A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sukhothai vs. Zhangjiajie for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Sukhothai and Zhangjiajie can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie?

Sukhothai

If you are the kind of wandering traveler looking to find calm and inner peace, you will want to add Sukhothai to your list. Also known as "the dawn of happiness," this area is best known for the ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai – the capital of Thailand during the 13th century. As the first capital of Siam, the area's temples and monuments are restored and ready for visitors from around the world.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie or Sukhothai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sukhothai is $59, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $63. 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 Sukhothai and Zhangjiajie in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sukhothai $23
    Zhangjiajie $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sukhothai $46
    Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Sukhothai and Zhangjiajie

Looking for a hotel in Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie? 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.

Hotels in Sukhothai


Hotels in Zhangjiajie


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: Sukhothai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sukhothai $17
    Zhangjiajie $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sukhothai

Also for Sukhothai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer to Bangkok City: $322
  • Private Transfer to Bangkok City: $268
  • One -Way Private Transfer to Chiang Mai: $187
  • Sukhothai Hotel Transfer: to/from Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: $159
  • Sukhothai : private car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $138
  • Sukhothai airport: Transfer to Sukhothai Historical Park: $78

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie

Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Zhangjiajie Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $18
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie Train Station to Fenghuang hotel: $149
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105

Is it cheaper to fly into Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie?

Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie and Sukhothai 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sukhothai $19
    Zhangjiajie $20

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie

For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Full-Day Private Discovery Tour to Tianmen Mountain National Park with Dinner: $184

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sukhothai $33
    Zhangjiajie $23

Tours and Activities in Sukhothai

For Sukhothai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Cycling Sukhothai Full Day Countryside Tour: $32
  • 2.5-Hours Guided Countryside Sunset Bike Tour: $18
  • Full-Day Historical Park Cycling Tour with Lunch: $42
  • Half-Day Countryside Bike Tour: $26
  • Historical Park & Countryside Cycling Tour: $42

Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.

  • Half-Day Self-Guided Fenghuang Night Tour from Zhangjiajie: $200
  • (Private Day Tour) Zhangjiajie National Park + Tianzi Mountain: $195
  • 1 Day Dragon Sitting Gorge & Red Stone Forest Geo-park TOUR!: $272
  • 1 Day Tianmen Mountain Tour: $139
  • 1 Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain and Glass Skywalk Tour: $154
  • 1 Days Zhangjiajie Natural Beauty Tour with Baofeng Lake: $132
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon(Glass Bridge) & Baofeng Lake Tour: $240
  • 1-Day Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Tour: $146
  • 2-Day “Best Of Zhangjiajie”-Avatar World & Tianmen Mountain Tour: $260
  • 2-Day Zhangjiajie Happy Foodie&Sightseeing Tour: $300
  • 2-Day Zhangjiajie Tour Including Yuanjiajie Mountains: $550
  • 2-Full Days Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tour : $284

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sukhothai $12
    Zhangjiajie $16


When comparing the travel costs between Sukhothai and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Zhangjiajie 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 Sukhothai Expensive? and Is Zhangjiajie Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie?

Zhangjiajie has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Sukhothai. When comparing the sizes of Sukhothai and Zhangjiajie, 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 Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie?

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

Should I visit Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Sukhothai and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sukhothai year-round.

In the summer, Sukhothai is around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sukhothai in July average around 29°C (84°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Zhangjiajie receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sukhothai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Sukhothai usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Sukhothai gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Sukhothai 29°C (84°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)

Should I visit Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Sukhothai as well as Zhangjiajie. Sukhothai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Sukhothai is generally much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Sukhothai average around 28°C (83°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

Sukhothai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Sukhothai usually gets more rain in October than Zhangjiajie. Sukhothai gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, October to April in Sukhothai is the dry season. May to October in Sukhothai is the rainy season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Sukhothai 28°C (83°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)

Should I visit Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?

Both Zhangjiajie and Sukhothai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sukhothai throughout the year.

Sukhothai is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the winter. The daily temperature in Sukhothai averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

In January, Sukhothai usually receives less rain than Zhangjiajie. Sukhothai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Sukhothai 25°C (77°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)

Should I visit Sukhothai or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?

Both Zhangjiajie and Sukhothai during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sukhothai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The heat can be very extreme in Sukhothai. In the spring, Sukhothai is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sukhothai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Zhangjiajie gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Sukhothai usually gets less rain in April than Zhangjiajie. Sukhothai gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year. October to April is the dry season in Sukhothai. May to October is the rainy season in Sukhothai.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Sukhothai 32°C (89°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)

Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Sukhothai

Sukhothai Zhangjiajie
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 5°C (42°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 6°C (44°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 30°C (86°F) 29 mm (1.1 in) 11°C (52°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Apr 32°C (89°F) 51 mm (2 in) 17°C (63°F) 166 mm (6.5 in)
May 31°C (87°F) 189 mm (7.4 in) 22°C (72°F) 179 mm (7 in)
Jun 30°C (85°F) 183 mm (7.2 in) 26°C (78°F) 199 mm (7.8 in)
Jul 29°C (84°F) 190 mm (7.5 in) 29°C (85°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 257 mm (10.1 in) 29°C (83°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 241 mm (9.5 in) 24°C (75°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Oct 28°C (83°F) 157 mm (6.2 in) 19°C (65°F) 90 mm (3.6 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.7 in)
Dec 25°C (77°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 7°C (45°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)