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

Should you visit Koh Lipe or Datong?

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

Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Datong?

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.

Datong

If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Datong 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 Datong is $56. 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 Datong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lipe $44
    Datong $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lipe $88
    Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Datong

Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Datong? 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 Datong


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
    Datong $12

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 Datong

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

  • Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128
  • Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
  • Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer to Hanging Temple: $98
  • Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
  • Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
  • Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
  • Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Datong?

Prices for flights to both Datong 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
    Datong $20

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lipe $23
    Datong $25

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 Datong

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

  • Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket with Optional Guided Service: $22
  • Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $26
  • YungangGrottoe HangingTemple Private Self-guided Tour by Car: $79
  • Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
  • 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
  • Private Datong Day Tour Arranged by Local Tour Guide Nancy: $129
  • Datong Classic Day Tour: $135
  • Temples and Grottoes Private Full–Day Tour: $149
  • Private city tour Datong Yungang grottoes and Huayan Monastery: $160
  • Private Tour: Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Monastery From Datong: $164
  • Private Custom Tour: Datong City in One Day: $180
  • All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong : $188

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lipe $8.18
    Datong $12


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

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 Datong Expensive?.