Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Hefei?
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 Hefei or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hefei or Koh Tao? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Hefei or Koh Tao?
Hefei
While most would consider the city of Hefei a pass-through destination, there are plenty of things to see in the capital city of China's Anhui province.
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 Adventure Tours to China, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Hefei Prices
China PricesKoh Tao Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHefei $78Koh Tao $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Hefei is $78, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $50. 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 Hefei and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHefei $29Koh Tao $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHefei $58Koh Tao $32
Compare Hotels in Hefei and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Hefei 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.Hefei $17Koh Tao $9.98
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$5.97
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$20
Is it cheaper to fly into Hefei or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Hefei 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 dayHefei $36Koh Tao $18
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)$6.28
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Breakfast$4.71
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.77
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$15
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Pancake$2.20
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American Breakfast (for Two)$8.79
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$8.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class with Sea View from Koh Tao : $51
- Memorable Thai Cooking Class with Stunning View from Koh Tao : $55
- Private Thai Cooking Class at Rooftop Kitchen on Koh Tao: $208
- Koh Tao Private Rooftop Thai Cooking Class with Scenic View: $222
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hefei $19Koh Tao $30
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)$7.85
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Snorkel Rental$3.14
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$3.14
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $24
- Amazing 5 Point Snorkeling Tour in Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: $24
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $27
- Snorkelling Trip 5 Island Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nang yuan: $27
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $27
- No Rush Morning & Afternoon 5 Stop Snorkeling tour for Koh Tao: $27
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $27
- Koh Tao Top Crystal Clear Snorkeling Day Tour by Big Boat : $27
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $29
- Koh Tao's First Light Snorkel Adventure with Oxygen Tours: $32
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $37
- CocoTipAdventures and Snorkel with Meals-BBQs-Cocktail-Sunset: $54
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHefei $11Koh Tao $8.22
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$2.04
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Bottle of Wine$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hefei and Koh Tao, we can see that Hefei 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 Hefei would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hefei 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 Hefei Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hefei or Koh Tao?
Hefei has a larger population, and is about 1000 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Hefei 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 Hefei or Koh Tao?
Hefei 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 Hefei or Koh Tao in the Summer?
Both Koh Tao and Hefei during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
Hefei is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the summer. The daily temperature in Hefei averages around 29°C (83°F) in July, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Koh Tao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hefei. Hefei usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Koh Tao. Hefei gets 171 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHefei 29°C (83°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Hefei or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hefei and Koh Tao. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Hefei is cooler than Koh Tao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hefei in October average around 18°C (64°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Hefei usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Hefei gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHefei 18°C (64°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Hefei or Koh Tao in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hefei as well as Koh Tao. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Hefei can be very cold during winter. In January, Hefei is generally much colder than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Hefei average around 3°C (38°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Hefei usually gets less rain in January than Koh Tao. Hefei gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHefei 3°C (38°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Hefei or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Hefei are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Hefei is much colder than Koh Tao in the spring. The daily temperature in Hefei averages around 16°C (61°F) in April, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
In April, Hefei usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Hefei gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHefei 16°C (61°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Hefei
| Hefei | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 3°C (38°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (50°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 16°C (61°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 22°C (71°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (78°F) | 121 mm (4.8 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (83°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (83°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (74°F) | 86 mm (3.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 18°C (64°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 11°C (53°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 5°C (42°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.