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 $244Khao Lak $146
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $244, while the average daily cost in Khao Lak is $146. 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 $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Khao Lak $110
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 $57
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Airport Transfer TO or FROM Hammad International Airport: $55
- Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van: $119
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Car: $107
- Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Van: $119
- CO2-Offset | RoundTrip Transfer from DOH Airport to Doha/West Bay: $194
- Departure Transfer From Doha City: $15
- Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $25
- Doha Airport Chauffeur Transfer One Way: $35
- Doha Airport HIA to Hotel Transfer by Standard Vehicle One Way: $28
- Doha Airport Transfers Taxi: $30
- Doha Arabian Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers: $120
- Doha Desert Horse Riding: 2-Hour Ride & Private Transfer: $160
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
- Carnival Magic Phuket Show Ticket with Transfer from Khao Lak: $93
- Khao Lak any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $189
- Krabi Airport to Private Transfer with Meet & Greet: $122
- Phuket Airport(HKT)&Hotel Transfers:Private—Phuket/Khao Lak/Krabi: $17
- Private Minivan Transfer from Khao Lak hotels to Phuket Airport: $65
- Private Phuket Airport Transfer to or from Khao Lak: $36
- Private Transfer Between Ko Lanta and Khao Lak: $231
- Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak: $55
- Transfer Service from Khao Lak Hotel to Krabi / Aonang: $119
- Transfer from Khao Lak Hotel to Phuket Airport: $89
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 $57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $25
- Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
- Sunset Experience, Traditional Dhow Cruise with Dinner: $35
- Doha Evening Dhow Cruise with Dinner Option: $39
- Evening Dhow Cruise with Optional BBQ Dinner: $49
- Traditional Dhow Cruise Tour with Dinner on board: $50
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $55
- Private Souk Waqif Tour with Lunch/Dinner: $85
- Doha Desert Safari: Sunset Dune Bashing Camp Access & Dinner: $135
- Full Day Desert Safari with Inland Sea Visit and Buffet Dinner: $150
- Doha Desert Safari Full day With Dinner,Dune Bashing,Sandboarding: $152
- 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
- Khao Sok: Private Authentic Jungle Cooking Experience: $54
- Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak by Amazon Prime Series Chef: $59
- Riverside Thai Cooking Half Day Class: $67
- Khao Lak Thai Cooking Class and Market Small-Group Tour: $70
- Dinner with locals in the jungle Culture and Insights: $76
- Khao Lak Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour & Your Own Menu: $85
- Khao Lak Bamboo Rafting and Bamboo Cooking with Waterfall Tour: $105
- Khao Lak : Bamboo Cooking and Bamboo Rafting Tour: $118
- Khao Sok: Private Day Trekking, Jungle Dinner & Night Safari: $179
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:
- Museum of Islamic Art Doha Standard Entry Ticket: $20
- Doha Tour App Hidden Gems Game and Big Qatar Quiz: $20
- National Museum Ticket at Qatar: $23
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $23
- Safari, ATV, Camels, Sandboarding and Inland Sea Tour: $25
- Guided City Tour with Airport and Hotel Pickup: $29
- Doha City Sightseeing Tour To All Main Attractions: $29
- Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
- Doha Adventure Sandbord Buggy Sunset Sunrise stargazing: $35
- Private Guided Half Day Tour to Doha: $35
- Guided City Tour – Culture, Skyline & Top Attractions: $35
- Doha Sunset & Moonlight Dhow Cruise – Land and Sea Experience: $35
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: $37
- ATV Ride Through Khao Lak Jungle and Waterfall Trail Adventure: $37
- Khaolak: Phang Nga Bay, Tapu Island, and Panyi Village Tour: $45
- Phang Nga Bay, Tapu Islandl, and Panyi Village Half-Day Tour: $46
- Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary Small-Group Guided Tour with Pickup: $46
- Private ATV Adventure to Big Buddha Viewpoint in Khao Lak: $47
- Sky Rock High Thrill Rainforest Zipline Adventure from Khao Lak: $52
- Takuapa Cultural History Half-Day Tour From Khao Lak: $53
- Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary Small-Group Tour with Guide, Pickup: $55
- Little Amazon and Wat Khongkha Phimuk Half Day Tour from Khao Lak: $67
- Temples Tour in Thailand from Khaolak: $73
- James Bond Island Adventure Tour from Khao Lak including Sea Canoeing & Lunch: $74
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.