Should you visit Ao Nang or Koh Pha Ngan?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Koh Pha Ngan? 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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan is $40. 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 Koh Pha Ngan 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.
Koh Pha Ngan's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $40. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $20.
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.
The average traveler spends about $9.06 per day in Koh Pha Ngan for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Ao Nang $22
Koh Pha Ngan $9.06
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
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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
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Krabi 4 Islands Sunset Cruise Dinner:
$70
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Romantic Sunset Cruise from Ao Nang with BBQ Seafood Dinner:
$100
Typical Food prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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 cost of a taxi ride in Koh Pha Ngan is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $11 per person, per day, on local transportation in Koh Pha Ngan.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$111
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Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$99
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Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$99
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Aonang any hotel to Khao Lak Private transfer:
$110
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Aonang any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer:
$107
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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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Full Day Jungle Tour With Elephan Trekking 30 Minutes + Tiger Cave + Transfers:
$73
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Krabi Transfer to Khao Lak:
$117
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Krabi airport to Aonang any hotel Private transfer:
$23
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Krabi to Phuket: Private City Transfer:
$107
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Phuket Airport to Krabi City or Hotel Private Transfer:
$119
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
$9.04
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Ferry Ride
$15
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Gas for Scooter
$3.32
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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.
Entertainment and activities in Koh Pha Ngan typically cost an average of $15 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Ao Nang spend on average $13 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Koh Pha Ngan may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $8.74 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Ao Nang 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 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 Koh Pha Ngan.
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