Which place is cheaper, Wuyuan or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phuket or Wuyuan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Wuyuan, 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 Wuyuan?
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.
Wuyuan
Wuyuan, China is a small city in the Jiangxi Province in the south central area of the country. The city acts as a transport hub for the province, with many main bus routes running through it. Wuyuan also acts as the main thoroughfare when traveling to local remote villages in the area. It is best to know some Mandarin as this region does not see many non-Mandarin speaking tourists, which also means you should expect some very friendly attention!
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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Shanghai, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $105Wuyuan $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $105, while the average daily cost in Wuyuan is $57. 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 Wuyuan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $56Wuyuan $26
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $112Wuyuan $52
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Wuyuan
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Wuyuan? 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 $11Wuyuan $13
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Wuyuan?
Prices for flights to both Wuyuan 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 $22Wuyuan $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
Typical Food Prices in Wuyuan
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Wuyuan:
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Gummy Candy$0.28
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Cookies$0.69
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $42Wuyuan $19
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.35Wuyuan $14
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 Wuyuan, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Wuyuan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Wuyuan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Wuyuan Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Phuket or Wuyuan?
Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan in the Summer?
Both Wuyuan 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.
Phuket is around the same temperature as Wuyuan in the summer. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Wuyuan fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).
Wuyuan 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 Wuyuan. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 192 mm (7.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Wuyuan 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Wuyuan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Wuyuan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round.
In the autumn, Phuket is a little warmer than Wuyuan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Phuket in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Wuyuan averages at about 20°C (68°F).
Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Phuket usually receives more rain than Wuyuan. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 82 mm (3.2 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)Wuyuan 20°C (68°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Wuyuan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Wuyuan. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Phuket is generally much warmer than Wuyuan. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Wuyuan fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).
Phuket usually gets less rain in January than Wuyuan. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 63 mm (2.5 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)Wuyuan 6°C (43°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Wuyuan in the Spring?
Both Wuyuan and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.
Phuket is much warmer than Wuyuan in the spring. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Wuyuan fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Wuyuan. It's quite rainy in Phuket. In April, Phuket usually receives less rain than Wuyuan. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Wuyuan receives 238 mm (9.4 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)Wuyuan 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Wuyuan and Phuket
| Phuket | Wuyuan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 123 mm (4.9 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 174 mm (6.8 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 238 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 257 mm (10.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 270 mm (10.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 192 mm (7.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 48 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.