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

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Should you visit Bali or Koh Tao?

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 Bali and Koh Tao can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bali

Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.

Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.

Koh Tao

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.

Which city is cheaper, Koh Tao or Bali?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $63, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $31. 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bali and Koh Tao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bali $36
    Koh Tao $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bali $72
    Koh Tao $24

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bali $7.97
    Koh Tao $7.33
Typical Local Transportation prices in Bali

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:


  • Motorbike Rental
    $3.42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:

  • Private Transfer from Bali to Sitia (JSH) Airport: $394
  • Crete Private Transfer from Bali city to Heraklion (HER) Airport: $108
  • Bali Departure Private Transfers from Bali Central to Bali Airport DPS: $83
  • Bali Airport: Luxury Private Transfer by Alphard Vellfire: $65
  • Ubud: Jungle Trampoline, Swing & Luwak Coffee with Transfer: $57
  • Airport transfer and tour service: $56
  • Departure Private Transfer Nusa Dua or Seminyak to Bali Airport DPS by Minivan: $52
  • Airport Transfer Service from Area Ubud / Tanah Lot / Pecatu (13 Seater): $52
  • Airport Transfer Service from Area Ubud / Tanah Lot / Pecatu (8 seater): $41
  • Return Private Transfer for Night Safari: $41
  • Airport Transfer Service from Area Ubud / Tanah Lot / Pecatu: $23
  • Private One-Way Transfer Between Legian & DPS Airport: $17

Typical Local Transportation prices in Koh Tao

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:


  • Motorbike Rental
    $5.47
  • Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry
    $19

Is it cheaper to fly into Bali or Koh Tao?

Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Bali 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
    Bali $18
    Koh Tao $7.83
Typical Food prices in Bali

Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:


  • Coffee
    $1.37
  • Lunch for Two
    $15
  • Bali Cafe for Two
    $30
  • Lunch for Two
    $8.90
  • Lunch for 2
    $9.85
  • Dinner for 2
    $11

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali

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

  • Eat while chef is cooking in front of you: $24
  • Sidemen: Firewood Cooking Class & Organic Farm Tour: $28
  • From Ubud: Balinese Cooking Class at an Organic Farm: $30
  • Withlocals your Way: 100% Personalised Bali Private Food Tour: $39
  • Bali Cooking Class: $39
  • Ubud: Romantic Barbecue Dinner by the Pool: $57
  • Private Full or Half-Day Authentic Food Tour: $58
  • Romantic Dinner by Oceana Restaurant & Bar: $74
  • Ubud: Romantic Dinner among the Rice Fields: $110
  • Ubud: Romantic Dinner on a Forest Tree Deck: $214

Typical Food prices in Koh Tao

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:


  • Sit Down Lunch (for One)
    $5.76
  • Breakfast
    $4.32
  • Casual Breakfast (for Two)
    $3.46
  • Fancy Dinner (for Two)
    $14
  • Pancake
    $2.02
  • American Breakfast (for Two)
    $8.07
  • Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)
    $7.78

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bali $9.55
    Koh Tao $22
Typical Entertainment prices in Bali

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:


  • Spa for Two
    $60
  • Snorkelling Trip
    $14
  • Cooking School
    $31

Tours and Activities in Bali

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:

  • 2 Days Rinjani Trekking Tour: $250
  • Amazing Nusa Penida Snorkeling Experience: $63
  • Ancient Tour to Yeh Pulu and Goa Gajah: $45
  • Ayung River: All Inclusive Rafting Adventure: $26
  • Bali - Kintamani Tour: $65
  • Bali - Ubud Tour: $60
  • Bali 5 Days Tour & Activities - All Included: $306
  • Bali ATV or Quad Bike Tandem Tour Package: $101
  • Bali Alternative Temples Private Group Tour: $74
  • Bali Bird Park 1-Day Admission Ticket: $25
  • Bali Countryside Bike Tour Package: $101
  • Bali Full-Day Private Customized Tour: $50

Typical Entertainment prices in Koh Tao

For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Kayak Rental (One Hour)
    $7.20
  • Snorkel Rental
    $2.88
  • Kayak and Snorkel (2)
    $2.88

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bali $2.82
    Koh Tao $6.03

Typical Alcohol prices in Koh Tao

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $1.87
  • Bottle of Wine
    $11

About these numbers

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

Budget Your Trip

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Bali vs. Koh Tao Travel Comparison

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