Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Xiamen?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Xiamen or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xiamen and Koh Tao 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: Xiamen or Koh Tao?
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.
Koh Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXiamen $64Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $64, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Xiamen and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $30Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $60Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Koh Tao? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xiamen $5.98Koh Tao $8.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Village: $115
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
- Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area: $19
- Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Private Transfer to Local Railway Station : $19
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Xiamen 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 dayXiamen $26Koh Tao $9.21
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Koh Tao $26
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 Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- 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
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
- Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Koh Tao $7.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Koh Tao, we can see that Xiamen is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Koh Tao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Xiamen Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Koh Tao?
Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 420 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Koh Tao, 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 Xiamen or Koh Tao?
Xiamen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Tao experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Xiamen or Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Koh Tao. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In July, Xiamen is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 30°C (86°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyXiamen 30°C (86°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Koh Tao. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Xiamen is around the same temperature as Koh Tao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 25°C (77°F) in October, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Xiamen usually gets less rain in October than Koh Tao. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year. October and November in Koh Tao is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberXiamen 25°C (77°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the winter, Xiamen is much colder than Koh Tao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Xiamen in January average around 14°C (58°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 22°C (72°F).
In January, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryXiamen 14°C (58°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Xiamen during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
In April, Xiamen is generally cooler than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 20°C (69°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. Xiamen usually gets more rain in April than Koh Tao. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year. February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilXiamen 20°C (69°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.