A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bangalore vs. Railay Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bangalore or Railay Beach?

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 Railay Beach can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bangalore or Railay Beach?

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.

Railay Beach

If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Bangalore?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bangalore is $44, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $105. 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 Railay Beach in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bangalore $20
    Railay Beach $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bangalore $40
    Railay Beach $126
Compare Hotels in Bangalore and Railay Beach

Looking for a hotel in Bangalore or Railay Beach? 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 Bangalore


Hotels in Railay Beach


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bangalore $9.70
    Railay Beach $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangalore

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

  • Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $16
  • Bangalore airport to Hotel Transfer: $18
  • Affordable Bangalore Airport Transfer: $28
  • Private Departure Transfer: Bangalore Hotels to Bengaluru International Airport: $45
  • One-Way Private City Transfer Mysore & Bangalore: $50
  • Bengaluru Kempegowda Airport (BLR) to Bengaluru City -RoundTrip Private Transfer: $79
  • From Mysore guided day tour with transfers: $167

Is it cheaper to fly into Bangalore or Railay Beach?

Prices for flights to both Railay Beach 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bangalore $13
    Railay Beach $22

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 Railay Beach

Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $5.46
  • Pizza
    $4.64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bangalore $11
    Railay Beach $23

Tours and Activities in Bangalore

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

  • Bangalore Walking Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
  • Bangalore Night Walking Tour: $13
  • Bangalore Heritage and Cultural Walking Tour: $14
  • Cubbon Park Heritage Walk: A self-guided tour of Bangalore's unique history: $15
  • Bangalore Night Walking Tour (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
  • Walk on Tales of Bangalore (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
  • Walk of Divinity Bangalore (2 hours guided walking tour): $17
  • Food Walk Tour Bangalore: $25
  • Bangalore Private Tour: $35
  • Hire a guide for full day Bangalore city tour with own transport: $39
  • See Bangalore through my eyes (Cultural / Historical / Walking Tour): $42
  • Basavanagudi Walking Tour with Bull Temple: $48

Typical Entertainment Prices in Railay Beach

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


  • Rock Climbing (for Two)
    $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bangalore $9.07
    Railay Beach $15

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 Railay Beach

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Beer
    $1.64


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

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


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