Which place is cheaper, Boracay or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Boracay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Boracay? 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: Ao Nang or Boracay?
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.
Boracay
A small island in the Philippines known for its resorts and beaches, Boracay is a little escape. Each beach has its own unique character, each with new treasures waiting to be discovered.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Philippines, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Philippines.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $116Boracay $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $116, while the average daily cost in Boracay is $57. 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 Ao Nang and Boracay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $56Boracay $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $112Boracay $46
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Boracay
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Boracay? 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: Ao Nang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $61Boracay $28
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $24
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $26
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $34
- Ko Lanta: Speed Boat Transfer Direct to Aonang: $56
- Krabi: Ao Nang To/From Phi Phi By Fast Speed Boat Transfer: $27
- Krabi: Private Transfer Between Ao Nang Area and Ko Lanta: $112
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $45
- One way Private transfer from Krabi airport to Ao Nang: $33
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $45
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $19
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $19
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Boracay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Boracay:
- Speedboat Caticlan to Boracay Transfer (Oneway): $84
- PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO BORACAY: $108
- Departure: Ferry boat Transfer Boracay to Caticlan Airport: $31
- Caticlan: Speedboat Airport Transfer to Boracay: $51
- Caticlan: Shared Airport Transfer From/To Boracay: $56
- Caticlan: Ferry Boat Airport Transfer To Boracay: $35
- Shared Transfer from/to MPH for Domestic Passports: $21
- Private Transfer from Caticlan Airport to Boracay: $45
- Boracay Transfer round trip with Island Hopping: $71
- Boracay Adventures Transfer Services Via Caticlan: $35
- Airport Transfer to Boracay or vice versa: $30
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Boracay?
Prices for flights to both Boracay 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayAo Nang $26Boracay $14
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:
- Krabi: Ya's Cookery Late Afternoon Thai Cooking Class: $43
- Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $45
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $51
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $55
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $141
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $12Boracay $16
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Krabi: South Kayak Klong Root Kayaking Tour: $17
- Krabi: Saitai Mountain Tail ATV Adventure: $24
- Krabi ATV adventure drive 30mins: $24
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $25
- Ao Nang Kayak Adventure: Explore the Stunning Flooded Forest: $27
- Krabi 4 Island One Day Tour by Speed boat or Longtail boat: $27
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $30
- Krabi: ATV adventure and extreme: $30
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $30
- Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $34
- ATV adventure and achery (1้hour ): $36
- Krabi: Tiger Cave, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour: $36
Tours and Activities in Boracay
Here are a few actual costs in Boracay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Boracay Land Tour via Etrike: $27
- Aklan Tibiao Antique Tour : $190
- Atv Mainland Adventure with lunch: $65
- Beyond Jungle-River Adventure & Sunset Cruise: $58
- Boracay - Crystal Kayak phot-op Experience: $9.30
- Boracay ATV Tour and Kawa Hot Bath: $85
- Boracay Buggy Car Adventure: $105
- Boracay Cliff Jumping & Snorkeling Experience (Private): $105
- Boracay Eco-Hopping Tour: $88
- Boracay Helicopter Tour with Red Whale Party Yacht: $231
- Boracay Hopping Tour with Standard Boodle Fight Lunch: $37
- Boracay Island Hopping +Banana Boat (Shared Tour): $43
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $16Boracay $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Ao Nang
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ao Nang:
- Guided Bar Crawl with Shots and a T-Shirt: $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Boracay, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Boracay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boracay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boracay 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 Boracay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Boracay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Boracay?
Ao Nang has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Boracay. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Boracay, 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.
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.