A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Eilat vs. Krabi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Eilat or Krabi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Eilat or Krabi? 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 Krabi?

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.

Krabi

Thailand is covered in beaches, but if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to Krabi, also known as "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi. Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience.

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 10-Day Tours in Thailand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Krabi or Eilat?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Krabi is $55. 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 Krabi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Eilat $93
    Krabi $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Eilat $186
    Krabi $72
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Krabi

Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Krabi? 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.

Hotels in Eilat


Hotels in Krabi


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 Krabi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Eilat $13
    Krabi $3.80
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:


  • Local Bus
    $3.71

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat

Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
  • From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $8.18
  • Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
    $2.73
  • 2 Bottles of Gasoline
    $2.18
  • Longboat Taxi from Town
    $5.46

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi

Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Van Phuket Airport Transfer to Patong Beach Area (SHA Plus): $37
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to PHUKET TOWN (SHA Plus): $39
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to TRI TRANG BEACH: $33
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to SURIN BEACH: $28
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to ROYAL YACHT HAVEN: $28
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to ROYAL PHUKET MARINA: $28
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to RAWAI BEACH: $41
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to PHUKET TOWN: $30
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAIYANG BEACH: $26
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAIHARN BEACH: $39
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to LAYAN BEACH: $23
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KURABURI: $94

Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Krabi?

Prices for flights to both Krabi 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Eilat $35
    Krabi $13

Typical Food Prices in Krabi

For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $6.82
  • Drinks on the Beach
    $6.55
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $17
  • Nice Dinner (for Two)
    $30
  • Mango Shake
    $1.36
  • Pad Thai
    $2.73
  • Fruit from the Market
    $1.64
  • Pancakes
    $2.73
  • Coffee & Cake
    $2.05

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi

For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $36
  • Snorkeling and Sunset Dinner Trip From Krabi: $37
  • 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner and Snorkeling: $37
  • 7 Islands Sunset Tour with BBQ Dinner & Plankton: $37
  • Evening Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $39
  • 4 Islands Sunset Longtail Boat Tour with BBQ Dinner: $41
  • Seven Islands Snorkel Cruise with Dinner: $41
  • Authentic Thai cooking class with market tour: $41
  • Krabi Thai Cooking Class: $42
  • Krabi 4 Islands Sunset Premium Service Trip by Speedboat + BBQ Dinner: $42
  • Thai Charm Cooking School Krabi: $44
  • Cooking Class at Thai Charm Cooking School with Meal: $45

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Eilat $16
    Krabi $10

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 Krabi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Thai-English Book
    $9.00
  • Thai Massages (for Two)
    $22
  • Bikini & Sarong
    $16
  • Yoga Class (1 Hour)
    $12
  • Backgammon Set (travel size)
    $6.82
  • Kayak Trip (for Two)
    $52

Tours and Activities in Krabi

For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Full Day Guided Tour in Bor Thor Caves and Mangroves : $145
  • Phi Phi Islands Tour with Bioluminescent Planktons from krabi: $77
  • 2-Hour Clear Kayak Illuminated Night Tour in Krabi: $60
  • 4 Island Sunset Snorkeling Cruise + bioluminescent Night Snorkel: $102
  • 4 Islands & Sunset Tour by Long Tail Boat with Plankton : $71
  • 4 Islands Full-day Tour from Krabi with Tub, Chicken, Poda Island & Phra Nang: $54
  • 4 Islands One Day Tour From Krabi: $28
  • 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat from Krabi with Walk on Tombolo: $28
  • 4 Islands Tour Long Tail Boat (UPDATED JULY 2020 for New Normal): $33
  • 5 km Rafting, ATV & Zipline Tour From Krabi: $53
  • 7km White Water Rafting Adventure Tour From Krabi: $50
  • ATV Adventure Krabi: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Eilat $27
    Krabi $4.34

Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.45
  • Cocktails (for Two)
    $8.18

Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:

  • Railay Pub Crawl: $14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Krabi, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Krabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Krabi 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 Krabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krabi 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 Krabi.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Krabi Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Eilat or Krabi?

Eilat has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Krabi, 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 Krabi?

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 Krabi in the Summer?

Both Krabi and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Krabi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The rainy season in Krabi is August to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Krabi. In July, Eilat usually receives less rain than Krabi. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Krabi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

It's quite sunny in Krabi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Krabi during summer. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Krabi receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Krabi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Krabi averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Eilat 33°C (91°F) 
    Krabi 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Eilat or Krabi in the Autumn?

Both Krabi and Eilat during the autumn 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 Krabi year-round.

December to March is the dry season in Krabi. August to October is the rainy season in Krabi. Krabi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in October than Krabi. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Krabi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the autumn, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Krabi. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krabi receives 181 hours of full sun.

In October, Eilat is generally around the same temperature as Krabi. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Krabi fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Eilat 26°C (79°F) 
    Krabi 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Eilat or Krabi in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Krabi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Krabi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

December to March in Krabi is the dry season. In January, Eilat usually receives less rain than Krabi. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Krabi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Krabi this time of the year. In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives less sunshine than Krabi during winter. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Krabi receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

Eilat is much colder than Krabi in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Krabi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Eilat 14°C (57°F) 
    Krabi 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Eilat or Krabi in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Krabi. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Krabi throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Krabi. Eilat usually gets less rain in April than Krabi. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Krabi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Krabi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the spring, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Krabi. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Krabi receives 249 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Eilat is cooler than Krabi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Krabi averages at about 29°C (84°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Eilat 24°C (75°F) 
    Krabi 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Krabi and Eilat

Eilat Krabi
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Feb 16°C (61°F) 1 mm (0 in) 28°C (83°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Mar 19°C (66°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 29°C (84°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Apr 24°C (75°F) 0 mm (0 in) 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
May 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (83°F) 318 mm (12.5 in)
Jun 31°C (88°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 279 mm (11 in)
Jul 33°C (91°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Aug 33°C (91°F) 0 mm (0 in) 28°C (82°F) 262 mm (10.3 in)
Sep 31°C (88°F) 0 mm (0 in) 27°C (81°F) 399 mm (15.7 in)
Oct 26°C (79°F) 1 mm (0 in) 27°C (81°F) 304 mm (12 in)
Nov 20°C (68°F) 0 mm (0 in) 27°C (81°F) 165 mm (6.5 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 6 mm (0.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)