Which place is cheaper, Koh Lipe or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Koh Lipe?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling 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: Darjiling or Koh Lipe?
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.
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 dayDarjiling $35Koh Lipe $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, 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 Darjiling and Koh Lipe in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Koh Lipe $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Koh Lipe $88
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Koh Lipe
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Koh Lipe Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.48Koh Lipe $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
- Private Transfers Darjeeling - Gangtok Drop: $98
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197
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 Darjiling or Koh Lipe?
Prices for flights to both Koh Lipe 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 $14Koh Lipe $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Koh Lipe $23
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
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $25
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
- Mirik Lake Day tour From Darjeeling: $37
- 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: $62
- Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
- Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
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 dayDarjiling $8.77Koh Lipe $8.18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Koh Lipe, we can see that Koh Lipe is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling 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.