Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Bangkok?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bangkok or Whitsundays?
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 Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays?
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.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Week Tours in Australia, and The Best Budget Tours to Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBangkok $86Whitsundays $139
The average daily cost (per person) in Bangkok is $86, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $139. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBangkok $47Whitsundays $72
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBangkok $94Whitsundays $144
Compare Hotels in Bangkok and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Bangkok or Whitsundays? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bangkok $6.53Whitsundays $58
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:
- Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK): Transfer to Pattaya: $295
- Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK): Transfer to Pattaya hotels: $295
- Private Transfer from Bangkok to Krabi with 2h of Sightseeing: $290
- Bangkok Hotel Transfer: to/from Koh Chang Hotel Transfer: $237
- Private Transfer to/from Ao Thammachat, Koh Chang Pier & BKK: $236
- Private Transfer from Don Mueang (DMK) Airport to Aranyaprathet: $225
- Private Transfer from Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport to Trat: $216
- Private Transfer from Bangkok to Koh Chang: $209
- From Hotel Transfer to Koh Chang: $207
- Bangkok transfer: From/ To Laem Sok Pier: $207
- Private Full Day Guided City Tour & Hotel Transfer: $202
- From Pattaya Private Day Trip with Transfer: $200
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $130
Is it cheaper to fly into Bangkok or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 $21Whitsundays $31
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: $21
- Meridian Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $21
- Baiyoke Sky Observation Deck With Dinner or Lunch & Thai Massage: $23
- Baiyoke Observation Deck with Lunch/Dinner Buffet: $23
- Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise Ticket: $26
- River Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess: $26
- Meridian Sunset Dinner Cruise - Floating Paradise From ICONSIAM Bangkok: $26
- Calypso Cabaret Show with Thai Set Dinner: $27
- White Orchid Dinner Cruise Luxury Experience in Bangkok: $28
- Twilight Dinner Cruise Along Chao Phraya River in Bangkok: $28
- Scenic Bangkok Unicorn Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River: $29
- Viva Alangka Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise: $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $102
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bangkok $18Whitsundays $26
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:
- A Day in Ayutthaya: Private 5 UNESCO Temples Tour From Bangkok: $121
- Bangkok 4 Hour Cultural & Temples Tour Private with Guide: $97
- Bangkok Sea Life + Madame Tussauds Entrance Tickets : $50
- Bangkok Thrilling Tuk Tuk Tour (Private & All-Inclusive): $95
- Maeklong Railway & Floating Market Tour (Private & All-Inclusive): $146
- Private Customized Bangkok Tour With Driver : $56
- Siam Park City Admission Ticket With All Rides In Bangkok: $19
- Sunset Sail, Glittering Temspls at Afternoon Ayutthaya Tours : $53
- Tuk-Tuk Tour Bangkok By Night With Chinatown Street: $71
- 'Sunset Cruise' Canal Boat Tour - Fully guided 3hrs: $83
- "Bangkok Walking Hopping Tour" show city’s historic sights are located.: $75
- (Join Tour) BANGKOK 'S 2 HOURS CANAL TOUR: $86
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $163
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $5,159
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBangkok $6.76Whitsundays $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$1.24
Sample the Local Flavors in Bangkok
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bangkok:
- Bangkok After Dark: Pub Crawl Adventure: $23
- Pub Crawl: $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bangkok and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Bangkok much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bangkok is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays 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 Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Bangkok or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bangkok experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Bangkok or Whitsundays in the Summer?
Both Whitsundays and Bangkok during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bangkok because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Bangkok is a little warmer than Whitsundays in the summer. The daily temperature in Bangkok averages around 29°C (84°F) in July, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Bangkok often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Bangkok gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Bangkok. Bangkok usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Bangkok gets 155 mm (6.1 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryBangkok 29°C (84°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bangkok and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bangkok year-round.
In the autumn, Bangkok is a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Bangkok in October average around 28°C (83°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. In Bangkok, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bangkok usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Whitsundays during autumn. Bangkok gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Bangkok gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Bangkok usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin April. Bangkok gets 242 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. November to February in Bangkok is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Bangkok.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilBangkok 28°C (83°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Whitsundays in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bangkok as well as Whitsundays. Bangkok attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Bangkok is generally much warmer than Whitsundaysin July. Daily temperatures in Bangkok average around 27°C (80°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bangkok this time of the year. In the winter, Bangkok often gets more sunshine than Whitsundaysin July. Bangkok gets 276 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.
Bangkok usually gets less rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Bangkok gets 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, November to February in Bangkok is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyBangkok 27°C (80°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Bangkok or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays and Bangkok are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bangkok throughout the year.
Bangkok is a little warmer than Whitsundays in the spring. The daily temperature in Bangkok averages around 31°C (87°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bangkok. Bangkok usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Bangkok gets 262 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bangkok usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Bangkok gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Bangkok is May to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberBangkok 31°C (87°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Bangkok
| Bangkok | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (85°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 31°C (87°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 30°C (86°F) | 220 mm (8.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 29°C (85°F) | 149 mm (5.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (84°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 197 mm (7.8 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 344 mm (13.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (83°F) | 242 mm (9.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) |
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.