Should you visit Chumphon or Khao Lak?
Should I visit Chumphon or Khao Lak? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
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.
Khao Lak
Resiliency and relaxation. Those are the two words used to describe one of Thailand's most breathtaking cities. Khao Lak is located in southern Thailand, and when the tsunami of 2004 hit, this area saw the most damage. With more than 4,000 fatalities, 3,000 still unaccounted for and enormous structural damages, many thought Khao Lak would not be able to bounce back. They have proved everyone wrong with a strong and impressive recovery. Now it has returned to its status of vacation hotspot. Unlike neighboring Phuket, though, the resorts in Khao Lak are designed for families and some peace and quiet.
Which city is cheaper, Khao Lak or Chumphon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Chumphon is $34, while the average daily cost in Khao Lak is $108. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Chumphon and Khao Lak in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $30 in Chumphon For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Khao Lak is $102. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Chumphon cost around $12 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.80.
On average, meal and food prices in Khao Lak cost around $29 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $12.
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Food
Meals for one day
Chumphon $12
Khao Lak $29
Typical Food prices in Chumphon
For Chumphon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Ice Cream
$0.19
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Fruit at the Market
$0.64
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Breakfast
$1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
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Riverside Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak with Market Tour:
$63
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Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak:
$71
Local Transportation
To get around in Chumphon, the average visitor spends $5.93 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The cost of a taxi ride in Khao Lak is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $49 per person, per day, on local transportation in Khao Lak.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
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Shared Minivan Transfers between Krabi & Khao Sok:
$16
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Shared Minivan Transfers between Krabi & Khao Lak:
$17
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SUV Car Private Transfer from Khao Lak to Phuket Airport:
$59
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SUV Car Private Transfer from Khao Lak to Patong, Kata, Karon Beach:
$100
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Round Trip Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak:
$60
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Krabi Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khaolak:
$64
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Khao Lak any hotel to Krabi airport Private transfer:
$113
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Khao Lak any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer:
$212
Entertainment
In Chumphon, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $9.63 per person, per day.
Entertainment and activities in Khao Lak typically cost an average of $18 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Tours and Activities in Khao Lak
Here are a few actual costs in Khao Lak for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park:
$103
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Cheow Lan Lake & Coral Cave Tour with Kayaking:
$87
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From Similan Islands Speed Boat Tour:
$102
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From Krabi: Cheow Larn Lake Raft House Adventure:
$271
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From Phuket: Full-Day All Adventure w/ White Water Rafting:
$115
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From Phuket: Similan Islands Tour by Speed Boat:
$110
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Jungle Trekking to Waterfall and Adventure Tubing 45 min. (Only Khao lak):
$80
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Khao Lak to Similan Islands Snorkeling Tour:
$109
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Local Life Experience (Takuapa):
$84
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Phi Phi Islands - Early Bird Snorkeling Tour from Khao Lak in English, French, German, Italian:
$126
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Rafting, ATV and Ziplining Adventure in Phangnga:
$147
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Similan Islands One Day Tour From Khao Lak:
$118
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Chumphon spend on average $10 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Khao Lak may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Chumphon
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chumphon are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chumphon and Khao Lak, we can see that Khao Lak is more expensive. And not only is Chumphon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Khao Lak would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Khao Lak than you might in Chumphon.
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