Which place is cheaper, Xiamen 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 Xiamen?
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 Xiamen can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Xiamen?
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.
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Koh Lipe Prices
Thailand PricesXiamen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lipe $120Xiamen $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $120, while the average daily cost in Xiamen is $84. 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 Xiamen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lipe $50Xiamen $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lipe $100Xiamen $62
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Xiamen
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Xiamen? 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 $21Xiamen $6.08
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: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen City and Yongding Hakka Tulou : $115
- Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Hongkeng Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng and HekengHakka Tulou fromXiamen: $90
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Xiamen?
Prices for flights to both Xiamen 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 $52Xiamen $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lipe $27Xiamen $16
Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $127
- Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $25
- Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $29
- Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $27
- Koh Lipe Beginner Scuba Diving Half Day Tour with Lunch: $131
- Private Experience with Fishing, Barbeque, Sashimi and Snorkeling: $78
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Sailing & Sea Experience.: $22
- Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple & Luoyang Bridge Tour: $70
- Xiamen Private English Tour Guide Service: $93
- Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Local Food Market Experience: $103
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $115
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- Shanghai Metro Tour: $127
- Xiamen Layover Day Tour-Gulangyu,Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $132
- Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $135
- Tour Guide and Car: Private Day Tour to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village from Xiamen: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lipe $9.42Xiamen $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Xiamen, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Xiamen much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Xiamen would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Xiamen 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 Xiamen.
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 Xiamen Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Lipe or Xiamen?
Xiamen 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 Xiamen in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Koh Lipe as well as Xiamen. Koh Lipe attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Koh Lipe is generally around the same temperature as Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
It's quite rainy in Xiamen. Koh Lipe receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in July than Xiamen. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Xiamen 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Xiamen in the Autumn?
Both Xiamen 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 around the same temperature as Xiamen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Xiamen fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In October, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Xiamen. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 29 mm (1.1 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.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Lipe 27°C (81°F)Xiamen 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Xiamen in the Winter?
Both Xiamen 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.
In the winter, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Xiamen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Lipe in January average around 27°C (80°F), and Xiamen averages at about 14°C (58°F).
Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in January than Xiamen. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Lipe 27°C (80°F)Xiamen 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Koh Lipe or Xiamen in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Lipe and Xiamen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lipe year-round.
In April, Koh Lipe is generally a little warmer than Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 29°C (85°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 20°C (69°F).
Xiamen receives a lot of rain in the spring. Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Koh Lipe usually receives less rain than Xiamen. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 147 mm (5.8 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.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Lipe 29°C (85°F)Xiamen 20°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Xiamen and Koh Lipe
| Koh Lipe | Xiamen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 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.