A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bagan vs. Koh Chang for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bagan or Koh Chang?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bagan and Koh Chang can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bagan or Koh Chang?

Bagan

Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

Koh Chang

Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, and The Best Eco Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Chang or Bagan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $34, while the average daily cost in Koh Chang is $70. 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 Bagan and Koh Chang in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bagan $7.36
    Koh Chang $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bagan $15
    Koh Chang $56
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Koh Chang

Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Koh Chang? 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 Bagan


Hotels in Koh Chang


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: Koh Chang Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bagan $3.57
    Koh Chang $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Chang

Also for Koh Chang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Koh Chang to BKK or DMK Airport Private Transfers : $161
  • Private Transfer from Trat to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $236
  • Private Transfer from Trat to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $229
  • Trat Airport: Shared Transfers to/from Koh Chang with Ferry: $30

Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Koh Chang?

Prices for flights to both Koh Chang and Bagan 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
    Bagan $10
    Koh Chang $33

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.

  • Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bagan $57
    Koh Chang $6.28

Tours and Activities in Bagan

Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Old Bagan Sightseeing Tour: $43
  • Visiting Mount Popa from Bagan - Private Tour: $48

Tours and Activities in Koh Chang

For Koh Chang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Kayak Experience in Bang Bao Bay with Lunch: $25
  • Snorkeling Adventure at Koh Chang – Departing from Koh Chang: $32
  • PADI Discover Scuba Dive Experience: $175

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bagan -
    Koh Chang $5.38


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Koh Chang, we can see that Koh Chang is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan 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 Koh Chang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Chang than you might in Bagan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bagan Expensive? and Is Koh Chang Expensive?.