Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Qingdao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Qingdao or Railay Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Qingdao 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: Qingdao or Railay Beach?
Qingdao
Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.
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 Cultural Tours in China, The Best Luxury Tours to China, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQingdao $58Railay Beach $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Qingdao is $58, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $105. 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 Qingdao and Railay Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQingdao $26Railay Beach $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQingdao $52Railay Beach $126
Compare Hotels in Qingdao and Railay Beach
Looking for a hotel in Qingdao or Railay Beach? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Qingdao $12Railay Beach $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao
Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Departure Transfer: City Hotel to Qingdao Railway Station : $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
- Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
- Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $83
- Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $83
- Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
Is it cheaper to fly into Qingdao or Railay Beach?
Prices for flights to both Railay Beach and Qingdao 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 dayQingdao $20Railay Beach $22
Typical Food Prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.46
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Pizza$4.64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Qingdao $20Railay Beach $23
Tours and Activities in Qingdao
For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Qingdao City tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
- Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $190
- Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
- Qingdao private half day tour with Tsingdao Beer Lunch : $202
- Qingdao Shore Excursion: Private Full Day Laoshan Mountain Sightseeing Tour: $207
- Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
- Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
- Qingdao Private Day Tour to Laoshan Mountain with Lunch and Cable Car: $238
- Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
- Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248
- Qingdao Private Tour: City Highlights and Laoshan Mountain with Lunch+Cable Car: $268
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour: Qingdao Highlights with Lunch: $285
Typical Entertainment Prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Rock Climbing (for Two)$19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQingdao $14Railay Beach $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Beer$1.64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Qingdao and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach is more expensive. And not only is Qingdao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Qingdao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Qingdao 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 Railay Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Railay Beach than you might in Qingdao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Qingdao Expensive? and Is Railay Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Qingdao or Railay Beach?
Qingdao 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 Qingdao or Railay Beach in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Qingdao as well as Railay Beach. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.
In the summer, Qingdao is cooler than Railay Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Qingdao in July average around 25°C (77°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. In the summer, Qingdao often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Qingdao gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Qingdao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Qingdao usually gets less rain in July than Railay Beach. Qingdao gets 211 mm (8.3 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.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyQingdao 25°C (77°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Railay Beach in the Autumn?
Both Railay Beach and Qingdao 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 October, Qingdao is generally much colder than Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Qingdao average around 17°C (62°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Qingdao. Qingdao usually receives more sunshine than Railay Beach during autumn. Qingdao gets 220 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. In October, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Qingdao gets 45 mm (1.8 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.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberQingdao 17°C (62°F)Railay Beach 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Railay Beach in the Winter?
Both Railay Beach and Qingdao during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.
It's quite cold in Qingdao in the winter. Qingdao is much colder than Railay Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Qingdao averages around -0°C (32°F) in January, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
In Railay Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Qingdao often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Qingdao gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun.
Qingdao usually gets less rain in January than Railay Beach. Qingdao gets 11 mm (0.4 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.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryQingdao -0°C (32°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Qingdao or Railay Beach in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Qingdao and Railay Beach. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Qingdao is much colder than Railay Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Qingdao in April average around 12°C (53°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 29°C (84°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Railay Beach this time of the year. In Qingdao, it's very sunny this time of the year. Qingdao usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during spring. Qingdao gets 224 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, Qingdao usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Qingdao gets 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilQingdao 12°C (53°F)Railay Beach 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Qingdao
| Qingdao | Railay Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -0°C (32°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (34°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (43°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (53°F) | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 26°C (79°F) | 162 mm (6.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 22°C (72°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 10°C (49°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (37°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.