A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pattaya vs. Hongcun for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pattaya or Hongcun?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pattaya and Hongcun can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Pattaya or Hongcun?

Pattaya

Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.

Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Hongcun or Pattaya?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Pattaya is $93, 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 Pattaya and Hongcun in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Pattaya $27
    Hongcun $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Pattaya $54
    Hongcun $46
Compare Hotels in Pattaya and Hongcun

Looking for a hotel in Pattaya 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.

Hotels in Pattaya


Hotels in Hongcun


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: Pattaya Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Pattaya $13
    Hongcun $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya

Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Pattaya Coral Island Tour with Indian Lunch and Hotel Transfer: $4.35
  • Private Transfer between Pattaya and U Tapao Airport : $16
  • The Sanctuary of Truth Pattaya Ticket & Transfer Optional: $19
  • Mini Siam Miniature World in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $22
  • Pattaya Art in Paradise Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $22
  • Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $22
  • Private U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya Airport Transfer to Pattaya City: $25
  • Private Departure Transfer from Pattaya to DMK or BKK Airport : $27
  • Private Arrival Transfer from Airport BKK or DMK to Pattaya Hotel: $27
  • Frost Magical Ice Of Siam at Pattaya with Return Transfer: $27
  • Mini Siam Miniature World Admission with Roundtrip Transfer from Pattaya: $28
  • Colosseum Show Pattaya Ticket with Private Hotel Transfers: $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Pattaya or Hongcun?

Prices for flights to both Hongcun and Pattaya 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Pattaya $43
    Hongcun $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya

For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • All Star Dinner Cruise with Cabaret Show in Pattaya: $45
  • Ocean Sky Pattaya Dinner Cruise with Live Entertainment : $54
  • Pattaya Night Guided Tour with Dinner: $54
  • Ocean Sky Dinner Cruise with Live Cabaret Show in Pattaya: $60
  • All Star Dinner Cruise Pattaya with Private Hotel Transfer: $73
  • Thai Cooking Class in Pattaya: $76

Typical Food Prices in Hongcun

Some typical examples of dining costs in Hongcun are as follows:


  • Lunch for Two
    $4.91
  • Breakfast of Dumplings
    $2.10

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Pattaya $24
    Hongcun $17

Tours and Activities in Pattaya

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.

  • Coral Island Speedboat Tour from Pattaya Only for Indian Tourists: $3.15
  • Pattaya Floating Market Tickets: $3.19
  • Pattaya Coral Island Join Tour with Lunch: $5.00
  • Pattaya Floating Market Ticket with 4 Regions Thai Culture: $5.73
  • Experience The Floating Market in Pattaya: $6.00
  • Pool Party and Foam Experience for Indian Tourists at Pattaya : $6.41
  • Pattaya Coral Islands Tour with Lunch: $8.05
  • Art in Paradise Pattaya Entrance (Ticket Only): $8.51
  • Art in Paradise Pattaya Tickets: $9.00
  • Art in Paradise 3D Art Museum Entry Ticket in Pattaya: $9.34
  • Entry Ticket for Art in Paradise 3D Art Museum in Pattaya: $10
  • Mini Siam Miniature World in Pattaya Admission Ticket: $10

Typical Entertainment Prices in Hongcun

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Hongcun are as follows:


  • Two Entrance Tickets
    $29

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Pattaya $9.42
    Hongcun $14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pattaya and Hongcun, we can see that Pattaya is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Pattaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pattaya than you might in Hongcun.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pattaya Expensive? and Is Hongcun Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Pattaya or Hongcun?

Hongcun has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Pattaya experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Pattaya or Hongcun in the Summer?

Both Hongcun and Pattaya during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pattaya because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Pattaya is around the same temperature as Hongcun. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pattaya in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Hongcun averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Hongcun gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pattaya usually gets less rain in July than Hongcun. Pattaya gets 88 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Pattaya 29°C (84°F) 
    Hongcun 29°C (85°F)

Should I visit Pattaya or Hongcun in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pattaya and Hongcun. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pattaya year-round.

In October, Pattaya is generally a little warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Pattaya average around 28°C (82°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

Pattaya gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pattaya usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Pattaya gets 258 mm (10.2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Pattaya is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Pattaya.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Pattaya 28°C (82°F) 
    Hongcun 19°C (65°F)

Should I visit Pattaya or Hongcun in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Pattaya as well as Hongcun. Pattaya attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Hongcun can get quite cold in the winter. Pattaya is much warmer than Hongcun in the winter. The daily temperature in Pattaya averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Hongcun fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).

Pattaya usually gets less rain in January than Hongcun. Pattaya gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Pattaya 27°C (80°F) 
    Hongcun 4°C (40°F)

Should I visit Pattaya or Hongcun in the Spring?

Both Hongcun and Pattaya are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pattaya throughout the year.

In the spring, Pattaya is much warmer than Hongcun. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pattaya in April average around 30°C (86°F), and Hongcun averages at about 17°C (62°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hongcun. In April, Pattaya usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Pattaya gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Pattaya is December to April. The rainy season in Pattaya is June to October.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Pattaya 30°C (86°F) 
    Hongcun 17°C (62°F)

Typical Weather for Hongcun and Pattaya

Pattaya Hongcun
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (80°F) 23 mm (0.9 in) 4°C (40°F) 38 mm (1.5 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 59 mm (2.3 in) 6°C (42°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Mar 29°C (85°F) 62 mm (2.5 in) 10°C (51°F) 117 mm (4.6 in)
Apr 30°C (86°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 17°C (62°F) 170 mm (6.7 in)
May 30°C (85°F) 202 mm (7.9 in) 22°C (71°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Jun 29°C (85°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 26°C (78°F) 235 mm (9.2 in)
Jul 29°C (84°F) 88 mm (3.5 in) 29°C (85°F) 185 mm (7.3 in)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 114 mm (4.5 in) 29°C (84°F) 121 mm (4.7 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 232 mm (9.1 in) 24°C (75°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 258 mm (10.2 in) 19°C (65°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 13°C (55°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 16 mm (0.6 in) 7°C (44°F) 36 mm (1.4 in)