Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen or Phuket?
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 Phuket or Shenzhen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Shenzhen, 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 Shenzhen?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem 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.
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Phuket Prices
Thailand PricesShenzhen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $136Shenzhen $148
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $136, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $148. 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 Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $63Shenzhen $96
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $126Shenzhen $192
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Shenzhen
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Shenzhen? 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 $12Shenzhen $16
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)$9.21
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$7.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Ziplines 28 platforms with Free Transfer RoundTrips: $79
- Zipline and ATV Skyline Adventure Phuket Include Pickup Transfer: $42
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NATAI BEACH: $56
- Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak Hotel: $79
- TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to PHUKET TOWN (SHA Plus): $34
- TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to LAGUNA Beach Area (SHA Plus): $28
- TAXI AIRPORT TRANSFER to RASSADA PIER: $47
- Speedboat Transfer Phuket to Phi Phi, Tonsai Pier: $31
- Speedboat Transfer From Phuket To Koh Yao Yai/ Koh Yao Noi: $47
- Sky Rock Khao Lak Jungle Zipline Adventure with Transfer: $57
- Simon Cabaret Phuket with Round Trip Share Transfer: $26
- Similan Islands One day Tour All Exclusive (Transfer Khao Lak): $99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A One-Way Disneyland Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Hotel: $33
- A One-Way Hotel Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Disneyland: $36
- A Premium Airport Transfer Service Hong Kong with Mercedes Benz: $39
- AIRPORT TRANSFER service Kowloon with Mercedes Benz: $39
- HK City, Cruise Terminal and Train Station Transfer Luxury MPV: $92
- HK: Lantau Priority Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car with City Transfer: $50
- HONG KONG Airport Private Transfer Service: $148
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) Transfer to Shenzhen by Toyota Alphard: $220
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $52
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $45
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong -Round-Trip Private Transfer: $89
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Shenzhen?
Prices for flights to both Shenzhen 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 $42Shenzhen $37
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)$8.87
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.22
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$13
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Thai Noodles$2.76
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Bananas$0.77
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Pizza (for Two)$9.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- One Day Experience Cooking at Phuket Patong Thailand: $28
- Phuket City Tour with Sunset and Thai Cooking: $49
- Phuket 10+ Tastings Food Tour & Charming Old Town: $52
- Phuket Express Thai Cooking Course with Authentic Recipes: $53
- Phuket City Tour with Phothong Ride and Cooking Class: $54
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class by Suuko Wellness Spa: $56
- Simply Thai Cooking Experience: $57
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $57
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $59
- Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Baba Tastes Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $59
- Phuket Coral Island and Sunset Dinner by Luxury Catamaran: $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Shenzhen Food Tour with Locals: $38
- Traditional Outdoor Cooking in a Private Lesson: $45
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Locals - Dim Sum, Wonton & more: $59
- Best Street Food Tour With a Local Guide in Hong Kong: $96
- Hong Kong's Tin Hau Hidden Gems Food Tour with 7+ Local Tastings: $107
- Hong Kong Food Tour: Central and Sheung Wan Districts: $107
- Hong Kong Market Walking Tour & Chinese Cooking Class: $131
- Hong Kong Sightseeing Tour With Dinner Cruise From Shenzhen: $136
- Hong Kong Best Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $147
- Kowloon Street Food Tour Private & Personalized with a Local: $172
- Hong Kong Private & Personalized Street Food Tour with a Local: $172
- Layover Tour from airport - Classic Hong Kong with Tram Ride and Dinner Cruise: $182
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $48Shenzhen $18
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$28
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$77
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Thai Oil Massage$20
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Surfboard Rental$9.21
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour Quad Bike ATV Ride – Ultimate Adventure: $60
- 12 Islands Overnight Tour: $204
- 2 Day Tour to James Bond Islands, Krabi and Phi Phi: $182
- 2x Snorkelling Phi Phi, Maiton, Maya Bay, khai islands tour: $72
- 3 Fun Dives King Cruiser Wreck and Koh DokMai for Certified diver: $170
- 3 Hour Zipline Adventure Park Experience: 65 Platforms: $107
- 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
- 3 Khai Islands Tour- Snorkel, Swim & Relax (Half or Full Day): $34
- 3-Island Speedboat Tour: Racha Noi, Racha Yai & Maiton: $113
- 4 Element Day with Zipline Adventure Expedition: $78
- 4 Hours Jet Ski Experience Hopping To 9 Islands in Phuket: $235
- 4 Hours and 50km Jet Ski Tour to 6 Phuket Islands: $238
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Between Capitalism & Communism: Hong Kong History Tip Based Tour: $2.62
- Introduction to Hong Kong: Central Tip Based Walking Tour: $2.62
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Hong Kong: $4.69
- Skip the Line! Walk to the Peak: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Victoria Peak: Climb to the summit via the Mid-Levels escalato on an audio tour: $5.40
- Yau Ma Tei: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in the Heart of Kowloon: $5.40
- Hong Kong Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Hong Kong Ghost Tour: $6.00
- Secret Hong Kong: Hidden Local Spots Self Guided Adventure: $8.21
- Audio Tour of Hong Kong: Hollywood Road Loop: $8.99
- Hong Kong: Airport Express e-Ticket (Kowloon/HK/Tsing Yi): $11
- Monopoly Dreams Hong Kong Ticket Peak Galleria 4D Fun: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $7.15Shenzhen $20
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)$6.14
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Beer$2.61
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Rooftop, Bars, GoGo & 3 Clubs with Shots: $19
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $29
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience and Lunch: $53
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $88
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $135
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple: $172
Sample the Local Flavors in Shenzhen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Shenzhen:
- Hong Kong Pub Crawl at Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): $13
When comparing the travel costs between Phuket and Shenzhen, we can see that Shenzhen 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 Phuket Expensive? and Is Shenzhen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Shenzhen?
Shenzhen has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Shenzhen, 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 Shenzhen?
Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Shenzhen. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Phuket is around the same temperature as Shenzhen. Typically, the summer temperatures in Phuket in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Shenzhen averages at about 30°C (85°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Shenzhen. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the summer, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Shenzhen. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shenzhen receives 231 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket usually gets less rain in July than Shenzhen. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Shenzhen 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Shenzhen in the Autumn?
Both Shenzhen and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.
In October, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Shenzhen. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 27°C (81°F), and Shenzhen fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
Phuket usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Shenzhen during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Shenzhen receives 190 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Shenzhen. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Shenzhen. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Phuket is December to March. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Shenzhen 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Shenzhen in the Winter?
Both Shenzhen and Phuket during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Phuket is much warmer than Shenzhen in the winter. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Shenzhen fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Shenzhen. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shenzhen receives 140 hours of full sun.
Phuket usually gets more rain in January than Shenzhen. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Phuket.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Shenzhen 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Shenzhen in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Shenzhen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round.
In the spring, Phuket is a little warmer than Shenzhen. Typically, the spring temperatures in Phuket in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Shenzhen averages at about 23°C (73°F).
In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Shenzhen during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Shenzhen receives 95 hours of full sun in the spring.
Shenzhen receives a lot of rain in the spring. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Phuket usually receives less rain than Shenzhen. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Shenzhen 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Shenzhen and Phuket
| Phuket | Shenzhen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 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.