Which city is cheaper, Railay Beach or Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Bangkok vs. Railay Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Bangkok or Railay Beach?
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 Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach?
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.
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.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $65Railay Beach $94
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $65, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $94. 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 Bangkok and Railay Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $35Railay Beach $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $70Railay Beach $112
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Railay Beach
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok 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.
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 Railay Beach Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $4.39Railay Beach $23
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$2.44
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Skytrain Ticket$4.88
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Chao Phraya River Express Ticket$0.98
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Ferry Ride$0.79
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Taxi From Airport$7.63
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Short Taxi Ride$2.75
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Boat Taxi$1.53
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Trains to airport$4.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bangkok
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bangkok:
- Bangkok Airport Departure – Shared Transfer: $12
- Bangkok Airport Private Transfer (Suvarnabhumi Airport): $13
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport Arrival Transfer (Shared or Private): $13
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport Departure Transfer (Shared or Pvt): $13
- Airport Transfer from Trang Airport to Hotels: $13
- Bangkok To Pattaya Transfer Service: $14
- Bangkok Airport Arrival – Shared Transfer: $15
- Bangkok Airport Private Transfer (Don Mueang Int'l Airport): $15
- Private Airport Transfer: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Bangkok: $16
- Private Airport Transfer: from Bangkok to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK): $16
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Shared Arrival Transfer: $17
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Shared Departure Transfer: $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Railay Beach
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Railay Beach:
- Ao Nang: One-Way Railay Beach Longtail Boat Transfer: $31
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Railay Beach?
Prices for flights to both Railay Beach 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 $16Railay Beach $19
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)$27
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Casual Lunch of Prawns (for Two)$6.10
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2 Rotis (Bread)$1.37
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Mango & Sticky Rice$0.92
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Lunch at KFC (for Two)$6.10
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Pad Thai$2.14
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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.
- Silom Village Authentic Thai Dinner and Performance Ticket: $17
- Luxurious Afternoon Tea or Dinner at the Erawan Tea Rooms: $26
- Skip the Line: Baiyoke Sky Hotel Observation Deck Ticket with Lunch or Dinner: $26
- Bangkok Thai Classical Dance with Thai Set Dinner Ticket: $27
- 2-Hour Dinner & Shows on White Orchid River Cruise: $30
- Bangkok Calypso Cabaret Show With Optional Dinner & Transfers: $31
- Bangkok Calypso Cabaret Show Tour With Optional Dinner.: $31
- Skip the Line:Bangkok Calypso Cabaret Show Ticket w/(optional) Dinner &Transfers: $32
- Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River in Bangkok (Optional Transfers): $34
- Bangkok Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River: $34
- Bangkok White Orchid Dinner Cruise: $34
- Bangkok Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya River: $34
Typical Food prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.10
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Pizza$5.19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangkok $12Railay Beach $20
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$4.88
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Grand Palace Entrance Ticket$11
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Wat Pho (Reclining Buddha) Ticket$1.53
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Dusit Zoo Entrance Fee (for Two)$6.10
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Club Cover Charge$11
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Thai Boxing Tickets (for Two)$73
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Fish Pedicure$4.58
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Wat Pho entrance ticket$3.05
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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:
- Old Bangkok Instagram Tour: $4.70
- Road to Democracy Audio Tour: Discover Thailand's volatile modern politics: $5.00
- Red Lights, Hummus, and a Beer Stop or Three: Audio Tour of Nana by VoiceMap: $5.13
- Bangkok Chinatown Eats Self-guided Walking and Eating Tour by VoiceMap: $5.13
- Samut Prakan: Erawan Museum Discounted Admission Ticket: $9.39
- Kids Special: Bangkok Fantasia Lagoon Water Park Tickets: $10
- Bangkok Calypso Cabaret Show Ticket: $10
- Art in Paradise Bangkok Entrance (Ticket Only): $10
- Calypso Cabaret Show Ticket in Bangkok: $10
- 1-Hour Guided Patpong Museum Tour: $11
- Art in Paradise Bangkok Tickets: $12
- The Patpong Museum Bangkok Ticket: $14
Typical Entertainment prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Rock Climbing (for Two)$21
Tours and Activities in Railay Beach
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Railay Beach are as follows:
- Crystal Clear Kayak Tour in Krabi: $30
- Krabi: Hong Islands Full-Day Private Speedboat Charter Tour: $508
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $7.28Railay Beach $13
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$1.22
Typical Alcohol prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Beer$1.83
Sample the Local Flavors in Railay Beach
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Railay Beach:
- Railay Pub Crawl: $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangkok and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach 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 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 Bangkok.
When is the best time to visit Bangkok or Railay Beach?
Both destinations experience a tropical climate with warm weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Bangkok or Railay Beach in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangkok and Railay Beach. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Bangkok throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.
Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Bangkok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Bangkok usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Bangkok gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Railay Beach this time of the year. Bangkok usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during summer. Bangkok gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
Bangkok is around the same temperature as Railay Beach in the summer. The temperature in Bangkok is usually 29°C (84°F) in July, and Railay Beach stays around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBangkok 29°C (84°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Railay Beach in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Bangkok as well as Railay Beach. Plenty of visitors come to Bangkok because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year.
Also, November to February in Bangkok is the dry season. May to October in Bangkok is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Bangkok receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bangkok usually gets less rain in October than Railay Beach. Bangkok gets 242 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bangkok this time of the year. In the autumn, Bangkok often gets more sunshine than Railay Beach. Bangkok gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 181 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Bangkok is around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bangkok in October are around 28°C (83°F), and Railay Beach is about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBangkok 28°C (83°F)Railay Beach 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Railay Beach in the Winter?
Both Railay Beach and Bangkok are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Bangkok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.
The dry season in Bangkok is November to February. In January, Bangkok usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Bangkok gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Railay Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bangkok. Bangkok usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach during winter. Bangkok gets 276 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Bangkok is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Temperatures in Bangkok average around 27°C (80°F), and Railay Beach stays around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBangkok 27°C (80°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Railay Beach in the Spring?
Both Railay Beach and Bangkok during the spring are popular places to visit. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Bangkok throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.
May to October is the rainy season in Bangkok. Railay Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bangkok usually gets less rain in April than Railay Beach. Bangkok gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Railay Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bangkok. In the spring, Bangkok often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Railay Beach. Bangkok gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 249 hours of full sun.
Bangkok is around the same temperature as Railay Beach in the spring. The temperature in Bangkok is usually 31°C (87°F) in April, and Railay Beach stays around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBangkok 31°C (87°F)Railay Beach 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Bangkok
| Bangkok | Railay Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (87°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 242 mm (9.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
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