Which place is cheaper, Kunming 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 Kunming?
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 Kunming can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or Kunming?
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.
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Krabi Prices
Thailand PricesKunming Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $72Kunming $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $72, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $89. 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 Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $41Kunming $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $82Kunming $70
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Krabi or Kunming? 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 $4.27Kunming $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.21
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$3.07
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.46
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Longboat Taxi from Town$6.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Krabi airport to Pakbara pier Private transfer: $187
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KRABI AIRPORT: $157
- Private Phuket Airport and Krabi Hotel Transfer: $146
- Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $138
- Krabi airport to donsak pier Private transfer: $131
- Transfer from Phuket to Krabi and Vice Versa: $120
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KURABURI: $119
- Private Transfer from Phuket to Khao Lak, Krabi and More: $118
- Private Transfer Between Koh Lanta and Ao Nang area: $110
- Aonang any hotel to Khao Lak Private transfer: $105
- Private Transfer Between Hotels in Krabi Town and Ko Lanta: $103
- Aonang any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $98
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! : $36
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $88
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Airport: $55
- Kunming Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $88
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming 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 $24Kunming $41
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)$7.67
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Drinks on the Beach$7.37
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$19
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$34
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Mango Shake$1.53
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Pad Thai$3.07
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Fruit from the Market$1.84
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Pancakes$3.07
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Coffee & Cake$2.30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $32
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Island Hopping with BBQ Dinner by Big Boat: $36
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $37
- Hands on Half-day Cooking Class by Authentic Thai Cooking: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Night Snorkeling: $40
- Snorkeling and Sunset to Krabi 7 Islands by Longtail Boat + Buffet BBQ Dinner: $40
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $40
- Krabi Best of 7 islands Adventure Tour with Beachside BBQ Dinner: $42
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset Tour By Long Tail Boat with BBQ Dinner: $43
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $44
- Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night: $44
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $45
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Discovery more Kunming evening Food Tour with Local Guide: $78
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krabi $11Kunming $19
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$18
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$13
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$7.67
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$58
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 2 Hour Horse Riding Tour On The Beach Krabi: $69
- 2-Hour Clear Kayak Illuminated Night Tour in Krabi: $58
- 2-Hour The best of Krabi Private Walking Tour: $283
- 2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi: $269
- 4 Island Full Day Krabi Tour: Longtail Boat & Lunch: $39
- 4 Island Snorkeling Tour on a LongTail Boat from Krabi: $37
- 4 Island Tour by Longtail Boat Krabi + Lunch + Pick Up + Drop Off: $20
- 4 Island tour by SPEEDBOAT from Krabi + Lunch + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $32
- 4 Islands Day Tour by Speed Boat from Ao Nang, Krabi: $41
- 4 Islands Full-day Tour from Krabi with Tub, Chicken, Poda Island & Phra Nang: $61
- 4 Islands Full-day Tour from Krabi with Tub, Chicken, Poda Island & Phra Nang: $61
- 4 Islands One Day Tour by Long Tail Boat: $36
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $290
- 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming Civil Culture Tour: $112
- 1-Day Kunming Scenery Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming tour with the Green Lake,Bird & Flower market and Yuantong Temple: $201
- 1-Day Kunming tour with the West Hill,Dragon Gate and Bamboo Temple: $222
- 1-Day Private Tour:Stone Forest and Western Hill(Dragon Gate) from Kunming: $245
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- 1-Day Stone Forest Geological Park Private Tour with the Lunch from Kunming: $201
- 2 Days Honghe Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Private Tour: $200
- Citywalk - 1 Day History Private Tour in Kunming: $120
- Dongchuan Red Land Private Tour: $124
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrabi $4.89Kunming $19
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$2.76
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Cocktails (for Two)$9.21
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
- Krabi Pub Crawl: $16
- Railay Pub Crawl: $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Kunming, we can see that Kunming is more expensive. And not only is Krabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Krabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krabi 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 Kunming would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kunming than you might in Krabi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Krabi Expensive? and Is Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krabi or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi and Kunming, 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.