotels in Koh Chang and Jinghong

Looking for a hotel in Koh Chang or Jinghong? 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 Jinghong


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
    Jinghong $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang

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

  • 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 Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $216
  • Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $209
  • Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $26

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Chang or Jinghong?

Prices for flights to both Jinghong 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
    Jinghong $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Chang $5.46
    Jinghong $9.17

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
    Jinghong $5.32


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


Related Articles for Koh Chang
Related Articles for Jinghong