A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Surat Thani vs. Yichang for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Surat Thani or Yichang?

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 Yichang 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 Yichang?

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."

Yichang

Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.

Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Yichang or Surat Thani?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $53, while the average daily cost in Yichang is $58. 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 Yichang in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surat Thani $25
    Yichang $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surat Thani $50
    Yichang $48
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Yichang

Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Yichang? 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 Surat Thani


Hotels in Yichang


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surat Thani $24
    Yichang $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani

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

  • From Koh Samui: One-Way Ferry Transfer to Surat Thani: $7.16
  • Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui Sedan 1-3 PAX: $12
  • Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $14
  • Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $36
  • Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $36
  • Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $36
  • Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $59
  • Donsak pier to aonang , krabi town , klongmuang any hotel Private transfer: $114
  • Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196

Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Yichang?

Prices for flights to both Yichang 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Surat Thani $14
    Yichang $21
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:


  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surat Thani $4.97
    Yichang $18

Tours and Activities in Surat Thani

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

  • Pick up and drop off tourists around Koh Samui: $14
  • The one and only Zipline Experience of Lamai Viewpoint: $38
  • Koh Samui Day and Night Fishing Experience: $48
  • Koh Samui: 4x4 Sightseeing Safari & Elephant Sanctuary Tour: $58
  • Koh Samui: Unique Iocal Tour & Elephant Sanctuary with lunch: $65
  • Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $69
  • X Quad Novice Waterfall ATV Tour (1 Driver): $76
  • Koh Samui: Elephant Kingdom Sanctuary Half-Day Tour: $81
  • Samui Dolphins Tour by Catamaran Yacht: $87
  • Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake Sunset Cruise w/ Drinks: $91
  • From Khao Lak/Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake and Emerald Pool Tour: $105
  • Samui X Quad ATV Tour (1 Driver) with lunch: $122

Tours and Activities in Yichang

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yichang are as follows:

  • From Yichang to Chongqing: 5-Day Cruise with Meals: $761
  • Private Day Tour in Yichang to Sanyou Cave and Sanxia Waterfall : $239
  • Private Tour: Essence of Yichang Day Tour: $165
  • Yichang Tourist Center to Yichang Sanxia Airport (YIH): $53
  • Yichang hotel/Sanxia Tourist Center/Maoping pier to Zhangjiajie: $290

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surat Thani $4.96
    Yichang $14


When comparing the travel costs between Surat Thani and Yichang, we can see that Yichang 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 Surat Thani Expensive? and Is Yichang Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Surat Thani or Yichang?

Yichang has a larger population, and is about 476730 times larger than the population of Surat Thani. When comparing the sizes of Surat Thani and Yichang, 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 Yichang?

Yichang 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 Yichang in the Summer?

Both Yichang and Surat Thani during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Surat Thani because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Surat Thani is around the same temperature as Yichang in the summer. The daily temperature in Surat Thani averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Yichang fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

Yichang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Surat Thani. Surat Thani usually gets less rain in July than Yichang. Surat Thani gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Surat Thani 28°C (82°F) 
    Yichang 29°C (85°F)

Should I visit Surat Thani or Yichang in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Surat Thani and Yichang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Surat Thani year-round.

In the autumn, Surat Thani is a little warmer than Yichang. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Surat Thani in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Yichang averages at about 20°C (67°F).

Surat Thani gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Surat Thani usually receives more rain than Yichang. Surat Thani gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Surat Thani 27°C (81°F) 
    Yichang 20°C (67°F)

Should I visit Surat Thani or Yichang in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Surat Thani as well as Yichang. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Surat Thani is generally much warmer than Yichang. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 25°C (77°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 6°C (43°F).

Surat Thani usually gets more rain in January than Yichang. Surat Thani gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Surat Thani 25°C (77°F) 
    Yichang 6°C (43°F)

Should I visit Surat Thani or Yichang in the Spring?

Both Yichang and Surat Thani are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Surat Thani throughout the year.

Surat Thani is much warmer than Yichang in the spring. The daily temperature in Surat Thani averages around 29°C (83°F) in April, and Yichang fluctuates around 18°C (65°F).

In April, Surat Thani usually receives less rain than Yichang. Surat Thani gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Surat Thani 29°C (83°F) 
    Yichang 18°C (65°F)

Typical Weather for Yichang and Surat Thani

Surat Thani Yichang
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 51 mm (2 in) 6°C (43°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Feb 26°C (79°F) 11 mm (0.4 in) 8°C (46°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Mar 27°C (81°F) 24 mm (0.9 in) 12°C (54°F) 54 mm (2.1 in)
Apr 29°C (83°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 18°C (65°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
May 29°C (83°F) 164 mm (6.5 in) 23°C (73°F) 124 mm (4.9 in)
Jun 28°C (83°F) 145 mm (5.7 in) 27°C (80°F) 151 mm (5.9 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 143 mm (5.6 in) 29°C (85°F) 229 mm (9 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 140 mm (5.5 in) 29°C (85°F) 197 mm (7.8 in)
Sep 28°C (82°F) 196 mm (7.7 in) 25°C (76°F) 122 mm (4.8 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 240 mm (9.5 in) 20°C (67°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 335 mm (13.2 in) 14°C (57°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Dec 26°C (78°F) 134 mm (5.3 in) 8°C (47°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)


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