A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Pyeongchang vs. Railay Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Pyeongchang or Railay Beach?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Railay Beach, 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: Pyeongchang or Railay Beach?

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.

Railay Beach

If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.

When comparing the travel costs between Pyeongchang and Railay Beach, we can see that Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang Expensive? and Is Railay Beach Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Railay Beach?

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

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Railay Beach in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Railay Beach. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.

Pyeongchang is cooler than Railay Beach in the summer. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. In the summer, Pyeongchang often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Pyeongchang gets 144 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in July than Railay Beach. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October in Railay Beach is the rainy season.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Railay Beach in the Autumn?

Both Railay Beach and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Pyeongchang is much colder than Railay Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Pyeongchang in October average around 15°C (60°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Pyeongchang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach during autumn. Pyeongchang gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. In October, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Railay Beach is December to March. The rainy season in Railay Beach is August to October.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Railay Beach in the Winter?

Both Railay Beach and Pyeongchang during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.

It's quite cold in Pyeongchang in the winter. In January, Pyeongchang is generally much colder than Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 0°C (33°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

In Railay Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Pyeongchang often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Pyeongchang gets 190 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun.

Pyeongchang usually gets more rain in January than Railay Beach. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Railay Beach.

Should I visit Pyeongchang or Railay Beach in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Railay Beach. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Pyeongchang is much colder than Railay Beach in the spring. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 12°C (54°F) in April, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Railay Beach this time of the year. In Pyeongchang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pyeongchang usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during spring. Pyeongchang gets 204 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Pyeongchang