Which place is cheaper, Hongcun or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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
Thailand is covered in beaches, but if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to Krabi, also known as "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. 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.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $55Hongcun $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $55, while the average daily cost in Hongcun is $52. 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 $36Hongcun $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $72Hongcun $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 $3.80Hongcun $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.18
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$2.73
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.18
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Longboat Taxi from Town$5.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Don Island: $13
- Krabi Airport (KBV) Private Transfer: $13
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $13
- Private Airport Transfers for Krabi & More: $15
- Krabi International Airport Departure Shared Transfer from Aonang and Krabi Town: $16
- Krabi International Airport Arrival Shared Transfer To Aonang & Krabi Town: $16
- Private Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport Departure: $17
- Krabi Airport: 1-Way Krabi Hotel Private Transfer: $17
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Tiger Cave Temple: $18
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Air port, Krabi: $18
- Private Arrival Transfer : Krabi Airport to Krabi Hotel: $19
- Krabi airport to Aonang any hotel Private transfer: $19
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 $13Hongcun $19
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)$6.82
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Drinks on the Beach$6.55
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$17
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$30
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Mango Shake$1.36
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Pad Thai$2.73
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Fruit from the Market$1.64
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Pancakes$2.73
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Coffee & Cake$2.05
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $36
- Snorkeling and Sunset Dinner Trip From Krabi: $37
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner and Snorkeling: $37
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Plankton: $37
- Evening Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $39
- 4 Islands Sunset Longtail Boat Tour with BBQ Dinner: $41
- Seven Islands Snorkel Cruise with Dinner: $41
- Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour: $41
- Krabi Thai Cooking Class: $42
- Krabi 4 Islands Sunset Premium Service Trip by Speedboat + BBQ Dinner: $42
- Thai Charm Cooking School Krabi: $44
- Cooking Class at Thai Charm Cooking School with Meal: $45
Typical Food Prices in Hongcun
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:
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Lunch for Two$4.83
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Breakfast of Dumplings$2.07
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krabi $10Hongcun $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$9.00
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Thai Massages (for Two)$22
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Bikini & Sarong$16
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$12
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$6.82
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$52
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Krabi 4 Islands Tour and Snorkeling with Shared boat: $22
- Ao Nang, Group Boat Tour to 4 Islands with Lunch: $24
- 4 Islands Separated Sea - The Unseen of Thailand Tour: $24
- Krabi 4 island tour: $26
- Half Day Tour Mangrove Tour Kayaking Tour With Lunch: $27
- 4 Islands & Thale Waek's Sandbar Tour By Speedboat: $27
- 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat from Krabi with Walk on Tombolo: $28
- The Krabi 4 Island Tour by Longtail Boat: $28
- 4 Islands One Day Tour From Krabi: $28
- 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $29
- 4 Islands Tour by Longtail Boat: $29
- Shooting Range Experience in Krabi: $30
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 $4.34Hongcun $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$2.45
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Cocktails (for Two)$8.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
- Railay Pub Crawl: $14
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.