Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Zhangjiajie?
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 Zhangjiajie or Railay Beach?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Zhangjiajie and Railay Beach. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Zhangjiajie or Railay Beach?
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.
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 Historical Tours in China, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Zhangjiajie Prices
China PricesRailay Beach Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZhangjiajie $79Railay Beach $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Zhangjiajie is $79, 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 Zhangjiajie and Railay Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZhangjiajie $30Railay Beach $73
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZhangjiajie $60Railay Beach $146
Compare Hotels in Zhangjiajie and Railay Beach
Looking for a hotel in Zhangjiajie 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.Zhangjiajie $15Railay Beach $29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zhangjiajie
Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
- Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
- Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
- Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
- Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
- 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192
- Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
- Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
- Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $322
- 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
Is it cheaper to fly into Zhangjiajie or Railay Beach?
Prices for flights to both Railay Beach and Zhangjiajie 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 dayZhangjiajie $36Railay Beach $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie
For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196
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.Zhangjiajie $23Railay Beach $26
Tours and Activities in Zhangjiajie
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.
- Zhangjiajie Pandora Tour to Avatar Hallelujah Mountain: $7.00
- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Ticket Booking: $16
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Entrance Ticket Transportation: $42
- Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Grand Canyon Tickets Booking: $48
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Private or Shared Day Tour: $50
- Fox Fairy Show VIP ticket with round trip private transport: $52
- Charming Xiangxi Show VIP ticket with round trip transport: $52
- Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain Ticket Booking: $55
- One Day Mini Group Tour to Glass Bridge and Tianmen Mountain: $63
- Mini Group Tour: Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $66
- Zhangjiajie National Forest Park Tickets Booking: $69
- Mini Group Day Tour to Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountains: $69
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
Tours and Activities in Railay Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Railay Beach are as follows:
- Krabi: Rock Climbing Tour at Railay Beach: $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZhangjiajie $16Railay Beach $17
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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zhangjiajie and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach is more expensive. And not only is Zhangjiajie much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Zhangjiajie would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zhangjiajie 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 Railay Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Railay Beach than you might in Zhangjiajie.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zhangjiajie Expensive? and Is Railay Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Zhangjiajie or Railay Beach?
Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie or Railay Beach in the Summer?
Both Railay Beach and Zhangjiajie during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.
In July, Zhangjiajie is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 29°C (85°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
Railay Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Zhangjiajie. Zhangjiajie usually gets less rain in July than Railay Beach. Zhangjiajie gets 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year. August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Railay Beach in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zhangjiajie and Railay Beach. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Zhangjiajie is cooler than Railay Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zhangjiajie averages around 19°C (65°F) in October, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Zhangjiajie usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Zhangjiajie gets 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)Railay Beach 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Railay Beach in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zhangjiajie as well as Railay Beach. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.
In the winter, Zhangjiajie is much colder than Railay Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zhangjiajie in January average around 5°C (42°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).
Zhangjiajie usually gets more rain in January than Railay Beach. Zhangjiajie gets 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Zhangjiajie or Railay Beach in the Spring?
Both Railay Beach and Zhangjiajie are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Zhangjiajie is generally much colder than Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Zhangjiajie average around 17°C (63°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. It's quite rainy in Zhangjiajie. In April, Zhangjiajie usually receives more rain than Railay Beach. Zhangjiajie gets 166 mm (6.5 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 AprilZhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)Railay Beach 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Zhangjiajie
| Zhangjiajie | Railay Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (42°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 11°C (52°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 179 mm (7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 26°C (78°F) | 199 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 125 mm (4.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 24°C (75°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 19°C (65°F) | 90 mm (3.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 13°C (55°F) | 70 mm (2.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 44 mm (1.7 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.