Which place is cheaper, Varanasi or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Ao Nang or Varanasi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Varanasi? 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 Varanasi?
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.
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $107Varanasi $30
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $107, while the average daily cost in Varanasi is $30. 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 Varanasi in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $52Varanasi $16
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $104Varanasi $32
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Varanasi
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Varanasi? 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: Varanasi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $56Varanasi $4.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Krabi to Phuket: $105
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $22
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $18
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $18
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $41
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $41
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $31
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $23
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
-
Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.96
-
Rickshaw Ride$0.60
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Varanasi Airport: Transfer to/from Varanasi Hotels & Airport: $18
- Varanasi Airport to hotel private transfer: $18
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $14
- Varanasi Airport Transfer: $30
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $12
- Spiritual Varanasi - A Most Amazing Heritage Walk with Private Transfer: $108
- Private transfer from Varanasi to Allahabad: $67
- Private Varanasi Heritage Walk with Hotel Transfer: $28
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Station to Hotel: $12
- Private Transfer Varanasi to Bodhgaya - One Way: $112
- Private Transfer Varanasi Airport (VNS) To Varanasi Hotels Drop: $12
- Private Departure Transfer to Airport from Hotel in Delhi By Car: $34
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Varanasi?
Prices for flights to both Varanasi 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 dayAo Nang $24Varanasi $7.14
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 Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dinner In Town$4.13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Tests of Best Varanasi Local Food Tour With Tourist Guide: $18
- Taste of Varanasi (2 Hour Guided Street Food Tour): $22
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $40
- From Street food tour with Evening Ganga Aarti: $42
- Private Evening Rooftop Dinner: $44
- 3-hour Shopping and Street Food Tour on a tuk-tuk ride: $46
- Evening Dinner with Private Transfer: $50
- Afternoon tour of Varanasi with Boat ride over Ganges & Dinner on a tuk-tuk : $59
- Night Boat Ride, Aarati Ceremony and Dinner: $62
- Private Evening Street Food Tour: $63
- India: Evening Ganga Aarti With Dinner and Private Transfer: $65
- Private Evening Handicraft Market Tour with Dinner: $71
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $11Varanasi $10
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- ATV adventure 1hour drive: $43
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $27
- ATV adventure and achery (1้hour ): $35
- ATV adventure and shooting range: $57
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $27
- From Hong Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $32
- From Phi Phi Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $46
- From Private Gondola Cruise with Lunch and Picnic: $59
- From Krabi: James Bond Island One-Day Tour by Speedboat: $123
- Half-Day Krabi Four Islands Tour with Amazing long-tail Boat: $88
- James Bond Island: Sightseeing Tour by Longtail Boat & Kayak: $42
- Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $32
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
Boat Ride$0.84
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Varanasi Experience 01 Night -02 Days Tour: $85
- 01 Day Private Taj Mahal Tour (Delhi- Agra - Delhi): $140
- 08 Hours : Private - Full Day City Tour Of Delhi : $53
- 08 Hours : Private Full Day City Tour of Jaipur : $120
- 1 Day Ayodhya Tour from Varanasi Airport: $82
- 11 - Hours Agra Tour: Sunrise and Sunset of Taj Mahal from Delhi.: $97
- 12 Days Buddhist Tour From The Birth To Death: $1,439
- 2 Day Private Mystical Varanasi Tour: $49
- 2 Day Varanasi Day Tour with Boating and English Speaking Guide: $300
- 2 Days : Varanasi Private Guided Tour With Airport Pickup: $162
- 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $189
- 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $132
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $15Varanasi $7.85
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Varanasi, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Varanasi.
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 Varanasi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Varanasi?
Varanasi has a larger population, and is about 150 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Varanasi, 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.