Should you visit Ao Nang or Bali?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Bali? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
Bali
Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.
Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.
Which city is cheaper, Bali or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $94, while the average daily cost in Bali is $64. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Ao Nang and Bali in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $92 in Ao Nang For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Bali's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $74. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $37.
Food
Ao Nang food costs typically run travelers around $22 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Bali food costs typically run travelers around $18 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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Food
Meals for one day
Ao Nang $22
Bali $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Evening Couse Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi:
$39
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Krabi 7 Islands Sunset with Luminescent Plankton Swim & BBQ Dinner:
$41
-
Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi:
$43
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Krabi 4 Island & Sunset Tour By Long Tail Boat + Dinner:
$49
-
Krabi 4 Islands Sunset Cruise Dinner:
$70
-
Romantic Sunset Cruise from Ao Nang with BBQ Seafood Dinner:
$100
Typical Food prices in Bali
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
-
Coffee
$1.40
-
Lunch for Two
$15
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Bali Cafe for Two
$30
-
Lunch for Two
$9.08
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Lunch for 2
$10
-
Dinner for 2
$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
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Eat while chef is cooking in front of you:
$24
-
Sidemen: Firewood Cooking Class & Organic Farm Tour:
$28
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From Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm:
$30
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Withlocals your Way: 100% Personalised Bali Private Food Tour:
$39
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Bali Cooking Class:
$39
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Ubud: Romantic Barbecue Dinner by the Pool:
$57
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Private Full or Half-Day Authentic Food Tour:
$58
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Romantic Dinner by Oceana Restaurant & Bar:
$74
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Ubud: Romantic Dinner among the Rice Fields:
$110
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Ubud: Romantic Dinner on a Forest Tree Deck:
$216
Local Transportation
Ao Nang's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $49 per person, per day on transportation in Ao Nang.
The average price of local transportation around Bali is $8.13 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport Departure:
$21
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Private Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport Departure:
$21
-
Private Departure Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport:
$21
-
Private Departure Transfer from Ao Nang to KBV Krabi Airport:
$22
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Krabi airport to Aonang any hotel Private transfer:
$23
-
Aonang any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer:
$23
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Ferry Transfer Between Koh Phi Phi To Phuket:
$25
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TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to SURIN Beach Area:
$27
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Private Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport Departure:
$36
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TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to PATONG Beach Area:
$36
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Private Transfer from Railay Beach to Krabi (KBV) Airport:
$41
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Private Transfer from Ao Nang Beach to Krabi (KBV) Airport:
$41
Typical Local Transportation prices in Bali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
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Ubud: Jungle Trampoline, Swing & Luwak Coffee with Transfer:
$57
-
Private Transfer from Bali to Sitia (JSH) Airport:
$394
-
Nusa Dua: Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) Transfer:
$12
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Ngurah Rai Bali Airport Private Transfer:
$15
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Departure Private Transfer Nusa Dua or Seminyak to Bali Airport DPS by Minivan:
$52
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Denpasar : Private Transfer to/from Ngurah Rai Intl. Airport:
$14
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Crete Private Transfer from Bali city to Heraklion (HER) Airport:
$108
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Return Private Transfer for Night Safari:
$41
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Private Transfer between Airport (DPS) and Seminyak:
$12
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Private One-Way Transfer Between Legian & DPS Airport:
$17
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Bali Departure Private Transfers from Bali Central to Bali Airport DPS:
$83
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Bali Airport: Luxury Private Transfer by Alphard Vellfire:
$65
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Bali?
Prices for flights to both Bali and Ao Nang 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.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Ao Nang can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $9.65 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Bali's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $9.75 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Krabi 4 island tour:
$19
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Skip the Line: Blue Dragon Cabaret Show Ticket:
$24
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Krabi: Blue Dragon Cabaret Show Ticket:
$24
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Krabi Hong Island tour:
$25
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Krabi jungle Tour (Emerald pool,Hot spring waterfall, Tiger cave):
$31
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Krabi - One Day Phi Phi Island Tour By Speed Boat:
$36
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Deep mangrove and canyon Kayak Tour in Krabi:
$36
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Krabi - 5 Island Tour by Big Boat:
$37
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Krabi Rainforest Discovery Tour with lunch:
$39
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White Water Rafting Adventure - 5km in Phang Nga bay:
$39
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Tour James Bond Island from Krabi:
$41
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Aonang wonder Cocktail testing tour:
$41
Typical Entertainment prices in Bali
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
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Spa for Two
$61
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Snorkelling Trip
$14
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Cooking School
$31
Tours and Activities in Bali
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
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2 Days Rinjani Trekking Tour:
$250
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Amazing Nusa Penida Snorkeling Experience:
$63
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Ancient Tour to Yeh Pulu and Goa Gajah:
$45
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Ayung River: All Inclusive Rafting Adventure:
$26
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Bali - Kintamani Tour:
$65
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Bali - Ubud Tour:
$60
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Bali 5 Days Tour & Activities - All Included:
$306
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Bali ATV or Quad Bike Tandem Tour Package:
$101
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Bali Alternative Temples Private Group Tour:
$74
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Bali Bird Park 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$25
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Bali Countryside Bike Tour Package:
$101
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Bali Full-Day Private Customized Tour:
$50
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Ao Nang spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $2.88 on alcoholic beverages in Bali per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Bali, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali 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 Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Bali.
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