A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sukhothai vs. Hongcun for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sukhothai or Hongcun?

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 Sukhothai and Hongcun can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Sukhothai or Hongcun?

Sukhothai

If you are the kind of wandering traveler looking to find calm and inner peace, you will want to add Sukhothai to your list. Also known as "the dawn of happiness," this area is best known for the ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai – the capital of Thailand during the 13th century. As the first capital of Siam, the area's temples and monuments are restored and ready for visitors from around the world.

Hongcun

When you picture ancient China, you likely picture old cobblestone streets, white homes with pointed black roofs and a slight air of mysticism in the surroundings. This is Hongcun.

The backdrop for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not usually on the top of many traveler's lists. This isn't a bustling tourist town with guides offering to show you the sights or carts peddling the latest tacky souvenir. It's a quiet village where you'll see the real Chinese culture. The homes along the complex water canals air their fish in their windows to preserve it for their family dinners. There is no bowing to tourism here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sukhothai and Hongcun, we can see that Sukhothai is more expensive. And not only is Hongcun much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hongcun would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hongcun 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 Sukhothai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sukhothai than you might in Hongcun.

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

When is the best time to visit Sukhothai or Hongcun?

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

Should I visit Sukhothai or Hongcun in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Sukhothai as well as Hongcun. Sukhothai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In July, Sukhothai is generally around the same temperature as Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Sukhothai average around 29°C (84°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).

It's quite rainy in Hongcun. Sukhothai receives a lot of rain in the summer. Sukhothai usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Hongcun. Sukhothai gets 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sukhothai or Hongcun in the Autumn?

Both Hongcun and Sukhothai are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sukhothai throughout the year.

Sukhothai is much warmer than Hongcun in the autumn. The daily temperature in Sukhothai averages around 28°C (83°F) in October, and Hongcun fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

It's quite rainy in Sukhothai. In October, Sukhothai usually receives more rain than Hongcun. Sukhothai gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Sukhothai is October to April. The rainy season in Sukhothai is May to October.

Should I visit Sukhothai or Hongcun in the Winter?

Both Hongcun and Sukhothai during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Sukhothai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The weather in Hongcun can be very cold. In the winter, Sukhothai is much warmer than Hongcun. Typically, the winter temperatures in Sukhothai in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Hongcun averages at about 4°C (40°F).

Sukhothai usually gets less rain in January than Hongcun. Sukhothai gets 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sukhothai or Hongcun in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Sukhothai and Hongcun. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Sukhothai year-round.

Sukhothai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Sukhothai is generally much warmer than Hongcun. Daily temperatures in Sukhothai average around 32°C (89°F), and Hongcun fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).

Hongcun receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Sukhothai usually receives less rain than Hongcun. Sukhothai gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Hongcun receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. October to April in Sukhothai is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Sukhothai.

Typical Weather for Hongcun and Sukhothai