Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Koh Tao? 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 Tao?
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 Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
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 Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Koh Tao? 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 Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Koh Tao $8.67
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 Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 Tao $9.21
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Koh Tao $26
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- 2 day tour to Petra from Eilat: $299
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $63
- Full Day Petra Tour from Eilat: $289
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Petra 2-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Authentic Lunch: $290
- Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Eilat: $299
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Koh Tao $7.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Koh Tao, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Koh Tao 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 Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Tao.
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 Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Koh Tao?
Eilat has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Koh Tao, 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 Tao?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Eilat or Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Eilat usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during summer. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.
Eilat can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 33°C (91°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEilat 33°C (91°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Koh Tao. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
October and November in Koh Tao is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Eilat usually gets less rain in October than Koh Tao. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the autumn, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun.
Eilat is around the same temperature as Koh Tao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEilat 26°C (79°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. In January, Eilat usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during winter. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Eilat is much colder than Koh Tao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Eilat in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEilat 14°C (57°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Eilat during the spring 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 Tao year-round.
February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. Eilat usually gets less rain in April than Koh Tao. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the spring, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun.
In April, Eilat is generally around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEilat 24°C (75°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Eilat
| Eilat | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.