Which place is cheaper, Kao-hsiung or Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bangkok or Kao-hsiung?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangkok and Kao-hsiung can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Bangkok or Kao-hsiung?
Bangkok
Bangkok: a name synonymous with all things exotic. The vibrant and exciting capital of Thailand is not just a hub for Southeast Asia, but also a destination into itself. Known for an active nightlife and party scene, as well as great food, historic temples, and busy markets, Bangkok offers a diversity to entertain even the most experienced travelers.
Kao-hsiung
Kaohsiung is the second-most populated city and also the largest port city in the country, located in the south of Taiwan. Compared to Taipei, the lifestyle in Kaohsiung is laid-back and noticeably slower, populated with friendly locals. However, with Taipei in the spotlight, Kaohsiung is often overlooked, though it offers so much in the way of art and culture, history, and delicious food.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Taiwan, and The Best Historical Tours in Taiwan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $86Kao-hsiung $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $86, while the average daily cost in Kao-hsiung 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 Bangkok and Kao-hsiung in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $47Kao-hsiung $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $94Kao-hsiung $116
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Kao-hsiung
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok or Kao-hsiung? 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: Bangkok Hotel Prices and Kao-hsiung Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $6.53Kao-hsiung $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Bangkok are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk to bus station$2.47
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Skytrain Ticket$4.94
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$0.99
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Ferry Ride$0.80
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Taxi From Airport$7.72
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Short Taxi Ride$2.78
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Boat Taxi$1.54
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Trains to airport$4.94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Bus transfer from/to Suvarnabhumi Airport: $5.21
- Bus transfer from/to Bangkok Don Mueang Airport: $7.81
- Suvarnabhumi Airport Bus transfer to/from Bangkok: $8.93
- Bangkok Private Airport (BKK And DMK) Transfer: $14
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Arrival Transfer (Shared or Private): $15
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Departure Transfer (Shared or Private): $15
- Private transfer from Hotel in Bangkok to BKK Airport : $15
- Bangkok Airport Arrival – Shared Transfer: $16
- Arrival Transfer from BKK Airport to Bangkok Hotel: $17
- Transfer Bangkok City Center to Suvarnabhumi Airport(BKK): $18
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer: $19
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Bangkok APT-HTL (BKK): $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:
- Guanziling Resorts to Kaohsiung Airport KHH Departure Transfer: $51
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $51
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $102
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Taitung Resorts - Round-Trip Transfer: $157
- Kaohsiung Airport -> Kaohsiung Hotel Private Transfer (Large room for luggage) : $35
- Kaohsiung International Airport and Kaohsiung City Transfer: $41
- Private Kaohsiung Airport to Taitung Resorts Arrival Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port: $82
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port : $74
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport to Kenting: $138
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $74
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $82
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Kao-hsiung?
Prices for flights to both Kao-hsiung and Bangkok 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 dayBangkok $21Kao-hsiung $32
Typical Food Prices in Bangkok
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Bangkok:
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Dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (for Two)$28
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$6.18
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.39
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.93
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$6.18
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Pad Thai$2.16
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Airport Lunch for 2$17
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Lunch for 2$23
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bangkok
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bangkok.
- White Orchid Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $22
- Baiyoke Sky Observation Deck With Dinner or Lunch & Thai Massage: $23
- Baiyoke Observation Deck with Lunch/Dinner Buffet: $24
- Meridian Sunset Dinner Cruise - Floating Paradise From ICONSIAM Bangkok: $26
- River Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $26
- Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise Ticket: $26
- White Orchid Dinner Cruise Luxury Experience in Bangkok: $28
- Twilight Dinner Cruise Along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok: $28
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $28
- Scenic Bangkok Unicorn Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River: $29
- Alangka Luxury Buffet Dinner Cruise With Live Music: $31
- Royal Princess Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $31
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangkok $18Kao-hsiung $21
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bangkok
Here are a few typical costs in Bangkok for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Movie Ticket$4.94
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$11
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.54
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$6.18
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Club Cover Charge$12
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$74
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Fish Pedicure$4.63
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$3.09
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Siriraj Museum (2)$12
Tours and Activities in Bangkok
Here are a few actual costs in Bangkok for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Road to Democracy: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Thailand's Modern Politics: $5.00
- Skip the Line Admission Ticket: Ayutthaya Floating Market: $5.96
- Skip the Line: Ayutthaya Floating Market Admission Ticket: $5.96
- Skip the line Admission Ticket: Ayutthaya Floating Market: $6.20
- Chinatown by Night Walking Tour in Bangkok: $6.42
- Best of Bangkok in 2 Days: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $8.22
- Grand Palace Self-Guided Walking Tour (entry not incl.): $10
- Chinatown & Golden Buddha Self-Guided Audio Tour (entry not incl): $10
- Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) Self-Guided Audio Tour: $10
- Skip the Line: Patpong Museum Guided Tour : $11
- Nakhon Pathom Ancient Capital Classic Day Tour: $12
- Hua Hin Featured Day Tour (Sunday) by akGO! Tour: $12
Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kao-hsiung are as follows:
- Kaohsiung Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $48
- Private Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: $75
- Food and Culture Walking Tour in Tainan: $78
- Day Tour to Qigu Salt Mountain, Chikan Tower and Anping Castle : $87
- Private Custom Kaohsiung Day Tour: $100
- Siao Liuchiu-Coral Island One Day Tour: $100
- Half-day tour Kaohsiung: $103
- Kaohsiung Walking Day Tour: $130
- Kaohsiung /Pingtung Day Tour : $150
- Kaohsiung Suburbs Full-Day Tour: $150
- Kaohsiung: Experience the Riverside : $159
- 1 day tour - Kaohsiung: $160
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $6.76Kao-hsiung $10
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bangkok
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bangkok are as follows:
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Beer$1.24
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- Bangkok After Dark: Pub Crawl Adventure: $23
- The Bangkok Pub Crawl: $28
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangkok and Kao-hsiung, we can see that Kao-hsiung is more expensive. And not only is Bangkok much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bangkok would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bangkok 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 Kao-hsiung would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kao-hsiung than you might in Bangkok.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bangkok Expensive? and Is Kao-hsiung Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bangkok or Kao-hsiung?
Bangkok has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kao-hsiung. When comparing the sizes of Bangkok and Kao-hsiung, 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.