Which place is cheaper, Phuket or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Phuket?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Phuket? 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 Phuket?
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.
Phuket
Phuket Island is the tourist mecca of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
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 One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Phuket $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, while the average daily cost in Phuket is $105. 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 Phuket in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Phuket $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Phuket $112
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Phuket
Looking for a hotel in Eilat or Phuket? 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 Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Phuket $11
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 Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.18
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$6.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Ziplining Hanuman Experience in Phuket with Roundtrip Transfer (SHA Plus): $85
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Phuket HTL-APT (HKT): $27
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Phuket APT-HTL (HKT): $27
- Transfer to or from Phuket International Airport by Sedan: $17
- Transfer from Phuket Airport to Phuket Hotel: $21
- TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to PHUKET TOWN (SHA Plus): $30
- TAXI AIRPORT TRANSFER to RASSADA PIER: $25
- Simon Cabaret Phuket Show Included Tickets and Transfer: $28
- Siam Niramit Phuket Admission Ticket with Transfer Option: $44
- Shared Transfer from Phuket to Koh Tao by Coach and Catamaran: $59
- Shared Transfer Phuket International Airport (HKT) To Phuket City - Arrival: $33
- RoundTrip Priva Transfer Phuket Airport to Talang, Kathu or Muang: $54
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Phuket?
Prices for flights to both Phuket 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 $35Phuket $22
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.88
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.64
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Thai Noodles$2.45
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Bananas$0.68
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Pizza (for Two)$8.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $43
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $55
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $55
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Phuket $42
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$25
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$68
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Thai Oil Massage$17
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Surfboard Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
- Activities In & Around Full Day Customizable Tour: $90
- Amazing Krabi Private 1 day tour from Phuket by VAN: $218
- James Bond Island Highlights Tour from Phuket with Lunch: $115
- Khai Island Half Day Tour by Speedboat from Phuket (SHA Plus): $61
- Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Tour with Seaview Lunch from Phuket: $68
- Whitewater Rafting & ATV Adventure Tour from Phuket including Lunch: $118
- Zipline Adventure 32 Platforms + Roller + Skywalk: $108
- 2 Hours Phuket Old Town Street Food Walking Tour: $45
- 2-Hour ATV Tour from Phuket: $77
- 2x Snorkelling Phi Phi, Maiton, Maya Bay, khai islands tour: $58
- 4 Waters Eco Adventure: $96
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Phuket $6.35
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.46
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Beer$2.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl Tour: $25
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $77
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $97
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Phuket, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East and Phuket 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 Phuket would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phuket 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 Phuket.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Eilat Expensive? and Is Phuket Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Phuket?
Phuket has a larger population, and is about 95% larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat and Phuket, 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 Phuket?
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 Phuket in the Summer?
Both Phuket 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 Phuket year-round.
Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in July than Phuket. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Phuket. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 206 hours of full sun.
Eilat can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Eilat is generally a little warmer than Phuket. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 33°C (91°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEilat 33°C (91°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Phuket in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Phuket. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Eilat usually receives less rain than Phuket. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 304 mm (12 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 Phuket during autumn. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Eilat is around the same temperature as Phuket in the autumn. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 26°C (79°F) in October, and Phuket fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEilat 26°C (79°F)Phuket 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Phuket in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Phuket. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. Eilat usually gets less rain in January than Phuket. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the winter, Eilat often gets less sunshine than Phuket. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 287 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Eilat is much colder than Phuket. Typically, the winter temperatures in Eilat in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Phuket averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEilat 14°C (57°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Phuket in the Spring?
Both Phuket 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 Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Phuket is June to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. In April, Eilat usually receives less rain than Phuket. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Phuket. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Phuket during spring. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Eilat is generally cooler than Phuket. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 24°C (75°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEilat 24°C (75°F)Phuket 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Phuket and Eilat
| Eilat | Phuket | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.