Which city is cheaper, Koh Tao or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Ao Nang or Koh Tao? 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.
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.
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.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $93, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $32. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Ao Nang and Koh Tao in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Koh Tao? 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.
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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.
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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.
Both destinations experience a tropical climate with warm weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Koh Tao. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Ao Nang usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Ao Nang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ao Nang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao during summer. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.
In July, Ao Nang is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Temperatures in Ao Nang average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao stays around 24°C (76°F).
The autumn brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Koh Tao. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
October and November in Koh Tao is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in October than Koh Tao. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Ao Nang often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun.
Ao Nang is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the autumn. The temperature in Ao Nang is usually 27°C (81°F) in October, and Koh Tao stays around 24°C (76°F).
Both Koh Tao and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. In January, Ao Nang usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during winter. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Ao Nang is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ao Nang in January are around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao is about 22°C (72°F).
Both Koh Tao and Ao Nang during the spring are popular places to visit. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in April than Koh Tao. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. In the spring, Ao Nang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun.
In April, Ao Nang is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Temperatures in Ao Nang average around 29°C (84°F), and Koh Tao stays around 25°C (77°F).
Ao Nang | Koh Tao | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
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