A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hat Yai vs. Xiamen for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai 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: Hat Yai or Xiamen?

Hat Yai

The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.

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 Contiki Tours to Thailand, The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Xiamen or Hat Yai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Hat Yai is $36, while the average daily cost in Xiamen is $84. 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 Hat Yai and Xiamen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Hat Yai $16
    Xiamen $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Hat Yai $32
    Xiamen $62
Compare Hotels in Hat Yai and Xiamen

Looking for a hotel in Hat Yai 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.

Hotels in Hat Yai


Hotels in Xiamen


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: Hat Yai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Hat Yai $0.72
    Xiamen $6.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hat Yai

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hat Yai:

  • Private Hatyai Airport Transfer to Pak Bara Pier by Van: $80

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen

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

  • Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
  • Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
  • Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $25
  • Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
  • Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Departure Transfer from City Areas: $33
  • Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
  • Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
  • Private Transfer to Tianluokeng and HekengHakka Tulou fromXiamen: $90
  • 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

Is it cheaper to fly into Hat Yai or Xiamen?

Prices for flights to both Xiamen and Hat Yai 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
    Hat Yai $18
    Xiamen $46
Typical Food Prices in Hat Yai

Some typical examples of dining costs in Hat Yai are as follows:


  • Roti Snack
    $0.63

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Hat Yai -
    Xiamen $16

Tours and Activities in Xiamen

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

  • Sailing & Sea Experience.: $22
  • Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple & Luoyang Bridge Tour: $70
  • Xiamen Private English Tour Guide Service: $93
  • Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
  • A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
  • 4-Hour Xiamen Private Local Food Market Experience: $103
  • 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $115
  • 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
  • Shanghai Metro Tour: $127
  • Xiamen Layover Day Tour-Gulangyu,Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $132
  • Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $135
  • Tour Guide and Car: Private Day Tour to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village from Xiamen: $140

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Hat Yai $2.64
    Xiamen $17
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hat Yai

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hat Yai:


  • Beer
    $1.88


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hat Yai and Xiamen, we can see that Xiamen is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hat Yai Expensive? and Is Xiamen Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Hat Yai or Xiamen?

Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hat Yai. When comparing the sizes of Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai or Xiamen?

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

Should I visit Hat Yai or Xiamen in the Summer?

Both Xiamen and Hat Yai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

Hat Yai is around the same temperature as Xiamen in the summer. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Xiamen fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).

Xiamen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. Hat Yai usually gets less rain in July than Xiamen. Hat Yai gets 101 mm (4 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Hat Yai 29°C (83°F) 
    Xiamen 30°C (86°F)

Should I visit Hat Yai or Xiamen in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hat Yai and Xiamen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round.

In the autumn, Hat Yai is a little warmer than Xiamen. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hat Yai in October average around 28°C (82°F), and Xiamen averages at about 25°C (77°F).

Hat Yai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Hat Yai usually receives more rain than Xiamen. Hat Yai gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Hat Yai 28°C (82°F) 
    Xiamen 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Hat Yai or Xiamen in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hat Yai as well as Xiamen. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In January, Hat Yai is generally much warmer than Xiamen. Daily temperatures in Hat Yai average around 28°C (82°F), and Xiamen fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).

Hat Yai receives a lot of rain in the winter. Hat Yai usually gets more rain in January than Xiamen. Hat Yai gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Hat Yai 28°C (82°F) 
    Xiamen 14°C (58°F)

Should I visit Hat Yai or Xiamen in the Spring?

Both Xiamen and Hat Yai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year.

Hat Yai is a little warmer than Xiamen in the spring. The daily temperature in Hat Yai averages around 30°C (85°F) in April, and Xiamen fluctuates around 20°C (69°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. In April, Hat Yai usually receives less rain than Xiamen. Hat Yai gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Xiamen receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Hat Yai is January to April. The rainy season in Hat Yai is May to December.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Hat Yai 30°C (85°F) 
    Xiamen 20°C (69°F)

Typical Weather for Xiamen and Hat Yai

Hat Yai Xiamen
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 28°C (82°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 14°C (58°F) 37 mm (1.4 in)
Feb 28°C (83°F) 26 mm (1 in) 14°C (57°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 29°C (85°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 16°C (61°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)
Apr 30°C (85°F) 70 mm (2.8 in) 20°C (69°F) 147 mm (5.8 in)
May 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 24°C (76°F) 152 mm (6 in)
Jun 29°C (84°F) 101 mm (4 in) 27°C (81°F) 197 mm (7.7 in)
Jul 29°C (83°F) 101 mm (4 in) 30°C (86°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Aug 29°C (83°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 30°C (85°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 28°C (83°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 284 mm (11.2 in) 25°C (77°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 588 mm (23.1 in) 21°C (69°F) 37 mm (1.4 in)
Dec 27°C (80°F) 404 mm (15.9 in) 16°C (61°F) 25 mm (1 in)