Which place is cheaper, Khao Lak or Doha?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Doha or Khao Lak?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Khao Lak can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Khao Lak?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand.
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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesKhao Lak Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $245Khao Lak $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Khao Lak is $150. 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 Doha and Khao Lak in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119Khao Lak $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Khao Lak $114
Compare Hotels in Doha and Khao Lak
Looking for a hotel in Doha or Khao Lak? 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: Doha Hotel Prices and Khao Lak Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Khao Lak $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van: $128
- Arrival Transfer to West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $20
- Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $20
- Departure Transfer from Lusail: $27
- Departure Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $128
- Doha : City Tour To All Main Attractions Including Transfers: $55
- Doha Arabian Horse Riding Adventure in the Desert with Transfer: $135
- Doha Arabian Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $120
- Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $79
- Doha Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $139
- Doha Night Desert Safari Camel Ride Dune Bashing with Transfer: $39
- Doha Private Airport Transfer: $99
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
- 30-Minutes Guided Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $47
- Carnival Magic Phuket Show Ticket with Transfer from Khao Lak: $106
- Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary Walk with Hotel Transfer – 2 Hours: $72
- Khao Lak River Tubing with Music, Drink & Transfer: $94
- Khao Lak any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $194
- Phuket Airport(HKT)&Hotel Transfers:Private—Phuket/Khao Lak/Krabi: $18
- Private Minivan Transfer from Khao Lak hotels to Phuket Airport: $67
- Private Phuket Airport Transfer to or from Khao Lak: $37
- Private Transfer Between Ko Lanta and Khao Lak: $237
- Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak: $62
- Transfer Service from Khao Lak Hotel to Krabi / Aonang: $119
- Transfer from Khao Lak Hotel to Phuket Airport: $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Khao Lak?
Prices for flights to both Khao Lak and Doha 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 dayDoha $106Khao Lak $59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Live BBQ Buffet and Hotel Transfer: $23
- Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $32
- Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
- Doha Evening Dhow Cruise with Dinner Option: $39
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $55
- Qatar: Desert Dune Bashing with lunch/dinner in Desert Beach Camp: $55
- Moonlight Dinner Cruise with Transfers: $65
- Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
- Full Day Desert Safari with Inland Sea Visit and Buffet Dinner: $150
- 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
- Full Day Desert Safari in Qatar with Lunch/Dinner by sea side: $159
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch or Dinner: $160
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
- Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak by Amazon Prime Series Chef: $59
- Hands on Cooking Class at Riverside Thai Cooking in Khao Lak: $70
- Half-Day Small Group Thai Cooking Class from Khao Lak: $76
- Khao Lak Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour & Your Own Menu: $87
- Khao Sok Local Life Adventure & Traditional Cooking Class: $100
- Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary, Rubber Tapping & Coconut Cooking: $112
- Bamboo Cooking Rafting with Khuk Khak Temple Tour from Khao Lak: $114
- Khao Lak Bamboo Rafting and Bamboo Cooking with Waterfall Tour: $120
- Khao Lak : Bamboo Cooking and Bamboo Rafting Tour: $122
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Khao Lak $21
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $20
- National Museum Ticket at Qatar: $23
- Doha Desert Safari, ATV, Camels, Sandboarding and Inland Sea Tour: $28
- Qatar Desert Safari Adventure Experience .: $28
- Top Doha Night City Tour Including Souq Waqif , Lusail And Katara: $30
- Doha Private City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $30
- Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
- Doha Sightseeing Tour with Optional Sunset Dhow Cruise: $34
- Explore Heart of Qatar Doha City Tour with Professional Guide: $35
- Guided City Tour with Traditional Dhow Cruise Skyline: $35
- Qatar Desert Safari: Dune Bashing & Inland Sea (Shared Tour): $37
- Arabian Dhow Cruise in Doha with Sunset and Skyline Views: $37
Tours and Activities in Khao Lak
Here are a few actual costs in Khao Lak for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bamboo Rafting and Sea Turtle Conservation Center Half Day Tour From Khao Lak: $38
- Khaolak Half Day: Phang Nga Bay, Tapu Island & Panyi Village Tour: $47
- 1-Hour Guided Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary Observation Tour: $56
- Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary Small-Group Guided Tour: $56
- Sky Rock High Thrill Rainforest Zipline Adventure from Khao Lak: $60
- James Bond, Hong & Khai Islands Premium Tour from Khao Lak: $72
- Temples Tour in Thailand from Khaolak: $75
- Takuapa Old Town Historical and Cultural Day Tour from Khao Lak: $75
- Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Islands Tour By Seastar Andaman From Khao Lak: $76
- Khao Lak ATV Quad Bike Adventure: $78
- Khao Lak Waterfalls and Lakes Half Day Cycling Tour with lunch: $78
- Khao Lak Eco Exploration Raft Ride & Discover Tour: $78
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Khao Lak $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Khao Lak, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Khao Lak much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East and Khao Lak is in Asia, 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 Khao Lak would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Khao Lak 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Khao Lak.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Khao Lak Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Khao Lak?
Doha has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Khao Lak. When comparing the sizes of Doha and Khao Lak, 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.