A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Ao Nang vs. Nadi (Port Denarau) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Ao Nang or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ao Nang or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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 Nadi (Port Denarau)?

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.

Nadi (Port Denarau)

Nadi, pronounced "Nandi", is a city and transportation hub in the Fijian islands. It is on one of the main islands, Viti Levu, and has a population of about 42,000. Many inhabitants are Indian as well as Fijian, and the largest temple in the Southern hemisphere is located in the city center. It must be noted that Nadi and surrounding areas aren't known for the beaches. This is more of a cultural destination or starting point for your trip to Fiji. For the best beaches, you will want to venture out to the other, smaller, islands.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Nadi (Port Denarau) or Ao Nang?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $121, while the average daily cost in Nadi (Port Denarau) is $174. 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Ao Nang $58
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $110
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Ao Nang $116
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $220
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Nadi (Port Denarau)

Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Nadi (Port Denarau)? 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.

Hotels in Ao Nang


Hotels in Nadi (Port Denarau)


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 and Nadi (Port Denarau) Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Ao Nang $63
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $9.08

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: $20
  • Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $20
  • Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $24
  • Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $24
  • Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $26
  • Krabi: Ao Nang To/From Phi Phi By Fast Speed Boat Transfer: $27
  • Krabi ATV Extreme Experience with Transfer and Adventure: $28
  • One way Private transfer from Krabi airport to Ao Nang: $33
  • Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $34
  • Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $45
  • Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $45
  • Ko Lanta: Speed Boat Transfer Direct to Aonang: $56

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nadi (Port Denarau):

  • Zip line Fiji ex Fiji Marriot w/private transfer dropoff Nadi Airport or resort : $172
  • Treetops Zipline Tour with Drop off Transfer to Nadi Airport: $131
  • Shuttle transfer to Nadi Airport : $50
  • Shared Transfers from Airport to Denarau: $12
  • Shared Transfer from Nadi Airport Fiji to Nadi area hotels: $9.35
  • Shared Transfer To Nadi Airport from Denarau Resorts: $9.35
  • Shared Departure Transfer : Hotel to Airport: $17
  • Roundtrip transfer- Nadi Airport to Denarau island Fiji: $94
  • Roundtrip Transfer Nadi Int Airport -Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay(CFC APPROVED): $54
  • Round-trip Transfer Nadi To Intercontinental Fiji Resort And Spa: $60
  • Round-trip Nadi Int Airport - Denarau Hotels (Private Transfer): $28
  • Round trip Transfer Airport to Coral Coast /Denarau Hotels : $56

Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Prices for flights to both Nadi (Port Denarau) 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Ao Nang $28
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $41

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: 7-Island Sunset & Dinner - Join tour by Longtail boat: $42
  • 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: $52
  • Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $56
  • Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $142

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nadi (Port Denarau)

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nadi (Port Denarau).

  • Robinson Crusoe Sunset Cruise Including Dinner, Cultural Show & Transfers: $124

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Ao Nang $12
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $33

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 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: Saitai Mountain Tail ATV Adventure: $30
  • Krabi: ATV adventure and extreme: $30
  • Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $30
  • Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $35
  • Krabi: Tiger Cave, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour: $36
  • ATV adventure and achery (1้hour ): $36

Tours and Activities in Nadi (Port Denarau)

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nadi (Port Denarau) are as follows:

  • ''Coral Coast Adventure: Biausevu Waterfall & Natadola Beach !'': $147
  • "Coral Coast Adventure: Pottery, Kava, Meke, Dunes & Temple'': $107
  • 16 Lines Zipline, Cave and Mud Spa Combo Tour with Lunch in Fiji: $168
  • 6 Hours Giant Zipline Adventure Park in Fiji: $93
  • Authentic Cultural and Historical Village Tour of Nadi Ex Fiji Marriott Resort: $128
  • Authentic Fijian Day Tour: $85
  • Barefoot Kuata Day Cruise from Denarau: $133
  • Biausevu Waterfall Tour (Sigatoka) : $103
  • Biausevu Waterfall with New Dawn Tours Fiji: $85
  • CFC Hot Spring Mud Pool,Garden Of Sleeping Giant And Village Visit Half Day Tour: $108
  • Colo-i-Suva Waterfall Tour (Suva): $196
  • Coral Coast Heritage Tour: $161

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Ao Nang $17
    Nadi (Port Denarau) $12

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: $20


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Nadi (Port Denarau), we can see that Nadi (Port Denarau) is more expensive. And not only is Ao Nang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ao Nang is in Asia and Nadi (Port Denarau) is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Ao Nang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ao Nang 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 Nadi (Port Denarau) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nadi (Port Denarau) than you might in Ao Nang.

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 Nadi (Port Denarau) Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Nadi (Port Denarau)?

Nadi (Port Denarau) has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Nadi (Port Denarau), 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.