Should you visit Ao Nang or Koh Tao?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Koh Tao? 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 Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
Which city is cheaper, Koh Tao or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $100, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $34. 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 Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $96 in Ao Nang For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The prices for places to stay in Koh Tao can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $13, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $26.
Food
Ao Nang food costs typically run travelers around $23 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.
In Koh Tao travelers spend around $8.69 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Ao Nang $23
Koh Tao $8.69
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 Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)
$6.40
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Breakfast
$4.80
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)
$3.84
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)
$16
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Pancake
$2.24
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American Breakfast (for Two)
$8.96
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)
$8.64
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 $52 per person, per day on transportation in Ao Nang.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Koh Tao than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $8.13 on transportation in Koh Tao on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Phuket Airport to Krabi City or Hotel Private Transfer:
$119
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Krabi Transfer to Khao Lak:
$117
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Ao Nang Krabi Thai Boxing Stadium Admission Ticket with Return Transfer:
$111
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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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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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Private Transfer Ao Nang Beach Krabi To Phuket Airport:
$90
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Full Day Jungle Tour With Elephan Trekking 30 Minutes + Tiger Cave + Transfers:
$73
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Private Transfer to Phuket with Jimmy Phuket Taxi:
$68
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Private Round Trip Transfer between Ao Nang and KBV Krabi Airport:
$44
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Private Transfer from Railay Beach to Krabi (KBV) Airport:
$41
Typical Local Transportation prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental
$6.08
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry
$21
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Ao Nang can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $10 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Sightseeing expenses in Koh Tao, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $25 per day, per person.
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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2 Days 1 Night Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi:
$285
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2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi:
$285
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2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi:
$285
-
2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi:
$285
-
All day Krabi Jungle Tour (Hot Spring Water, Emerald Pool, Tiger Cave Temple):
$61
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Aonang wonder Cocktail testing tour:
$41
-
Ban Bor Thor Kayaking Full-Day Tour from Krabi with Lunch:
$87
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Ban Bor Thor Kayaking Full-Day Tour from Krabi with Lunch:
$87
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Deep mangrove and canyon Kayak Tour in Krabi:
$36
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Four Island Half Day Tour From Krabi By SpeedBoat:
$75
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Full Day Rock Climbing Tour Railay Beach, Krabi:
$93
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Full day Rock Climbing Experience @ Railay, Krabi:
$109
Typical Entertainment prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)
$8.00
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Snorkel Rental
$3.20
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)
$3.20
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Ao Nang spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Koh Tao, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $6.70.
Typical Alcohol prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer
$2.08
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Bottle of Wine
$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Koh Tao, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Tao.
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