Which place is cheaper, Hangzhou or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phuket or Hangzhou?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Hangzhou, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Phuket or Hangzhou?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the tourist mecca of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
Hangzhou
Hangzhou is a city in Eastern China, about an hour by train from Shanghai, renowned for its historic relics and natural beauty. Each year it attracts more than 20 million tourists who come to see what the city has to offer. Set amongst the natural scenery of lakes and mountains, Hangzhou is modern city that coexists with the old. Historic pagodas and cultural sites built around the central lake sit like they belong amidst the skyscrapers and bustling markets of today.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to China, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $105Hangzhou $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $105, while the average daily cost in Hangzhou is $65. 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 Phuket and Hangzhou in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $56Hangzhou $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $112Hangzhou $46
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Hangzhou
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Hangzhou? 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: Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $11Hangzhou $8.11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.18
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$6.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Ziplines 28 platforms with Free Transfer RoundTrips: $70
- ATV Bike 1 hr + ziplines 30 platforms with Roundtrip Transfer : $139
- Airport Private Arrival Transfers to Phuket: $45
- Airport Private Departure Transfers from Phuket: $45
- Andamanda Phuket Water Park Ticket Include Transfers: $61
- Arrival Phuket Airport Private Transfer : Hotel in Phuket: $37
- Arrival Private Transfers from Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket City: $93
- Arrival Transfer Phuket Airport HKT to Talang, Kathu or Muang: $21
- Best Ziplines Adventure 30 platforms with free transfer : $112
- Blue Tree Water Park Ticket with Transfer : $57
- Departure Private Airport Transfer : Phuket Hotel to Phuket Airport: $37
- Departure Private Transfers from Phuket City to Phuket Airport HKT: $93
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Hangzhou:
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Local Bus for Two$0.55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hangzhou
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hangzhou:
- Enduring Memories of Hangzhou West Lake Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer: $128
- Hangzhou East Railway Station Transfer To Hangzhou Downtown City: $32
- Hangzhou Private Transfer to Shanghai with Drop-off Options : $131
- Hangzhou Private Transfer to Shanghai with stop-over at Wuzhen Water Town: $165
- Hangzhou Private Transfer to Shanghai with stop-over at Xitang Water Town: $177
- Hangzhou Private Transfer: City Hotels to Railway Station: $28
- Hangzhou Private Transfer: Railway Station to City Hotels: $33
- Hangzhou Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
- Hangzhou Railway Station Private Departure Transfer from City Area : $29
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport Chauffeur Service, HangzhouAirport Transfer, Pickup: $59
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport Chauffeur Service, HangzhouAirport Transfer, Pickup: $78
- Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport To Hangzhou downtown city one way private transfer: $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Hangzhou?
Prices for flights to both Hangzhou and Phuket 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 dayPhuket $22Hangzhou $18
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.88
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.64
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Thai Noodles$2.45
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Bananas$0.68
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Pizza (for Two)$8.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $43
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 4 Dishes Menu): $47
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Twilight Stylish Sky Set Dinner - The SIS Kata Resort : $54
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $55
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $55
Typical Food Prices in Hangzhou
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Hangzhou:
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Breakfast Pastries$2.35
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Pizza Hut Lunch$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hangzhou
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Hangzhou.
- All Inclusive Night Tour with Impression West Lake Show VIP Ticket and Dinner: $117
- VIP Seated Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Show Tour with Authentic Dinner: $127
- Private Amazing Hangzhou Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner Option : $170
- Enduring Memories of Hangzhou West Lake Show VIP Ticket with Authentic Dinner: $191
- Hangzhou Private Tour to Wuzhen and Xitang Water Town with Dinner and Boat Ride: $282
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $42Hangzhou $20
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$25
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$68
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Thai Oil Massage$17
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Surfboard Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Botanic Garden Admission Ticket: $3.02
- The Selfie Experience Phuket Admission Ticket: $4.16
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Self Guided Scavenger Hunts and Gamified Tours: $11
- Phuket to Phi Phi Tonsai Ferry by Royal Jet Cruiser with Pickup Service: $13
- Trick Eye Museum Admission Ticket: $14
- Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket: $14
- Phuket Trickeye Museum Day Admission Ticket: $15
- Baan Teelanka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $16
- Phuket to Koh Phi Phi by Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Original Discovery Tour: $17
- Simon Cabaret Phuket Show Admission Ticket: $20
Tours and Activities in Hangzhou
Here are a few actual costs in Hangzhou for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Hangzhou Lingyin Temple Tour : $28
- Hangzhou Longjing Tea Plantation Culture Experience Tour: $53
- Hangzhou Longjing Tea Culture Experience Tour : $53
- Best Price: Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $59
- Skip the Line: Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $65
- Zuiyi Hangzhou Impression West Lake Show Ticket: $69
- Enduring Memories of Hangzhou Show Ticket with Private Transport: $89
- One-day Hangzhou Lakeside Mountains Relics & Ruins Hiking – Guided Outdoor Tour : $90
- Independent Tour to Shaoxing City from Hangzhou: $94
- Night Tour with Impression West Lake Show VIP Ticket and Hefang Heritage Street : $95
- 4-Hour Hangzhou Highlights Tour of Lingyin Temple and West Lake: $99
- Genuine West Lake and Tea Experience with Locals: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.35Hangzhou $10
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.46
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Beer$2.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl Tour: $25
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $78
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $97
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $97
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Hangzhou, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Hangzhou much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hangzhou would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hangzhou 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket than you might in Hangzhou.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Hangzhou Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Hangzhou?
Hangzhou has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Hangzhou, 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.
When is the best time to visit Phuket or Hangzhou?
Hangzhou has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Phuket experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Phuket or Hangzhou in the Summer?
Both Hangzhou and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.
Phuket is around the same temperature as Hangzhou in the summer. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Hangzhou fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Hangzhou. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In July, Phuket usually receives more rain than Hangzhou. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Hangzhou 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Hangzhou in the Autumn?
Both Hangzhou and Phuket during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the autumn, Phuket is a little warmer than Hangzhou. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Phuket in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Hangzhou averages at about 19°C (66°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in October than Hangzhou. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Phuket. June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Hangzhou 19°C (66°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Hangzhou in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Hangzhou. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round.
The weather in Hangzhou can be very cold. In January, Phuket is generally much warmer than Hangzhou. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Hangzhou fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In January, Phuket usually receives less rain than Hangzhou. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter. December to March in Phuket is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Hangzhou 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Hangzhou in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Hangzhou. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Phuket is much warmer than Hangzhou in the spring. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Hangzhou fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).
It's quite rainy in Hangzhou. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the spring. Phuket usually gets less rain in April than Hangzhou. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Hangzhou receives 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year. June to October in Phuket is the rainy season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Hangzhou 16°C (61°F)
Typical Weather for Hangzhou and Phuket
| Phuket | Hangzhou | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 88 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 159 mm (6.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 90 mm (3.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 49 mm (1.9 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.