Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Koh Pha Ngan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
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 Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Koh Pha Ngan $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $45. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Koh Pha Ngan $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Koh Pha Ngan $46
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Koh Pha Ngan $13
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.18
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Ferry Ride$14
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Gas for Scooter$3.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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 $35Koh Pha Ngan $10
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.09
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$11
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.09
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Ice Cream$0.55
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Juice$1.64
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3 Spring Rolls$0.82
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2 Pancakes$1.64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Koh Pha Ngan $17
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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Koh Pha Ngan $9.89
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$7.09
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Koh Pha Ngan?
Eilat has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
Koh Pha Ngan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Koh Pha Ngan. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEilat 33°C (91°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Koh Pha Ngan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Eilat is generally around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEilat 26°C (79°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Koh Pha Ngan. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Koh Pha Ngan. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Eilat is much colder than Koh Pha Ngan in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEilat 14°C (57°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Eilat is around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEilat 24°C (75°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Eilat
| Eilat | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.