Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Koh Lipe?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Koh Lipe or Pingyao?
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 Pingyao can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Pingyao?
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.
Pingyao
Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Koh Lipe Prices
Thailand PricesPingyao Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lipe $115Pingyao $72
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $115, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $72. 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 Pingyao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lipe $48Pingyao $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lipe $96Pingyao $48
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Pingyao
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Pingyao? 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 Lipe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lipe $20Pingyao $14
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: $91
- Direct Transfer from Koh Lipe to Phuket by Speedboat: $102
- Comfortable Koh Lipe to Phuket Direct Speedboat Transfer: $111
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:
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Taxi to Train Station$1.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190
- Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Pingyao?
Prices for flights to both Pingyao 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
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Food Meals for one dayKoh Lipe $50Pingyao $36
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.32
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Mango Juice$0.74
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lipe $25Pingyao $20
Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Koh Lipe Low Season Snorkeling Tour by Traditional Longtail Boat: $21
- Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $23
- 7 Islands 8 Spots Far Away Longtail Boat Snorkeling Tour: $24
- Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $27
- Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $29
- Koh Lipe 5 Stunning Island Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $31
- Koh Lipe Highlight 5 Islands Snorkeling Adventure Day Trip: $33
- Private Experience with Fishing, Barbeque, Sashimi and Snorkeling: $74
- Private Koh Lipe Inner Zone Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $113
- Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $122
- Koh Lipe Beginner Scuba Diving Half Day Tour with Lunch: $125
- Koh Lipe Unseen 7 Islands Day Tour by Private Longtail Boat: $133
Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:
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All Day Bike Rental (for 2)$2.95
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.38
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Bike Parking Fee (for 2)$0.59
Tours and Activities in Pingyao
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:
- Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $76
- All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
- Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $164
- 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $170
- Pingyao Day Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $175
- One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
- Pingyao in One Day: Including City Highlights and Shuanglin Temple Private Tour: $204
- Private Day Tour: Pingyao Highlights of Old Town and City Wall: $205
- 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress: $206
- Private Tour of Pingyao Ancient City, Qiao's Family Compound,Shuanglin Temple: $221
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lipe $9.01Pingyao $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Pingyao, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Pingyao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pingyao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pingyao 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 Pingyao.
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 Pingyao Expensive?.
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.