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

Should you visit Koh Lipe or Dalian?

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 Dalian can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Dalian?

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.

Dalian

Dalian, China is a very large peninsula city located in the southernmost part of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The area has a wealth of history, with roots in Russian and Japanese rule, resulting in unique architecture and many universities that attract foreign students and teachers. Dalian is also known for their beautiful green spaces and relaxing beaches which juxtapose a lot of the more industrial cities found throughout other areas of northern China.

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, Dalian 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 Dalian is $103. 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 Dalian in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lipe $44
    Dalian $54
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lipe $88
    Dalian $108
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Dalian

Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Dalian? 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 Dalian


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
    Dalian $41

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dalian

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

  • Dalian Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to City Hotel: $33
  • Dalian Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $32
  • Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $27
  • Dalian Zhoushuizi International Airport Chauffeur Service , to Dalian Transfer: $40
  • Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Any Guiyang Railway Station: $38

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Dalian?

Prices for flights to both Dalian 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
    Dalian $27

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lipe $23
    Dalian $4.78

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

Tours and Activities in Dalian

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dalian.

  • Dalian City Private Day Tour in Your Way: $159

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lipe $8.18
    Dalian $6.31


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

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 Dalian Expensive?.



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

Dalian 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 Dalian in the Summer?

Both Dalian and Koh Lipe during the summer 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 July, Koh Lipe is generally a little warmer than Dalian. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Dalian fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

Dalian gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lipe. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in July than Dalian. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 202 mm (8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Lipe 27°C (81°F) 
    Dalian 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Dalian in the Autumn?

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

Koh Lipe is much warmer than Dalian in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Dalian fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).

Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Dalian. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Koh Lipe 27°C (81°F) 
    Dalian 15°C (58°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Dalian in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Dalian. In the winter, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Dalian. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Lipe in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Dalian averages at about -4°C (25°F).

Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in January than Dalian. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Lipe 27°C (80°F) 
    Dalian -4°C (25°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Dalian in the Spring?

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

In April, Koh Lipe is generally much warmer than Dalian. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 29°C (85°F), and Dalian fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In April, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Dalian. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Dalian receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Koh Lipe is December to April. The rainy season in Koh Lipe is May to October.


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

Typical Weather for Dalian and Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe Dalian
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 50 mm (2 in) -4°C (25°F) 9 mm (0.4 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 23 mm (0.9 in) -2°C (28°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)
Mar 29°C (84°F) 51 mm (2 in) 4°C (38°F) 14 mm (0.6 in)
Apr 29°C (85°F) 124 mm (4.9 in) 11°C (51°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
May 29°C (83°F) 244 mm (9.6 in) 17°C (62°F) 46 mm (1.8 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 224 mm (8.8 in) 21°C (69°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 269 mm (10.6 in) 24°C (75°F) 202 mm (8 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 262 mm (10.3 in) 25°C (77°F) 132 mm (5.2 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 355 mm (14 in) 21°C (70°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 281 mm (11.1 in) 15°C (58°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 204 mm (8 in) 7°C (44°F) 26 mm (1 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) -0°C (32°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)