Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Aqaba?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Aqaba or Koh Tao, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Aqaba is a port city in Jordan, in fact, it is the only port city in the country. This city is located on the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, which is in the southern part of Jordan. The city is still being developed; many of its facilities and infrastructures are being improved. The population of Aqaba is about 190,000 and the city has been key in developing Jordan's economy via trade and tourism.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Jordan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Aqaba is $127, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Aqaba and Koh Tao in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Aqaba 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Aqaba:
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Aqaba 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Aqaba.
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
Here are a few actual costs in Aqaba for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
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 Aqaba and Koh Tao, we can see that Aqaba is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Aqaba is in Middle East and Koh Tao is in Asia, 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 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 Aqaba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Aqaba than you might in Koh Tao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aqaba Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Aqaba has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Aqaba and Koh Tao, 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.
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Both Koh Tao and Aqaba during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Aqaba because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
Koh Tao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Aqaba usually gets less rain in July than Koh Tao. Aqaba gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Aqaba. In the summer, Aqaba often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Aqaba gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun.
It's very hot in Aqaba this time of the year. Aqaba is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the summer. The daily temperature in Aqaba averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Aqaba and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Aqaba year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao. Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Aqaba, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aqaba usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during autumn. Aqaba gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Aqaba is around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Aqaba in October average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
The winter brings many poeple to Aqaba as well as Koh Tao. Aqaba attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season. Aqaba usually gets less rain in January than Koh Tao. Aqaba gets 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aqaba this time of the year. In the winter, Aqaba often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Aqaba gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun.
In January, Aqaba is generally much colder than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Aqaba average around 14°C (57°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Both Koh Tao and Aqaba are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Aqaba throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. In April, Aqaba usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Aqaba gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Aqaba. Aqaba usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during spring. Aqaba gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.
Aqaba is around the same temperature as Koh Tao in the spring. The daily temperature in Aqaba averages around 24°C (75°F) in April, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
Aqaba | Koh Tao | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |