Which place is cheaper, Qingdao or Koh Lipe?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Koh Lipe or Qingdao?
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 Qingdao can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Qingdao?
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.
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
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.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lipe $85Qingdao $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $85, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $58. 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 Qingdao in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lipe $44Qingdao $26
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lipe $88Qingdao $52
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Qingdao
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Qingdao? 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lipe $18Qingdao $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 Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Qingdao?
Prices for flights to both Qingdao 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 dayKoh Lipe $26Qingdao $20
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lipe $23Qingdao $20
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 Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lipe $8.18Qingdao $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Qingdao, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Qingdao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Qingdao 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 Qingdao.
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 Qingdao Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe or Qingdao?
Qingdao 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 Qingdao in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Qingdao. Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Koh Lipe is generally around the same temperature as Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Qingdao. Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in July than Qingdao. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Qingdao 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Qingdao in the Autumn?
Both Qingdao and Koh Lipe are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lipe throughout the year.
Koh Lipe is much warmer than Qingdao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Qingdao fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In October, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Lipe is December to April. The rainy season in Koh Lipe is May to October.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Qingdao 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Qingdao in the Winter?
Both Qingdao and Koh Lipe during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lipe because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Qingdao can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Qingdao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Lipe in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Qingdao averages at about -0°C (32°F).
Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in January than Qingdao. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 11 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Lipe 27°C (80°F)Qingdao -0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Qingdao in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Qingdao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round.
In April, Koh Lipe is generally much warmer than Qingdao. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 29°C (85°F), and Qingdao fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).
Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Qingdao. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Qingdao receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. December to April in Koh Lipe is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Koh Lipe.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Lipe 29°C (85°F)Qingdao 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Qingdao and Koh Lipe
| Koh Lipe | Qingdao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
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.