A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Chumphon vs. Kaikoura for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chumphon or Kaikoura?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Chumphon or Kaikoura? 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: Chumphon or Kaikoura?

Chumphon

Sometimes tourism has a tendency to spoil the natural beauty of a place. This is not the case in the magical city of Chumphon, Thailand. As the gateway to the Chumphon Archipelago, this city has maintained natural, untouched beauty. Its miles of coastline are full of fine beaches with fishing, swimming and a number of other activities.

Kaikoura

Kaikoura is a town on the east coast of the South Island, situated between Christchurch and Belnheim. It has a permanent resident population of 1,971. The Seaward Kaikoura Mountains that surround this town collide with the Pacific Ocean, and the continental shelf edge is just offshore. The ocean in Kaikoura is very rich in marine life, especially seals and whales.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Kaikoura or Chumphon?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Chumphon is $36, while the average daily cost in Kaikoura is $135. 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 Chumphon and Kaikoura in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chumphon $16
    Kaikoura $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chumphon $32
    Kaikoura $96
Compare Hotels in Chumphon and Kaikoura

Looking for a hotel in Chumphon or Kaikoura? 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.

Hotels in Chumphon


Hotels in Kaikoura


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: Chumphon Hotel Prices and Kaikoura Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chumphon $6.32
    Kaikoura $17

Is it cheaper to fly into Chumphon or Kaikoura?

Prices for flights to both Kaikoura and Chumphon 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Chumphon $13
    Kaikoura $38
Typical Food Prices in Chumphon

For Chumphon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Ice Cream
    $0.16
  • Fruit at the Market
    $0.55
  • Breakfast
    $1.09

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chumphon $10
    Kaikoura $152

Tours and Activities in Kaikoura

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kaikoura are as follows:

  • Llama Trek (Taster) - Kowhai River Valley and Native Woodland Tour: $81
  • 1-Hour Private Heli-Picnic Mountain top tour in Kaikoura : $237
  • 40-minute Mt Fyffe Summit Heli Tour in Kaikoura : $222
  • Half Day Zipline Adventure in Kaikoura: $97
  • Kaikoura Swim with Dolphins Tour from Christchurch: $238
  • Kaikoura Whale Watch Day Tour from Christchurch: $211
  • 1-Hour Whale Watching Helicopter Tour: $624
  • Guided Family Kayaking Adventure: $89
  • Half-Day Wildlife Kayaking Tour: $89
  • Seal-Watching Pedal Kayak Tour: $71
  • Whale Watching Cruise: $98
  • Wildlife Kayaking Tour at Sunset: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chumphon $11
    Kaikoura -
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chumphon

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chumphon are as follows:


  • Beer (2)
    $3.82


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chumphon and Kaikoura, we can see that Kaikoura is more expensive. And not only is Chumphon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Chumphon is in Asia and Kaikoura 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 Chumphon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chumphon 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 Kaikoura would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kaikoura than you might in Chumphon.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chumphon Expensive? and Is Kaikoura Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Chumphon or Kaikoura?

Chumphon has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Kaikoura. When comparing the sizes of Chumphon and Kaikoura, 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.