Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Shenzhen?
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 Shenzhen or Railay Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Shenzhen and Railay Beach can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Shenzhen or Railay Beach?
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.
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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Shenzhen Prices
China PricesRailay Beach Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayShenzhen $140Railay Beach $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Shenzhen is $140, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $139. 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 Shenzhen and Railay Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personShenzhen $91Railay Beach $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomShenzhen $182Railay Beach $146
Compare Hotels in Shenzhen and Railay Beach
Looking for a hotel in Shenzhen 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.Shenzhen $15Railay Beach $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfers to/from Bao'an Airport(SZX): $20
- shenzhen airport private transfer: $31
- [Airport Transfer] Shenzhen Airport 送 迎 Shenzhen City Transfer High reputation for service! : $32
- A One-Way Disneyland Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Hotel: $33
- Private Transfer in Shenzhen with English Service: $35
- A One-Way Hotel Pick-Up Transfer to Hong Kong Disneyland: $36
- Shenzhen Private Transfer and Ongoing Travel Assistance: $39
- Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Hong Kong - Arrival Private Transfer: $45
- Private Departure Transfer from Hong Kong to Hong Kong Airport: $45
- Private Transfer - Hong Kong Airport (HKG) to Kai Tak Cruise Port: $47
- Private Transfer - Kai Tak Cruise Port to Hong Kong Airport (HKG): $47
- Shenzhen Bao'an Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Shenzhen or Railay Beach?
Prices for flights to both Railay Beach and Shenzhen 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 dayShenzhen $35Railay Beach $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Locals - Dim Sum, Wonton & more: $53
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $98
- Explore Hong Kong: Mid-Autumn Festival Food Tour: $103
- Discover Hong Kong’s Hidden Eats on a Tin Hau Food Tour: $109
- Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $116
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
- Private Food Tour in Hong Kong: $148
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $149
- The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $176
- Hong Kong Private & Personalized Food Tour with a Local: $177
- Asian Favorites Cooking Class in Hong Kong (4-Course Meal): $184
- Hong Kong Style Noodles Cooking Class (Includes 4-Course Meal): $184
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)$6.28
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Pizza$5.34
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Shenzhen $17Railay Beach $26
Tours and Activities in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Introduction to Hong Kong: Central Tip Based Walking Tour: $2.64
- Day in the life of a Hong Konger: Kowloon Tip Based Walking Tour: $2.64
- Between Two Systems: Hong Kong's Living History Tip Based Tour: $2.64
- Hong kong City Tour w/ Entry Fees & Lunch (2024) | 150+ booked: $2.64
- Hong Kong Observation Wheel Ticket: $5.45
- Hong Kong Airport Express Ticket: $10
- Hong Kong Peak Tram and Sky Terrace 428 Tickets (Optional): $13
- Monopoly Dreams Hong Kong Entry Ticket: $13
- Hong Kong Airport Express Train Tickets(Avoid Heavy Traffic): $15
- Hong Kong Airport Express E-Ticket : $15
- The Victoria Peak Tram Ticket | Hong Kong: $15
- Hong Kong Palace Museum Ticket: $17
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)$22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayShenzhen $19Railay Beach $17
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): $46
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$1.88
When comparing the travel costs between Shenzhen and Railay Beach, 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 Shenzhen Expensive? and Is Railay Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Shenzhen or Railay Beach?
Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen or Railay Beach in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Shenzhen as well as Railay Beach. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.
In the summer, Shenzhen is around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Shenzhen in July average around 30°C (85°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. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Shenzhen this time of the year. In the summer, Shenzhen often gets more sunshine than Railay Beach. Shenzhen gets 231 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Shenzhen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Shenzhen usually gets more rain in July than Railay Beach. Shenzhen gets 323 mm (12.7 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 JulyShenzhen 30°C (85°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Railay Beach in the Autumn?
Both Railay Beach and Shenzhen 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, Shenzhen is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Shenzhen average around 26°C (78°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Shenzhen usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach during autumn. Shenzhen gets 190 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 Shenzhen. In October, Shenzhen usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Shenzhen gets 143 mm (5.6 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 OctoberShenzhen 26°C (78°F)Railay Beach 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Railay Beach in the Winter?
Both Railay Beach and Shenzhen during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.
Shenzhen is much colder than Railay Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Shenzhen averages around 16°C (60°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, Shenzhen often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Shenzhen gets 140 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun.
Shenzhen usually gets less rain in January than Railay Beach. Shenzhen gets 26 mm (1 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 JanuaryShenzhen 16°C (60°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Shenzhen or Railay Beach in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Shenzhen and Railay Beach. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Shenzhen is cooler than Railay Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Shenzhen in April average around 23°C (73°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. Shenzhen usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during spring. Shenzhen gets 95 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. Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Shenzhen usually receives more rain than Railay Beach. Shenzhen gets 154 mm (6.1 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 AprilShenzhen 23°C (73°F)Railay Beach 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Shenzhen
| Shenzhen | Railay Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 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.