Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Xiamen?
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 Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Xiamen and Koh Pha Ngan 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: Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, The Best Historical Tours in China, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Xiamen Prices
China PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayXiamen $84Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Xiamen is $84, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $61. 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 Xiamen and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personXiamen $31Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomXiamen $62Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Xiamen and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Xiamen $6.08Koh Pha Ngan $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen City and Yongding Hakka Tulou : $115
- Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Hongkeng Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng and HekengHakka Tulou fromXiamen: $90
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Ferry Ride$16
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Gas for Scooter$3.45
Is it cheaper to fly into Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan and Xiamen 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 dayXiamen $46Koh Pha Ngan $20
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.26
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.26
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Ice Cream$0.63
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Juice$1.88
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3 Spring Rolls$0.94
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2 Pancakes$1.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Xiamen $16Koh Pha Ngan $19
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayXiamen $17Koh Pha Ngan $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$8.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Xiamen and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Xiamen is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Xiamen Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan?
Xiamen has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Xiamen and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan?
Xiamen has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Pha Ngan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Xiamen during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
In the summer, Xiamen is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Xiamen in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (76°F).
Koh Pha Ngan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Xiamen. Xiamen usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Koh Pha Ngan. Xiamen gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyXiamen 30°C (86°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Xiamen and Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Xiamen is generally around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Xiamen average around 25°C (77°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Xiamen usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Xiamen gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Pha Ngan.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberXiamen 25°C (77°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Xiamen as well as Koh Pha Ngan. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Xiamen is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan in the winter. The daily temperature in Xiamen averages around 14°C (58°F) in January, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Xiamen usually gets less rain in January than Koh Pha Ngan. Xiamen gets 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryXiamen 14°C (58°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Xiamen or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Xiamen are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Xiamen is cooler than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Xiamen in April average around 20°C (69°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (76°F).
It's quite rainy in Xiamen. In April, Xiamen usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Xiamen gets 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilXiamen 20°C (69°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Xiamen
| Xiamen | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 14°C (57°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 99 mm (3.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 20°C (69°F) | 147 mm (5.8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 24°C (76°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 27°C (81°F) | 197 mm (7.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (69°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (61°F) | 25 mm (1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.