Which place is cheaper, Koh Phi Phi or Kunming?
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 Kunming or Koh Phi Phi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kunming and Koh Phi Phi. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Kunming or Koh Phi Phi?
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.
Koh Phi Phi
The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand.
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Kunming Prices
China PricesKoh Phi Phi Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKunming $85Koh Phi Phi $95
The average daily cost (per person) in Kunming is $85, while the average daily cost in Koh Phi Phi is $95. 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 Kunming and Koh Phi Phi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKunming $33Koh Phi Phi $50
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKunming $66Koh Phi Phi $100
Compare Hotels in Kunming and Koh Phi Phi
Looking for a hotel in Kunming or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Phi Phi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kunming $14Koh Phi Phi $7.93
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$1.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:
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Ferry to Maya Beach (for 2)$17
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Longboat Taxi$3.14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Phi Phi
Also for Koh Phi Phi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Easy Island Transfer from Phi Phi Island to Koh Tao: $80
- Speedboat Transfer Phi Phi Tonsai to Phuket with Dropoff Service: $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Kunming or Koh Phi Phi?
Prices for flights to both Koh Phi Phi and Kunming 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 dayKunming $39Koh Phi Phi $23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88
Typical Food Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:
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Crepe$1.88
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Sit Down Lunch$11
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Casual Lunch$6.59
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Coconut Donut$0.31
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Lunch at Mexican Restaurant (for 2)$13
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Sit Down Dinner$16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- International Dinner & Cabaret Show - Ala Carte Package: $22
- International Dinner & Cabaret Show - Set Menu Package: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kunming $18Koh Phi Phi $52
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- Kunming Private Day Tour to Jiuxiang Cave with Boat Ride : $209
- 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $290
- 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
- 1-Day Kunming Scenery Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming tour with the Green Lake,Bird & Flower market and Yuantong Temple: $201
- 1-Day Private Tour:Stone Forest and Western Hill(Dragon Gate) from Kunming: $245
- 2 Days Kunming City Tour with Professional Private Tour Guide: $226
- All inclusive Dongchuan red earth tour start from Kunming: $150
- Dongchuan Red Land Private Tour: $123
- Essences of Kunming Downtown Day Tour: $189
- From 15-Day Private Tour to Guilin and Yangshuo: $3,149
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental$9.42
Tours and Activities in Koh Phi Phi
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Phi Phi.
- Activities In & Around Phuket: Full Day Customizable Tour : $110
- 6 Hours Private Tour Around Phi Phi Islands From Phi Phi: $184
- Banana Beach Premium: Shared Tour: $137
- Early Bird Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $65
- Ferry from Phi Phi Islands to Phuket with Dropoff Service by Royal Jet Cruiser: $15
- Half Day Rainforest and Waterfall Tour in Thailand: $99
- Half Day Tour Around Phi Phi Islands By Private Longtail Boat From Phi Phi: $110
- Half-Day Morning Bamboo Island Tour from Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $25
- Half-Day Phi Phi Island Longtail Boat Tour with Maya Bay Visit: $19
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser: $19
- Maya Bay Sleep aboard Tour From Phi Phi: $143
- Phi Phi 7 Islands Full-Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKunming $18Koh Phi Phi $6.51
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:
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Mojito Bucket$16
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Banana Daiquiri$6.28
When comparing the travel costs between Kunming and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that Koh Phi Phi 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 Kunming Expensive? and Is Koh Phi Phi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kunming or Koh Phi Phi?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 1020 times larger than the population of Koh Phi Phi. When comparing the sizes of Kunming and Koh Phi Phi, 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.