Which place is cheaper, Tianjin or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phuket or Tianjin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Tianjin, 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 Tianjin?
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.
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $105Tianjin $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $105, while the average daily cost in Tianjin is $76. 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 Tianjin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $56Tianjin $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $112Tianjin $68
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Tianjin
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Tianjin? 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 $11Tianjin $36
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:
- From Krabi: Phuket Transfer with Phi Phi Longtail Boat Tour: $362
- From Krabi Transfer with Phi Phi Longtail Boat Tour: $362
- Phuket Jet Ski Tour to 7 Islands with Pickup and Transfer: $212
- Flying Hanuman Ziplining Experience in Phuket with Return Transfer: $149
- ATV Bike 1 hr + ziplines 30 platforms with Roundtrip Transfer : $139
- Private Transfer from Phuket to Krabi: $137
- Morning Blue Sky Spa Package with Private Transfer: $125
- Full Day Guided Banana Beach Paradise Trip With Lunch & Hotel Transfers: $123
- Private Airport Arrival Transfer : Airport to Hotel in Krabi: $117
- ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer: $116
- Private Transfer from Phuket to Krabi with 2h of Sightseeing: $113
- Flying Hanuman Ziplines 42 platforms With Lunch & Transfer RoundTrips: $108
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beijing: Private Roundtrip Transfer to Great Wall of China: $68
- Binhai Airport Private Transfer to Tianjin Cruise Port: $80
- Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Airport: $280
- Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Hotels : $225
- Cruise Transfer:Tianjin International Home Port to Beijing PEK or Daxing Airport: $118
- One Way Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing with Guide: $216
- Port Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Home Port to Beijing Hotels: $100
- Private 1-Way Transfer Between Tianjin Port to Beijing: $138
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Port to Train Stations (Tianjin/Tanggu): $63
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Tianjin Railway Station to City Hotel: $30
- Private Departure Transfer: Bejing City Hotel to Airport: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Tianjin?
Prices for flights to both Tianjin 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 $22Tianjin $20
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
- 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
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $55
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $55
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $42Tianjin $10
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:
- 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
- Activities In & Around Full Day Customizable Tour: $90
- Amazing Krabi Private 1 day tour from Phuket by VAN: $218
- James Bond Island Highlights Tour from Phuket with Lunch: $115
- Khai Island Half Day Tour by Speedboat from Phuket (SHA Plus): $61
- Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Tour with Seaview Lunch from Phuket: $68
- Whitewater Rafting & ATV Adventure Tour from Phuket including Lunch: $118
- Zipline Adventure 32 Platforms + Roller + Skywalk: $108
- 2 Hours Phuket Old Town Street Food Walking Tour: $45
- 2-Hour ATV Tour from Phuket: $77
- 2x Snorkelling Phi Phi, Maiton, Maya Bay, khai islands tour: $58
- 4 Waters Eco Adventure: $96
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $151
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Hotel With the English Speaking Driver: $160
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Capital Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $187
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Daxing Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $203
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- Tianjin Private Tour to Eastern Qing Tombs with Flexible Departure time: $237
- Private Tianjin Day Tour to Huangyaguan Great Wall and Dule Temple: $238
- Tianjin Shore Excursion: Huangyaguan Great Wall Private Day Tour: $238
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.35Tianjin $11
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: $77
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $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 Tianjin, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Tianjin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tianjin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tianjin 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 Tianjin.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Tianjin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Tianjin?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Tianjin, 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 Tianjin?
Tianjin 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 Tianjin in the Summer?
Both Tianjin and Phuket during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In July, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Tianjin. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Tianjin fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
In Tianjin, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the summer, Phuket often gets less sunshine than Tianjin. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tianjin receives 224 hours of full sun.
Tianjin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in July than Tianjin. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Tianjin 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Tianjin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Tianjin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round.
Phuket is much warmer than Tianjin in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Tianjin fluctuates around 15°C (58°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tianjin this time of the year. Phuket usually receives less sunshine than Tianjin during autumn. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Tianjin receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Tianjin. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Tianjin 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Tianjin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Tianjin. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's quite cold in Tianjin in the winter. In the winter, Phuket is much warmer than Tianjin. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phuket in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Tianjin averages at about -3°C (27°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tianjin. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In the winter, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Tianjin. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tianjin receives 201 hours of full sun.
Phuket usually gets more rain in January than Tianjin. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Tianjin -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Tianjin in the Spring?
Both Tianjin and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.
In April, Phuket is generally much warmer than Tianjin. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 29°C (84°F), and Tianjin fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
It's quite sunny in Tianjin. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Tianjin during spring. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Tianjin receives 247 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Phuket. In April, Phuket usually receives more rain than Tianjin. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Tianjin 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Tianjin and Phuket
| Phuket | Tianjin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 4 mm (0.2 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.