A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Krabi vs. Jinghong for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Krabi or Jinghong?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Jinghong can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Krabi or Jinghong?

Krabi

Krabi is both a large town and region in southern Thailand. While the region is covered in beaches, if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi (where you'll find famous places such as Railay, Ao Nang, Haad Yao, and plenty of others). Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies, and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience. There's a good chance you'll be passing through on your way to one of the famous beaches, so take advantage of your brief time here.

Jinghong

Located in the southernmost part of the Yunnan Province, Jinghong is a city that attracts visitors each year with its rich culture and folklore, Buddhist temples, and tropical rainforest scenery of palms and mango trees amongst others. It is also an area popular with backpackers as well as a waypoint for travelers passing between China and Laos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) 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, Jinghong or Krabi?

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 Krabi is $74, while the average daily cost in Jinghong is $83. 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 Krabi and Jinghong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Krabi $42
    Jinghong $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Krabi $84
    Jinghong $40
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Jinghong

Looking for a hotel in Krabi or Jinghong? 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 Krabi


Hotels in Jinghong


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: Krabi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Krabi $4.37
    Jinghong $25
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $9.42
  • Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
    $3.14
  • 2 Bottles of Gasoline
    $2.51
  • Longboat Taxi from Town
    $6.28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi

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

  • ATV Jungle Adventure in Krabi with Roundtrip Transfer: $38
  • Ao Nang Kayaking at Klong Rud with Hotel Transfer: $26
  • Ao Nang to Krabi Private Transfer: $30
  • Aonang any hotel to Donsak Pier Private transfer: $135
  • Aonang any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $101
  • From Khaolak : One Way Private Transfer Phuket,Krabi and More: $87
  • Full Day Krabi Jungle Tour With Elephant Trekking Transfers: $83
  • Private Van (3-8 Pers) R/T Transfer Airport-Krabi-Airport: $60
  • KRABI:Private Car Round Trip Transfer Krabi Airport-Ao-nang Beach-Krabi Airport: $60
  • Krabi ATV Extreme Experience with Transfer and Adventure: $33
  • Krabi Airport (KBV) Private Transfer: $13
  • Krabi Airport Departure – Private Transfer from Hotel to Airport: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Jinghong?

Prices for flights to both Jinghong and Krabi 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
    Krabi $25
    Jinghong $48
Typical Food Prices in Krabi

For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $7.85
  • Drinks on the Beach
    $7.54
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $19
  • Nice Dinner (for Two)
    $35
  • Mango Shake
    $1.57
  • Pad Thai
    $3.14
  • Fruit from the Market
    $1.88
  • Pancakes
    $3.14
  • Coffee & Cake
    $2.36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi

For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Snorkeling and Sunset to Krabi 7 Islands by Longtail Boat + Buffet BBQ Dinner: $37
  • Hands on Half-day Cooking Class by Authentic Thai Cooking: $39
  • 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Night Snorkeling: $39
  • Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $40
  • Penny Thai Cooking Class Krabi: $45
  • Krabi Kitchens Food Tour with 15 Plus Tastings: $45
  • Krabi Bites Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $45
  • Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $45
  • Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night : $45
  • Thai Charm Cooking School Krabi: $46
  • Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $46
  • Kayaking and BBQ Dinner On The Beach Ao Thalane From Krabi: $48

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Krabi $12
    Jinghong $9.31
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Thai-English Book
    $10
  • Thai Massages (for Two)
    $25
  • Bikini & Sarong
    $19
  • Yoga Class (1 Hour)
    $14
  • Backgammon Set (travel size)
    $7.85
  • Kayak Trip (for Two)
    $60

Tours and Activities in Krabi

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

  • DIY tour - Finest selection of Krabi Hidden Gems: $8.17
  • Railay Phra Nang and Diamond Cave Sunset tour: $21
  • Krabi 4 Islands Snorkeling and Thale Waek Full Day Tour : $21
  • ATV Adventure in Krabi Thailand: $22
  • Krabi ATV adventure tour 1 Hour : $23
  • Blue Dragon Cabaret Ticket Dazzling Night from Krabi: $24
  • Klong Root Kayaking and Swimming with ATV Tour From Krabi : $24
  • Ao Thalane Kayaking Mangrove Forests Adventure from Krabi : $24
  • 4 Islands Day Tour from Krabi: $25
  • Krabi 4 Islands Shared Tour with Lunch and Guide: $25
  • ATV Adventure in Thrills Await: $28
  • Railay Beach and Caves Tour from Ao Nang - Half Day: $28

Tours and Activities in Jinghong

Here are a few actual costs in Jinghong for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Best of Dai Villages | 20km E-Bike Tour: $41

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Krabi $5.00
    Jinghong $5.41
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.83
  • Cocktails (for Two)
    $9.42


When comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Jinghong, we can see that Jinghong 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 Krabi Expensive? and Is Jinghong Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Krabi or Jinghong?

Jinghong has a larger population, and is about 99% larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi and Jinghong, 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.