Which place is cheaper, Koh Lipe or Chennai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chennai or Koh Lipe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Koh Lipe? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Chennai or Koh Lipe?
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
Koh Lipe
Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $29Koh Lipe $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $29, while the average daily cost in Koh Lipe is $85. 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 Chennai and Koh Lipe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Koh Lipe $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Koh Lipe $88
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Koh Lipe
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Koh Lipe? 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: Chennai Hotel Prices and Koh Lipe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.61Koh Lipe $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport : $35
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
- Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
- Full Day Tour to Kanchipuram and UNESCO's Mahabalipuram with Private Transfer: $246
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $145
- Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $40
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:
- Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Koh Lipe?
Prices for flights to both Koh Lipe and Chennai 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 dayChennai $6.40Koh Lipe $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Street Food Tour in Sowcarpet Chennai : $37
- Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai: $46
- Private Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai : $48
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class in Chennai with Menna: $54
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
- Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.77Koh Lipe $23
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- Spiritual Trails of Chennai (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Explore Chennai in Nightlights (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Chennai Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $16
- Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $16
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- Magical Chennai Markets Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $17
- 2 Hour Street Food Walking Tour: $21
- Food Walk Tour Chennai: $25
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $26
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $26
- Chennai Food Tasting Trails (2 Hour Guided Tour Experience): $26
Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours Tour Sunset Cruise Around Lipe: $15
- Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $111
- Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $21
- Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $25
- Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $24
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $3.08Koh Lipe $8.18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Koh Lipe, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Lipe would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Lipe than you might in Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chennai Expensive? and Is Koh Lipe Expensive?.
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.