Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Koh Samui?
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 Samui or Pingyao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Koh Samui or Pingyao? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Koh Samui or Pingyao?
Koh Samui
The largest island on the east coast of southern Thailand, Ko Samui (or Koh Samui) sees a good number of visitors every year who come for its lush rainforest, beautiful shores, and undersea wildlife. The size of the island is still small enough to allow visitors to circumnavigate it with a taxi or motorbike in a day, while hikers and outdoor enthusiasts can find plenty of inland activities in the hills and jungle.
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 Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
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Koh Samui Prices
Thailand PricesPingyao Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Samui $76Pingyao $73
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Samui is $76, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $73. 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 Samui and Pingyao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Samui $25Pingyao $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Samui $50Pingyao $50
Compare Hotels in Koh Samui and Pingyao
Looking for a hotel in Koh Samui 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 Samui Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Samui $19Pingyao $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Koh Samui:
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Scooter Rental$2.27
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Gas for Scooter$1.21
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Airport Taxi$13
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Taxi- Na Thon Pier to Lamai Beach$13
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Minibus- Airport to Chaweng$3.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Samui
Also for Koh Samui, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Samui International Airport (USM) Departure Shared Transfer: $9.00
- Ferry Transfers between Koh Samui and Ko Pha-ngan: $15
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $18
- Koh Samui Airport to Hotel Transfer – Arrival & Departure: $18
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui island hotels to Ko Samui Port: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Port to Ko Samui Airport (USM): $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui Cruise Port to Ko Samui Hotels: $19
- Private Transfer from Ko Samui hotels to Ko Samui Cruise Port: $19
- Private Departure Transfer: From Hotel to Koh Samui Airport by Car: $21
- Ferry Transfers between Ko Pha-ngan and Koh Tao: $22
- Private Taxi Transfer from Samui Airport to Koh Samui Main Areas: $23
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$1.49
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 Samui or Pingyao?
Prices for flights to both Pingyao and Koh Samui 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 Samui $37Pingyao $36
Typical Food Prices in Koh Samui
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Samui:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.51
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Samui
For Koh Samui, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Koh Samui Local Market Hin Ta Hin Yai and Beach Dinner: $36
- Thai Cooking Class with Local Market Tour in Koh Samui: $76
- Cooking Class by Samui Native Instructor Geng and O Family: $77
- Thai Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Market Tour: $77
- Idyllic Half Day Sunset Cruise and Dinner in Koh Samui: $77
- Thai Cooking Masterclass by the Sea on Koh Samui: $79
- Cooking Class in Ko Samui for Small Group: $80
- Cooking Class in Koh Samui with Micro Organic Garden: $82
- Thai Cooking Class from Koh Samui with Local Market: $85
- Sunset Dinner Cruise Koh Samui The Red Baron: $108
- Red Baron : A Sunset Dinner Cruise from Koh Samui with Return Transfer: $110
- Koh Samui Jungle Kitchen - Evening Cooking Class (max 8 guests): $120
Typical Food Prices in Pingyao
Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for 2)$5.35
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Mango Juice$0.74
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Samui $12Pingyao $20
Tours and Activities in Koh Samui
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Samui.
- Coconut Soap Making Demo and Experience Koh Samui Class@13:30 pm.: $2.31
- Kanchanaburi Mallika City Thai Cultural Tour Experience: $7.75
- Sky Bicycle Jungle Adventure Tour from Koh Samui: $17
- Create Your Own Crystal Aroma Oil Ritual Experience: $20
- Koh Samui Chaweng Beach Nightlife Walking Tour: $24
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour by Minivan: $25
- Koh Samui Sightseeing Tour Around The Island: $26
- City Tour Around Koh Samui: $27
- Scenic Half Day Island Highlights Tour in Koh Samui: $29
- Half Day Highlights Koh Samui Tour: $30
- Koh Samui High-Speed Go Karting Adventure: $30
- Round-the-Island Sightseeing Tour: $32
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)$2.97
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Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)$7.43
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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:
- 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $170
- 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress: $206
- 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $76
- All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
- One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
- Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
- Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $171
- Pingyao Day Tour: Wang's Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $175
- Pingyao Private Tour: Shuanglin Temple And Wang's Compound: $269
- Pingyao in One Day: Including City Highlights and Shuanglin Temple Private Tour: $204
- Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18
- Private Day Tour in Pingyao Including Zhenguo and Shuanglin Temple: $289
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Samui $5.14Pingyao $14
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Samui and Pingyao, we can see that Koh Samui is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Samui Expensive? and Is Pingyao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Koh Samui or Pingyao?
Pingyao has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Koh Samui. When comparing the sizes of Koh Samui and Pingyao, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.