Which place is cheaper, Xiamen or Surat Thani?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Surat Thani or Xiamen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Surat Thani and Xiamen 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: Surat Thani or Xiamen?
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurat Thani $53Xiamen $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $53, while the average daily cost in Xiamen is $64. 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 Surat Thani and Xiamen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurat Thani $25Xiamen $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurat Thani $50Xiamen $60
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Xiamen
Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Xiamen? 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.Surat Thani $24Xiamen $5.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $59
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $36
- Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui Sedan 1-3 PAX: $12
- From Koh Samui: One-Way Ferry Transfer to Surat Thani: $7.16
- Donsak pier to aonang , krabi town , klongmuang any hotel Private transfer: $114
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen City and Nanjing Tulou : $115
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Village: $115
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and HongKeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Gaobei Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and Yun Shui Yao Ancient Town: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Xiamen?
Prices for flights to both Xiamen and Surat Thani 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 daySurat Thani $14Xiamen $26
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Khao Sok: Elephant Day Care, Cooking Class, & Bamboo Raft: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surat Thani $4.97Xiamen $16
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- 5 island tour: $459
- Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $69
- From Khao Lak/Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake and Emerald Pool Tour: $105
- From Phuket: Cheow Lan Lake 2Day Guided Tour with Activities: $203
- From Phuket: Full-Day Private Tour to Khao Sok Highlights: $170
- Khao Sok Lake: Private Day Tour with Boat and Jungle Trek: $179
- Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake Sunset Cruise w/ Drinks: $91
- Khao Sok: Private Longtail Boat Tour at Cheow Lan Lake: $227
- Koh Phangan: Private Land Tour with Snorkeling: $241
- Koh Samui Day and Night Fishing Experience: $48
- Koh Samui Waterfall And Mummified Monk Temple Tour: $241
- Koh Samui: 4x4 Sightseeing Safari & Elephant Sanctuary Tour: $58
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fujian Tulou Private Day Tour to World Heritage Site Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster: $178
- Xiamen Private One Day Tailor Made Tour with Gulangyu and City Highlights : $176
- 1-Day Xiamen City Highlights and Gulangyu Island Private Tour: $244
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
- A 2 Days 1 Night Group Tour to Explore Kinmen Island: $216
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- All Inclusive Xiamen Private Layover Tour to Hakka Tulou Village with Options: $234
- Day Tour to Admire the Panorama of Gulangyu Island and Visit the Precious Birds: $110
- Dongshan Island Highlights Full-Day Private Tour: $232
- Flexible Private Half-Day Tour to Visit the Top Attraction Xiamen Yuanbo Garden: $110
- Flexible Private Xiamen Layover Tour with Meal: $176
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurat Thani $4.96Xiamen $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surat Thani and Xiamen, we can see that Xiamen is more expensive. And not only is Surat Thani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Surat Thani would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surat Thani 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 Xiamen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Xiamen than you might in Surat Thani.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surat Thani Expensive? and Is Xiamen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surat Thani or Xiamen?
Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 578340 times larger than the population of Surat Thani. When comparing the sizes of Surat Thani and Xiamen, 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 Surat Thani or Xiamen?
Xiamen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Surat Thani experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Surat Thani or Xiamen in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Surat Thani and Xiamen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Surat Thani year-round.
In July, Surat Thani is generally around the same temperature as Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 28°C (82°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
Xiamen receives a lot of rain in the summer. Surat Thani gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Surat Thani usually receives around the same amount of rain as Xiamen. Surat Thani gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySurat Thani 28°C (82°F)Xiamen 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Xiamen in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Surat Thani as well as Xiamen. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Surat Thani is around the same temperature as Xiamen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Surat Thani averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Xiamen fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Surat Thani receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Surat Thani usually gets more rain in October than Xiamen. Surat Thani gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSurat Thani 27°C (81°F)Xiamen 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Xiamen in the Winter?
Both Xiamen and Surat Thani are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Surat Thani throughout the year.
In the winter, Surat Thani is much warmer than Xiamen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Surat Thani in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Xiamen averages at about 14°C (58°F).
In January, Surat Thani usually receives more rain than Xiamen. Surat Thani gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySurat Thani 25°C (77°F)Xiamen 14°C (58°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Xiamen in the Spring?
Both Xiamen and Surat Thani during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Surat Thani because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Surat Thani is generally a little warmer than Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 29°C (83°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 20°C (69°F).
Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Surat Thani usually gets less rain in April than Xiamen. Surat Thani gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSurat Thani 29°C (83°F)Xiamen 20°C (69°F)
Typical Weather for Xiamen and Surat Thani
| Surat Thani | Xiamen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (83°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 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.