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

Should you visit Koh Lipe or Benxi?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Koh Lipe and Benxi can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Benxi?

Koh Lipe

Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.

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 Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Koh Lipe?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $85, 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 Lipe and Benxi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lipe $44
    Benxi $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lipe $88
    Benxi $94
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Benxi

Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe 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 Lipe


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 Lipe Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Lipe $18
    Benxi $31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:

  • Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $69

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Benxi?

Prices for flights to both Benxi and Koh Lipe 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 Lipe $26
    Benxi $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lipe $23
    Benxi $7.29

Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe

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

  • 2 Hours Tour Sunset Cruise Around Lipe: $15
  • Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $21
  • Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $24
  • Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $25
  • Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $111

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lipe $8.18
    Benxi $7.69


When comparing the travel costs between Koh Lipe and Benxi, we can see that Benxi 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 Lipe Expensive? and Is Benxi Expensive?.



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

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

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Benxi in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Benxi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Lipe in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Benxi averages at about 25°C (78°F).

Benxi receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Benxi. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Lipe 27°C (81°F) 
    Benxi 25°C (78°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Benxi in the Autumn?

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

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

Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in October than Benxi. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. May to October in Koh Lipe is the rainy season.


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

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Benxi in the Winter?

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

The weather in Benxi can be very cold. Koh Lipe is much warmer than Benxi in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Benxi fluctuates around -10°C (14°F).

In January, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Benxi. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Lipe 27°C (80°F) 
    Benxi -10°C (14°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Benxi in the Spring?

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

In the spring, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Lipe in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Benxi averages at about 11°C (51°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in April than Benxi. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year. December to April is the dry season in Koh Lipe. May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Koh Lipe 29°C (85°F) 
    Benxi 11°C (51°F)

Typical Weather for Benxi and Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe Benxi
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 50 mm (2 in) -10°C (14°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 23 mm (0.9 in) -7°C (20°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 29°C (84°F) 51 mm (2 in) 2°C (35°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)
Apr 29°C (85°F) 124 mm (4.9 in) 11°C (51°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
May 29°C (83°F) 244 mm (9.6 in) 18°C (64°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 224 mm (8.8 in) 22°C (72°F) 93 mm (3.7 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 269 mm (10.6 in) 25°C (78°F) 211 mm (8.3 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 262 mm (10.3 in) 25°C (76°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 355 mm (14 in) 18°C (65°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 281 mm (11.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 204 mm (8 in) 2°C (35°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) -7°C (20°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)