A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Haifa vs. Hat Yai for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Haifa or Hat Yai?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Haifa and Hat Yai. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Haifa or Hat Yai?

Haifa

Located on the northern Mediterranean coast of Israel, Haifa is Israel's third largest city. It is also a beautiful and strategically located city near the border with Lebanon. The population of Haifa, which is approximately 300,000, is surprisingly diverse. There are Jews, Muslim, and Christian Arabs throughout the city. While Haifa is an industrial city with a strong work ethic and a good job base, it is also a beautiful city with many gardens and a stunning coastline. Today the job base has increasingly become technology based with some large companies such as Google and Microsoft offering employment in the area. Haifa University is also the country's top technology university.

Hat Yai

The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Israel, The Best Cultural Tours in Israel, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Haifa and Hat Yai, we can see that Haifa is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Haifa is in Middle East and Hat Yai 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 Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Haifa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Haifa than you might in Hat Yai.

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

Which is Bigger, Haifa or Hat Yai?

Haifa has a larger population, and is about 39% larger than the population of Hat Yai. When comparing the sizes of Haifa and Hat Yai, 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 Haifa or Hat Yai?

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 Haifa or Hat Yai in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Hat Yai. Haifa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Hat Yai throughout the year.

It's quite rainy in Hat Yai. Haifa usually gets less rain in July than Hat Yai. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 101 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Haifa this time of the year. In the summer, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Hat Yai. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hat Yai receives 206 hours of full sun.

In July, Haifa is generally around the same temperature as Hat Yai. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 27°C (81°F), and Hat Yai fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Should I visit Haifa or Hat Yai in the Autumn?

Both Hat Yai and Haifa are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Haifa throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Hat Yai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The rainy season in Hat Yai is May to December. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hat Yai. In October, Haifa usually receives less rain than Hat Yai. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Haifa. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Hat Yai during autumn. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Hat Yai receives 182 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Haifa is cooler than Hat Yai in the autumn. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 24°C (75°F) in October, and Hat Yai fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Haifa or Hat Yai in the Winter?

Both Hat Yai and Haifa during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Haifa because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Hat Yai year-round.

January to April is the dry season in Hat Yai. Hat Yai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Haifa. Haifa usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Hat Yai. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Hat Yai, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Haifa often gets less sunshine than Hat Yai. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hat Yai receives 221 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Haifa is much colder than Hat Yai. Typically, the winter temperatures in Haifa in January average around 14°C (57°F), and Hat Yai averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Haifa or Hat Yai in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Hat Yai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa year-round. Hat Yai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

January to April in Hat Yai is the dry season. Also, May to December is the rainy season in Hat Yai. In April, Haifa usually receives less rain than Hat Yai. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Hat Yai receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hat Yai this time of the year. In Haifa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Haifa usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hat Yai during spring. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Hat Yai receives 265 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Haifa is generally much colder than Hat Yai. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 19°C (66°F), and Hat Yai fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).

Typical Weather for Hat Yai and Haifa