Which place is cheaper, Hongcun or Krabi?
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 Krabi or Hongcun?
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 Krabi and Hongcun can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or Hongcun?
Krabi
Krabi is both a large town and region in southern Thailand. While the region is covered in beaches, if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi (where you'll find famous places such as Railay, Ao Nang, Haad Yao, and plenty of others). Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies, and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience. There's a good chance you'll be passing through on your way to one of the famous beaches, so take advantage of your brief time here.
Hongcun
When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.
The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.
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Krabi Prices
Thailand PricesHongcun Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $74Hongcun $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $74, while the average daily cost in Hongcun is $67. 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 Krabi and Hongcun in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $42Hongcun $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $84Hongcun $46
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Hongcun
Looking for a hotel in Krabi or Hongcun? 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: Krabi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krabi $4.37Hongcun $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$3.14
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.51
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Longboat Taxi from Town$6.28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Krabi International Airport Arrival Shared Transfer To Ao Nang : $12
- Krabi International Airport Departure Shared Transfer from Aonang: $12
- Krabi Airport (KBV) Private Transfer: $13
- Krabi to Koh Lanta Transfer by Shared Air Conditioned Van: $13
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $14
- Ferry Transfer To or From Phi Phi Don Island: $14
- Shared Van Transfer from Krabi to Koh Lanta with Hotel Drop Off: $15
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Krabi HTL-APT (KBV): $15
- One-Way Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phi Phi: $16
- Private Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport Departure: $20
- Private Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport Departure: $20
- Private Departure Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Hongcun?
Prices for flights to both Hongcun and Krabi 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 dayKrabi $25Hongcun $33
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$7.85
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Drinks on the Beach$7.54
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$19
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$35
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Mango Shake$1.57
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Pad Thai$3.14
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Fruit from the Market$1.88
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Pancakes$3.14
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Coffee & Cake$2.36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Snorkeling and Sunset to Krabi 7 Islands by Longtail Boat + Buffet BBQ Dinner: $37
- Hands on Half-day Cooking Class by Authentic Thai Cooking: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Night Snorkeling: $39
- Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $40
- Penny Thai Cooking Class Krabi: $45
- Krabi Kitchens Food Tour with 15 Plus Tastings: $45
- Krabi Bites Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $45
- Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night : $45
- Thai Charm Cooking School Krabi: $46
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $46
- Kayaking and BBQ Dinner On The Beach Ao Thalane From Krabi: $48
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.91
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.10
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krabi $12Hongcun $17
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$10
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Thai Massages (for Two)$25
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Bikini & Sarong$19
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$14
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$7.85
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$60
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- DIY tour - Finest selection of Krabi Hidden Gems: $8.17
- Railay Phra Nang and Diamond Cave Sunset tour: $21
- Krabi 4 Islands Snorkeling and Thale Waek Full Day Tour : $21
- ATV Adventure in Krabi Thailand: $22
- Krabi ATV adventure tour 1 Hour : $23
- Blue Dragon Cabaret Ticket Dazzling Night from Krabi: $24
- Klong Root Kayaking and Swimming with ATV Tour From Krabi : $24
- Ao Thalane Kayaking Mangrove Forests Adventure from Krabi : $24
- 4 Islands Day Tour from Krabi: $25
- Krabi 4 Islands Shared Tour with Lunch and Guide: $25
- ATV Adventure in Thrills Await: $28
- Railay Beach and Caves Tour from Ao Nang - Half Day: $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrabi $5.00Hongcun $14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer$2.83
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Cocktails (for Two)$9.42
When comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Hongcun, we can see that Krabi 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 Krabi Expensive? and Is Hongcun Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Krabi or Hongcun?
Hongcun has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Krabi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Krabi or Hongcun in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Krabi as well as Hongcun. Krabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Krabi is generally around the same temperature as Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Krabi average around 28°C (82°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It's quite rainy in Hongcun. Krabi receives a lot of rain in the summer. Krabi usually gets more rain in July than Hongcun. Krabi gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October in Krabi is the rainy season.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKrabi 28°C (82°F)Hongcun 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Krabi or Hongcun in the Autumn?
Both Hongcun and Krabi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Krabi throughout the year.
Krabi is a little warmer than Hongcun in the autumn. The daily temperature in Krabi averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Hongcun fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).
It's quite rainy in Krabi. In October, Krabi usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Krabi gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Krabi is December to March. The rainy season in Krabi is August to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKrabi 27°C (81°F)Hongcun 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Krabi or Hongcun in the Winter?
Both Hongcun and Krabi during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Krabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The weather in Hongcun can be very cold. In the winter, Krabi is much warmer than Hongcun. Typically, the winter temperatures in Krabi in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Hongcun averages at about 4°C (40°F).
Krabi usually gets less rain in January than Hongcun. Krabi gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Krabi.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKrabi 28°C (82°F)Hongcun 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Krabi or Hongcun in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Krabi and Hongcun. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Krabi year-round.
In April, Krabi is generally much warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Krabi average around 29°C (84°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
Hongcun receives a lot of rain in the spring. Krabi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Krabi usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Krabi gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKrabi 29°C (84°F)Hongcun 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Hongcun and Krabi
| Krabi | Hongcun | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.