Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Beirut?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Beirut or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beirut and Koh Tao. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Beirut or Koh Tao?
Beirut
Some travelers are seeking the hustle, bustle and posh atmosphere that only comes from a big city. Those travelers should have Beirut, Lebanon at the top of their list. The capital city is jam packed with 2.1 million people that are constantly on the go. As the commercial and financial hub of Lebanon, this city is fast-paced, fashion conscious and always ready for a night on the town.
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 Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBeirut $2.26Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Beirut is $2.26, 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 Beirut and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBeirut $1.26Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBeirut $2.52Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Beirut and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Beirut 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: Beirut Hotel Prices and Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Beirut $0.44Koh Tao $8.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Beirut
Also for Beirut, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beirut Airport Transfer in a Limousine: $201
- Hiking Day Trip to Chouwen Lake with Hotel Transfers: $86
- Private Transfer from Rafic Hariri (BEY) Airport to Beirut: $46
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Beirut International Airport: $18
- Private Arrival Transfer: Beirut International Airport to Hotel: $18
- Beirut Airport one Way Private Transfer to the hotel: $15
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer: $13
- Departure Transfer:From Hotel To Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY): $10
- BEY Airport to Hotel, Private Arrival Transfer: $10
- Airport Arrival Transfer to Your Beirut Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Beirut Hotels to the Beirut Airport: $10
- Beirut Arrival Airport Transfer Pickup: $9.89
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 Beirut or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Beirut 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 dayBeirut $0.71Koh Tao $9.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Beirut
For Beirut, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Authentic Lebanese Virtual Cooking Class Live from Lebanon: $30
- Traveling Spoon Lebanese Mezze Private Online Cooking Class : $40
- Private, Traditional Lebanese Cooking Class with a Contemporary Twist: $72
- Authentic Lebanese Cooking Lesson and Meal with Tania's Family in Beirut: $100
- Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers: $142
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.Beirut $0.26Koh Tao $26
Tours and Activities in Beirut
For Beirut, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 3 Days Lebanon Holiday Tour Package: $250
- 3 Hours ATV Rental Guided Tour in Nature: $130
- 3 days tour package : Jeita grotto-Byblos-Baalbek & Beirut tour: $295
- 3-Day Tour of Beirut with Pick Up: $250
- ATV (2 Seat) Full Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $150
- ATV (2 Seat) Half Day Off-Road Tour & Scenic Adventure: $120
- All in 1 Lebanon Local Multi day Tour, 3 days: $289
- Baalbek Tour: $111
- Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Group Tour: $95
- Baalbek, Anjar and Ksara Guided Full-Day Tour from Beirut: $90
- Baatara Gorge Waterfall, Jeita Grotto and Byblos Tour: $170
- Beirut 3 museums + mini walking tour: $50
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 dayBeirut $0.23Koh Tao $7.14
Sample the Local Flavors in Beirut
Also in Beirut, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour at Chateau Musar and Ixsir : $50
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour: $56
- Uncorking Splendor: A Journey Through Private Wine Tasting Tours: $60
- Budget Wine Tasting Tour at the Bekaa Valley Wineries: $60
- Full-Day Private Wine Tour in Bekaa Valley with Tasting : $60
- Wine Tasting and Culture : $69
- Wine Tasting and Hiking in the Cedars forest : $69
- From Full Day Wine Tasting in the Bekaa Valley Tour: $90
- Lebanon Wine Tasting Tour From Beirut: $91
- Full-Day Private Wine Tasting Tour to Chateau Musar and Ixsir Winery: $100
- Full-Day Private Bekaa Valley Wine Tour from Beirut: $103
- Private tour to Jeita Grotto with Wine Tasting in Faqra Ruins: $110
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 Beirut and Koh Tao, we can see that Koh Tao is more expensive. And not only is Beirut much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Beirut is in Middle East and Koh Tao is in Asia, 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 Beirut would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Beirut 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 Koh Tao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Tao than you might in Beirut.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beirut Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Beirut or Koh Tao?
Beirut has a larger population, and is about 1390 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Beirut 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.
When is the best time to visit Beirut or Koh Tao?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Beirut or Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Beirut and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Beirut year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Beirut usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Beirut gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Beirut, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beirut usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during summer. Beirut gets 369 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.
Beirut is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the summer. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBeirut 27°C (81°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Beirut as well as Koh Tao. Beirut attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
October and November in Koh Tao is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Beirut usually gets less rain in October than Koh Tao. Beirut gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Beirut this time of the year. In the autumn, Beirut often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Beirut gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun.
In the autumn, Beirut is around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Beirut in October average around 25°C (77°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBeirut 25°C (77°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao and Beirut are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Beirut throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. It's quite rainy in Beirut. In January, Beirut usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Beirut gets 130 mm (5.1 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. Beirut usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during winter. Beirut gets 149 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Beirut is generally much colder than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Beirut average around 13°C (55°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBeirut 13°C (55°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Beirut or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Beirut during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Beirut because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. Beirut usually gets less rain in April than Koh Tao. Beirut gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Beirut. In the spring, Beirut often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao. Beirut gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun.
Beirut is cooler than Koh Tao in the spring. The daily temperature in Beirut averages around 17°C (63°F) in April, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBeirut 17°C (63°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Beirut
| Beirut | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 13°C (55°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 15°C (59°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 17°C (63°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (77°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 19°C (66°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.