Which place is cheaper, Hat Yai or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Hat Yai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Hat Yai? 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: Darjiling or Hat Yai?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
Hat Yai
The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $35Hat Yai $17
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Hat Yai is $17. 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 Darjiling and Hat Yai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Hat Yai $5.56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Hat Yai $11
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Hat Yai
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Hat Yai? 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Hat Yai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.45Hat Yai $0.68
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $55
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $73
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $182
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hat Yai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hat Yai:
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pak Bara Pier: $80
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai City to Pak Bara Pier: $80
- Private Hatyai Airport Transfer to Pak Bara Pier by Van: $76
- Transfer from Hatyai Airport to Koh Lipe: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Hat Yai?
Prices for flights to both Hat Yai and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $14Hat Yai $11
Typical Food Prices in Hat Yai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hat Yai are as follows:
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Roti Snack$0.59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Hat Yai -
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Cultural & Nature Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $40
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $55
- Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $61
- Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $61
- Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $81
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
- The Land Mark Tour (Nautical Day Darjeeling To Mirik crusade): $122
- Day_Trippers (Darjeeling Full Day Tour).: $122
Tours and Activities in Hat Yai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hat Yai are as follows:
- One Way Speedboat and Van Ticket Koh Lipe to Hat Yai Airport: $33
- One Way Van and Speedboat Ticket Hat Yai Airport to Koh Lipe: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.73Hat Yai $2.74
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hat Yai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hat Yai:
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Beer$1.78
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Hat Yai, we can see that Darjiling is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Darjiling would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Darjiling than you might in Hat Yai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Hat Yai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Hat Yai?
Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Hat Yai, 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.
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.