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

Should you visit Koh Lipe or Zhangjiajie?

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

Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Zhangjiajie?

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.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $120, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $79. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lipe $50
    Zhangjiajie $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lipe $100
    Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Zhangjiajie

Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie


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 $21
    Zhangjiajie $15

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 Zhangjiajie

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

  • 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192
  • Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
  • Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $321
  • Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
  • Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
  • Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
  • Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
  • 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Zhangjiajie?

Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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 $52
    Zhangjiajie $36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie

For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lipe $27
    Zhangjiajie $23

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 Zhangjiajie

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

  • Zhangjiajie Pandora Tour to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain: $7.00
  • Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Ticket Booking: $16
  • Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Entrance Ticket Transportation: $42
  • Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon Tickets Booking: $48
  • Exclusive VIP Zhangjiajie 4 Days and 3 Nights Private Tour: $50
  • Exclusive VIP Zhangjiajie 5 Days and 4 Nights Private Tour: $50
  • Charming Xiangxi Show VIP ticket with round trip transport: $52
  • Fox Fairy Show VIP ticket with round trip private transport: $52
  • Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Ticket Booking: $55
  • One Day Mini Group Tour to Glass Bridge and Tianmen Mountain: $63
  • Mini Group Tour: Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $66
  • Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tickets Booking: $69

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lipe $9.42
    Zhangjiajie $16


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lipe and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie.

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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.



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

Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?

Both Zhangjiajie 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 the summer, Koh Lipe is around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Lipe in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie. Koh Lipe gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Koh Lipe 27°C (81°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?

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

In October, Koh Lipe is generally a little warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Koh Lipe average around 27°C (81°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

Koh Lipe gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Lipe usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Koh Lipe gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 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) 
    Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?

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

Koh Lipe is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Lipe averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

Koh Lipe usually gets more rain in January than Zhangjiajie. Koh Lipe gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Koh Lipe 27°C (80°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)

Should I visit Koh Lipe or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?

Both Zhangjiajie 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 the spring, Koh Lipe is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Lipe in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 17°C (63°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. It's quite rainy in Koh Lipe. In April, Koh Lipe usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Koh Lipe gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 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) 
    Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)

Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Koh Lipe

Koh Lipe Zhangjiajie
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 50 mm (2 in) 5°C (42°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 23 mm (0.9 in) 6°C (44°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 29°C (84°F) 51 mm (2 in) 11°C (52°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Apr 29°C (85°F) 124 mm (4.9 in) 17°C (63°F) 166 mm (6.5 in)
May 29°C (83°F) 244 mm (9.6 in) 22°C (72°F) 179 mm (7 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 224 mm (8.8 in) 26°C (78°F) 199 mm (7.8 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 269 mm (10.6 in) 29°C (85°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 262 mm (10.3 in) 29°C (83°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 355 mm (14 in) 24°C (75°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 281 mm (11.1 in) 19°C (65°F) 90 mm (3.6 in)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 204 mm (8 in) 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.7 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 116 mm (4.6 in) 7°C (45°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)