Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Week Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $121Whitsundays $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $121, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $139. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $58Whitsundays $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $116Whitsundays $144
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Whitsundays? 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: Ao Nang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $63Whitsundays $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer Phuket - Krabi, Aonang: $150
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Krabi to Phuket: $117
- Krabi: Private Transfer Between Ao Nang Area and Ko Lanta: $113
- Ko Lanta: Speed Boat Transfer Direct to Aonang: $56
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $45
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $45
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $34
- One way Private transfer from Krabi airport to Ao Nang: $33
- Krabi ATV Extreme Experience with Transfer and Adventure: $28
- Krabi: Ao Nang To/From Phi Phi By Fast Speed Boat Transfer: $27
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $26
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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
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Food Meals for one dayAo Nang $28Whitsundays $31
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 Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $102
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $12Whitsundays $26
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: $44
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $30
- ATV adventure and achery (1้hour ): $36
- ATV adventure and shooting range: $63
- Ao Nang Kayak Adventure: Explore the Stunning Flooded Forest: $27
- Hong Islands Tour by Speedboat or Longtail Boat: $39
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $30
- Rafting, Zipline, and Waterfall Trek Adventure Tour: $46
- From Phi Phi Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $51
- From Private Gondola Cruise with Lunch and Picnic: $66
- From Krabi: 4 Islands Sunset Tour+Plankton by Speedboat: $51
- From Krabi: James Bond Island One-Day Tour by Speedboat: $137
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $5,159
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $163
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $17Whitsundays $13
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 comparing the travel costs between Ao Nang and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Ao Nang is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Ao Nang or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Ao Nang experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Ao Nang or Whitsundays in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ao Nang and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round.
In the summer, Ao Nang is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ao Nang in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 26°C (79°F)in January.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. In Ao Nang, it's very sunny this time of the year. Ao Nang usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during summer. Ao Nang gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun in the summer.
Whitsundays 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 less rain than Whitsundaysin January. Ao Nang gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain each month for the summer. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ao Nang as well as Whitsundays. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In October, Ao Nang is generally a little warmer than Whitsundaysin April. Daily temperatures in Ao Nang average around 27°C (81°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. In the autumn, Ao Nang often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin April. Ao Nang gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Whitsundays. Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in October than Whitsundaysin April. Ao Nang gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. August to October in Ao Nang is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilAo Nang 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Whitsundays in the Winter?
Both Whitsundays and Ao Nang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year.
Ao Nang is much warmer than Whitsundays in the winter. The daily temperature in Ao Nang averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually receives more sunshine than Whitsundays during winter. Ao Nang gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Ao Nang usually receives less rain than Whitsundaysin July. Ao Nang gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Ao Nang is December to March.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyAo Nang 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Ao Nang or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays and Ao Nang during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In the spring, Ao Nang is a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ao Nang in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in October.
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. In the spring, Ao Nang often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin October. Ao Nang gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. Ao Nang usually gets more rain in April than Whitsundaysin October. Ao Nang gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberAo Nang 29°C (84°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Ao Nang
| Ao Nang | Whitsundays | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) |
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.