Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Bangalore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bangalore 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 Bangalore and Koh Tao can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bangalore or Koh Tao?
Bangalore
Bangalore is the capital city of the state of Karnataka, in India. It's also India's third largest city with a population of about 8.5 million. It's considered one of the most liveable cities in the country and was historically known for its many gardens and lush green spaces. Today those areas are all but gone, having given way to the growing population and sprawling metropolises. Bangalore is also the information technology hub of the country and is sometimes referred to as India's Silicon Valley.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangalore $44Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangalore is $44, 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 Bangalore and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangalore $20Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangalore $40Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Bangalore and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Bangalore 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangalore $9.70Koh Tao $8.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangalore
Also for Bangalore, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Mysore guided day tour with transfers: $167
- Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR) to Bengaluru City -RoundTrip Private Transfer: $79
- One-Way Private City Transfer Mysore & Bangalore: $50
- Private Departure Transfer: Bangalore Hotels to Bengaluru International Airport: $45
- Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $28
- Bangalore airport to Hotel Transfer: $18
- Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $16
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangalore or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Bangalore 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 dayBangalore $13Koh Tao $9.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Family: $32
- Private Cooking Demonstration in a Bangalore Home: $45
- Traditional Cooking Classes & Dinner with Chef Family: $51
- Indian Cooking Class in Bangalore with an Award Winning Chef: $54
- Discover Bangalore's Cuisine: Private Half-Day Cooking Experience: $60
- Private In-Home Cooking Demonstration and Meal in Bangalore: $68
- Private Cooking Dining Experience in Bengaluru: $74
- Private Indian Cooking Class and Meal in Bangalore Home: $74
- 3-Hour Private Cooking Lesson and Meal in a Bangalore Home: $74
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangalore $11Koh Tao $26
Tours and Activities in Bangalore
For Bangalore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Full-Day Bangalore City Tour: $84
- Sacred Bull walking tour in Bangalore with guide: $50
- (Mysuru) Mysore Day Out - A Royal Experience Private Tour from Bangalore: $130
- 2 day Motorcycle tour from Bangalore to Belur, Halebid & Shravanabelagola: $288
- 4-Hour Private Photowalk Tour in Bengaluru: $79
- All Inclusive Sameday Taj Mahal & Agra Tour from Your hotel: $76
- Bandipur wildlife and Mysore experience in 2 days from Bangalore: $300
- Bangalore City Tour (Pick up from hotel): $100
- Bangalore City Tour By Tuk Tuk!: $110
- Bangalore Explorer: 3-Day Tour of the Garden City: $241
- Bangalore Full Day Private City Tour: $53
- Bangalore Heritage Walk - Private Walking tour: $67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangalore $9.07Koh Tao $7.14
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangalore
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bangalore:
- Pub Crawl Bangalore (3 Hours Guided Nightlife Experience): $34
- Pub Crawl in Bengaluru - A lovely private evening experience with a local: $39
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangalore and Koh Tao, we can see that Bangalore 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 Bangalore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bangalore 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 Bangalore Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangalore or Koh Tao?
Bangalore has a larger population, and is about 3690 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Bangalore 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.
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.