Which place is cheaper, Khao Lak or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Khao Lak?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Khao Lak? 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: Eilat or Khao Lak?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Khao Lak $112
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Khao Lak is $112. 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 Eilat and Khao Lak in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Khao Lak $51
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Khao Lak $102
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Khao Lak
Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Khao Lak Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Khao Lak $52
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
- Similan Island Snorkeling Adventure -Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $119
- Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak: $44
- Private Transfer from Khao Lak to Phuket (HKT) Airport: $100
- Phuket: Private One-Way Transfer to/from Khao Lak by Car: $30
- Krabi Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khaolak: $111
- Khao Lak/Bang Sak: 1-Way Private Transfer to Phuket Airport: $41
- Khao Lak To Khao Sok Private Minivan & Car Transfer: $56
- From Carnival Magic Phuket Ticket with Transfer: $106
- 30-Minutes Guided Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $42
- 2-Hour Guided Eco-Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $55
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Khao Lak?
Prices for flights to both Khao Lak and Eilat 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 dayEilat $35Khao Lak $31
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak with Market Tour by Pakinnaka School: $56
- Riverside Thai Cooking Half Day Class: $57
- Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour.: $59
- Thai Cooking Class in a Garden with Transfer: $59
- Thai Cooking Class in Khaolak: $61
- 3 hours Khao Lak Cooking Class and Market Visit: $68
- Half-Day Cooking Class and Ingredient Hunt: $68
- 3-Hour Khaolak Cooking Class with Food Market Visit: $69
- Khao Sok Local Life Adventure & Traditional Cooking Class: $89
- Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary, Cooking Class and Waterfall Tour: $97
- ATV Quad Bike Excursion to Stunning Waterfalls with Dinner: $97
- Thai Food Cooking Class & ATV Adventure Tour: $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Khao Lak $19
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $63
- Red canyon jeep tour in Eilat: $70
- Timna park Jeep tour adventure: $70
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Red Canyon: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Timna Park Tour from Eilat: $150
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
Tours and Activities in Khao Lak
Here are a few actual costs in Khao Lak for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2 Hours-Early Bird Guide Tour in Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary: $68
- 30 Minutes Khaolak ATV Quadbike & Waterfall Adventure: $53
- 30-Minutes ATV Quads and Waterfall Experience in Khaolak : $55
- 4 hours Tour with Khaolak ATV Quad Bike and Rescued Elephant: $97
- Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park: $140
- Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park: $140
- Bamboo Rafting and Sea Turtle Conservation Center Half Day Tour From Khao Lak: $37
- Cheow Lan Lake: 2-Day Guided Tour with Meals and Activities: $176
- Day Tour with Sea Canoeing at Hong Island from Khao Lak: $81
- Early Bird Phi Phi Islands Adventure From Khao Lak: $112
- Eco Grand Canyon with Hot Springs and Elephant Retreat Tour: $97
- From Khao Lak Or Khok Kloi : Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip with Lunch: $103
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Khao Lak $13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Khao Lak, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Khao Lak much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat 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 Eilat Expensive? and Is Khao Lak Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Khao Lak?
Eilat has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Khao Lak. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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.
When is the best time to visit Eilat or Khao Lak?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Eilat or Khao Lak in the Summer?
Both Khao Lak and Eilat during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Lak year-round.
Khao Lak gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Khao Lak. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Khao Lak, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Khao Lak. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Lak receives 206 hours of full sun.
The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Khao Lak. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Khao Lak averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEilat 33°C (91°F)Khao Lak 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Khao Lak in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Khao Lak. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Khao Lak attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to April in Khao Lak is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Khao Lak. Khao Lak receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Khao Lak. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Khao Lak during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Lak receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Eilat is generally around the same temperature as Khao Lak. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Khao Lak fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEilat 26°C (79°F)Khao Lak 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Khao Lak in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Khao Lak. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Lak throughout the year.
Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Khao Lak. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Lak. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the winter, Eilat often gets less sunshine than Khao Lak. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Lak receives 287 hours of full sun.
Eilat is much colder than Khao Lak in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Khao Lak fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEilat 14°C (57°F)Khao Lak 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Khao Lak in the Spring?
Both Khao Lak and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Lak because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Khao Lak is November to April. The rainy season in Khao Lak is May to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Lak. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Khao Lak. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Khao Lak. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Khao Lak during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Lak receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Eilat is cooler than Khao Lak. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Khao Lak averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEilat 24°C (75°F)Khao Lak 29°C (83°F)
Typical Weather for Khao Lak and Eilat
| Eilat | Khao Lak | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 345 mm (13.6 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 286 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 272 mm (10.7 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 417 mm (16.4 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
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.