Which place is cheaper, Kathmandu or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Kathmandu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Kathmandu? 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 Kathmandu?
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.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $107Kathmandu $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $107, while the average daily cost in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $52Kathmandu $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $104Kathmandu $80
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Kathmandu
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Kathmandu? 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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $56Kathmandu $6.95
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $18
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $18
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $22
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $23
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $31
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $41
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $41
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Krabi to Phuket: $105
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:
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Taxi Ride$1.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu to Chitwan Hotels: $210
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu International Airport to Hotel : $25
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle : $20
- Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan or Vv: $90
- Private Arrival Transfer Kathmandu Airport to Kathmandu, Nepal: $45
- Pokhara: One way transfer To or From Kathmandu: $117
- One-Way Flight Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara: $130
- Nagarkot to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car: $40
- Mount Everest Scenic Tour by Plane with Transfers: $79
- Mount Everest Scenic Tour by Plane with Transfers: $88
- Everest Mountain flight by a plane with Transfer: $156
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Kathmandu?
Prices for flights to both Kathmandu 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 $24Kathmandu $8.31
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: $39
- Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $40
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $46
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $50
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $127
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of dining costs in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Dessert$1.35
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Dinner for Two$3.01
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.
- Best Half-Day Nepali Cooking Class & Hotel Pickup: $7.50
- Momo Making & Cooking class in Thamel with Pickup: $8.59
- Half Day cooking class in Kathmandu by Local Chefs & Pickup: $9.37
- Best Half day cooking class in Thamel Kathmandu with Pickup: $10
- Dinner with Cultural Show Kathmandu : $12
- Cooking Class in Thamel Kathmandu by Local Chef with pickup: $13
- Cultural Dinner Show with Traditional Dance: $17
- Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel, Kathmandu with Pickup: $19
- Half Day Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Visit: $23
- Food Tour In Kathmandu With Walking Local Market: $23
- Nepali cooking class and Homestay experience : $25
- Kathmandu Culinary Adventure: A Cooking Class Experience: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $11Kathmandu $8.04
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: $16
- Krabi ATV adventure drive 30mins: $22
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $22
- Krabi 4 Island One Day Tour by Speed boat or Longtail boat: $24
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $27
- Krabi: Bioluminescent Plankton, Snorkeling & Sunset Tour: $27
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $27
- Krabi: ATV adventure and extreme: $31
- Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $32
- From Hong Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $32
- Krabi: Tiger Cave, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour: $35
- Krabi: Railay Beach Bioluminescent Plankton Ferry Cruise: $35
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Kathmandu are as follows:
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Monkey Temple for Two$1.50
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Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two$3.76
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Swayambhunath Stupa$1.50
Tours and Activities in Kathmandu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kathmandu are as follows:
- Day tour Namo Buddha : $90
- Hire Tour Guide Nepal : $81
- Manakamana Darshan- Day Tour: $199
- One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $110
- Private Full Day Tour In Kathmandu City: $115
- Private Full- Day Nagarkot SunriseTour and Bhaktapur( UNESCO) Durbar Square : $90
- Two Days Sightseeing in Kathmandu Tour UNESCO Heritage sites: $150
- "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
- 1 Day Cycling Tour in Kathmandu: $312
- 1 Day Everest base camp helicopter tour: $2,146
- 1 Day Kathmandu Shopping Tour Experience: $100
- 1 Day Rock Climbing Tour near Kathmandu Valley: $190
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $15Kathmandu $5.77
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Kathmandu, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Kathmandu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kathmandu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kathmandu 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 Kathmandu.
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 Kathmandu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Kathmandu?
Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Kathmandu, 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.