Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Koh Lanta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Lanta or Chengdu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Koh Lanta and Chengdu 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: Koh Lanta or Chengdu?
Koh Lanta
Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lanta $48Chengdu $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lanta is $48, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $50. 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 Lanta and Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lanta $24Chengdu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lanta $48Chengdu $42
Compare Hotels in Koh Lanta and Chengdu
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lanta or Chengdu? 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: Koh Lanta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lanta $5.66Chengdu $5.93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:
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Ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lanta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lanta:
- Koh Lanta :Krabi Airport Private Transfer:From Airport or Hotel: $111
- Koh lanta to phuket any hotel Private transfer: $171
- One-Way Transfer from Koh Lanta to Krabi Town or Airport by Minivan: $11
- Pravate Transfer Lanta Island to Krabi Airport, Krabi Town, Ao nang: $74
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
- 1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Panda Base, city central with Round Airport Transfer: $192
- Airport transfer between Tianfu(TFU) and Chengdu downtown: $40
- Arrival Transfer Chengdu Airport CTU to Chengdu by Luxury Sedan: $91
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Arrival Private Transfer: $21
- Chengdu Airport (CTU) to Chengdu - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $41
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 40 pax: $230
- Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax: $120
- Chengdu City to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport (CTU) - Departure Private Transfer: $19
- Chengdu Panda Breeding Base Ticket w/ Optional Transfer or Guide: $20
- Chengdu Panda Breeding Base Ticket w/ Private Transfer/Guide: $23
- Chengdu Private Transfer from Chengdu central to Chengdu Airport (CTU): $80
- Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport Transfer to Downtown Hotel: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lanta or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu and Koh Lanta 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 dayKoh Lanta $11Chengdu $22
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Lanta:
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Casual Breakfast$4.36
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Casual Lunch$7.36
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Casual Dinner$12
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Lanta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Koh Lanta.
- Cooking Experience at Lanta Thai Cookery School From Koh Lanta: $48
- Sukho Cuisine Thai Cooking School From Koh Lanta: $52
- Cooking Class and Market Tour at Lanta Thai Cookery School on Koh Lanta: $53
- Cooking Class & Market Tour with Thai Master Chef at Sukho Cuisine, Lanta: $62
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
- Sichuan Opera Face-Changing Show And Hotpot Dinner Evening Tour: $40
- Half-Day Chinese Bun Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $56
- Chengdu evening food tour by local guide: $60
- Half day Chengdu Dumpling making Cooking Class: Make from Scratch: $62
- Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals : $65
- Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats: $69
- Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $69
- Half-Day Dandan Noodles Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $70
- Sichuan Opera Show VIP Seat Tickets w/ Transfer or Dinner: $71
- Half Day Chengdu Tofu Making Class with Mapo Tofu Cooking: $72
- Half-Day Private Sichuan Hot-Pot Cooking Class with Local Spice Market Visit: $80
- Spicy Local Food Tour through Chengdu: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lanta $31Chengdu $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Lanta
Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Emerald Cave Tour$19
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Yoga Session (1 Hour)$9.55
Tours and Activities in Koh Lanta
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lanta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half Day 2 Caves Ko Skull Tour Ko Lanta and Kayaking Ko Talabeng: $25
- Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour: $26
- Lanta 4 Islands tour (Longtail boat): $26
- 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Longtail Boat from Koh Lanta: $28
- Half Day Mangrove Forest Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $29
- Tung Yee Peng Mangrove Forest Tour By Longtail Boat From Koh Lanta: $30
- Lanta Mangrove Tour with Sea Cave Kayaking at Koh Talabeng: $30
- Koh Ngai, Koh Muk + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour by Classic Longtail Boat: $32
- Sea Cave and Mangrove Forest Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $36
- Lanta Old Town and Mangrove Forest Sightseeing Tour: $40
- Snorkel Tour to Phi Phi Islands by Speed Boat from Koh Lanta: $42
- Koh Phi Phi Day Tour by Opal Travel Speedboat: $42
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- local people's opera house experience: $10
- Chengdu Panda Research Base Tickets And Half Day Tour(Private): $16
- Chengdu Panda Base and Dujiangyan One-Day Private Tour: $17
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Show Ticket - Shu Feng Ya Yun: $17
- Skip the Line: Sichuan Opera Chengdu Ticket: $21
- Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
- Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket: $22
- Shu Feng Ya Yun Sichuan Opera House Tickets Booking: $29
- Sichuan Opera Shu Feng Yan Yun Evening Show Ticket: $29
- Chengdu Sichuan Opera Evening Show Ticket-Shu Feng Yan Yun : $29
- Private Half-Day Walking Tour Unveil Night Life of Chengdu: $30
- Sichuan Opera Tickets Booking: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lanta $3.79Chengdu $3.93
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Lanta and Chengdu, we can see that Chengdu is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Lanta Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Lanta or Chengdu?
Chengdu has a larger population, and is about 650 times larger than the population of Koh Lanta. When comparing the sizes of Koh Lanta and Chengdu, 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.
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.