Which place is cheaper, Khao Lak or Haifa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Haifa or Khao Lak?
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 Khao Lak. 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 Khao Lak?
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.
Khao Lak
Resiliency and relaxation. Those are the two words used to describe one of Thailand's most breathtaking cities. Khao Lak is located in southern Thailand, and when the tsunami of 2004 hit, this area saw the most damage. With more than 4,000 fatalities, 3,000 still unaccounted for and enormous structural damages, many thought Khao Lak would not be able to bounce back. They have proved everyone wrong with a strong and impressive recovery. Now it has returned to its status of vacation hotspot. Unlike neighboring Phuket, though, the resorts in Khao Lak are designed for families and some peace and quiet.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours in Israel, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, and The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand.
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Haifa Prices
Israel PricesKhao Lak Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHaifa $197Khao Lak $150
The average daily cost (per person) in Haifa is $197, while the average daily cost in Khao Lak is $150. 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 Haifa and Khao Lak in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHaifa $94Khao Lak $57
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHaifa $188Khao Lak $114
Compare Hotels in Haifa and Khao Lak
Looking for a hotel in Haifa or Khao Lak? 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: Haifa Hotel Prices and Khao Lak Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Haifa $6.27Khao Lak $58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haifa
Also for Haifa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv Airport (TLV): $229
- Transfers all over the Holyland: Haifa, TLV, Airport, JLM, Jordan: $199
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
- Transfer from Khao Lak Hotel to Phuket Airport: $75
- Transfer Service from Khao Lak Hotel to Krabi / Aonang: $119
- Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak: $62
- Private Transfer Between Ko Lanta and Khao Lak: $237
- Private Phuket Airport Transfer to or from Khao Lak: $37
- Private Minivan Transfer from Khao Lak hotels to Phuket Airport: $67
- Phuket Airport(HKT)&Hotel Transfers:Private—Phuket/Khao Lak/Krabi: $18
- Khao Lak any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $194
- Khao Lak River Tubing with Music, Drink & Transfer: $94
- Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary Walk with Hotel Transfer – 2 Hours: $72
- Carnival Magic Phuket Show Ticket with Transfer from Khao Lak: $106
- 30-Minutes Guided Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $47
Is it cheaper to fly into Haifa or Khao Lak?
Prices for flights to both Khao Lak and Haifa 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 dayHaifa $98Khao Lak $59
Typical Food Prices in Haifa
For Haifa, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$34
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
- Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak by Amazon Prime Series Chef: $59
- Hands on Cooking Class at Riverside Thai Cooking in Khao Lak: $70
- Half-Day Small Group Thai Cooking Class from Khao Lak: $76
- Khao Lak Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour & Your Own Menu: $87
- Khao Sok Local Life Adventure & Traditional Cooking Class: $100
- Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary, Rubber Tapping & Coconut Cooking: $112
- Bamboo Cooking Rafting with Khuk Khak Temple Tour from Khao Lak: $114
- Khao Lak Bamboo Rafting and Bamboo Cooking with Waterfall Tour: $120
- Khao Lak : Bamboo Cooking and Bamboo Rafting Tour: $122
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Haifa $7.24Khao Lak $21
Tours and Activities in Haifa
For Haifa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Haifa Port Shore Excursion: Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Day Tour from Haifa Port: $125
- Haifa Private Tour: $199
- Guided Walking & Car Tour with Bahai Gardens Entry: $229
- In the Footsteps of Jesus Minibus Tour for Holland America Cruise: $249
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port 2026 - Small Group: $255
- Holy Jerusalem Joint Minibus Tour for Holland America Cruise: $269
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port. Private Tour: $287
- Full Day Tour to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee: $299
- Haifa Port: Full-Day Christianity Tour to Galilee: $501
- Haifa, Acre and Rosh Anikra for Cruises with Licensed Guide: $510
Tours and Activities in Khao Lak
Here are a few actual costs in Khao Lak for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour Guided Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary Observation Tour: $56
- 30 Minutes Khaolak ATV Quadbike & Waterfall Adventure: $78
- ATV Adventure: Khao Lak’s Best Off-Road Experience: $94
- Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park: $110
- Bamboo Rafting and Sea Turtle Conservation Center Half Day Tour From Khao Lak: $38
- Cheow Lan Lake Tour with Cave and Rafthouse from Khao Lak: $124
- Cheow Lan Lake and Diamond Cave Full Day Tour from Khao Lak: $129
- Cheow Lan Lake with Nam Rad Emerald Pool Tour from Khao Lak: $109
- Day Tour with Sea Canoeing at Hong Island from Khao Lak: $87
- Experience Khao Sok Jungle Escape Half Day Half Night: $122
- From Khao Lak : Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip with Lunch: $140
- Full Day 3 Spiritual Temple Tour with Lunch from Khao Lak: $81
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHaifa $17Khao Lak $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Haifa and Khao Lak, we can see that Haifa is more expensive. And not only is Khao Lak much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Haifa is in Middle East and Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Khao Lak 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 Khao Lak.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Haifa Expensive? and Is Khao Lak Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Haifa or Khao Lak?
Haifa has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Khao Lak. When comparing the sizes of Haifa and Khao Lak, 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 Khao Lak?
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 Khao Lak in the Summer?
Both Khao Lak and Haifa during the summer 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 Khao Lak year-round.
Khao Lak gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Haifa usually gets less rain in July than Khao Lak. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Khao Lak, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Haifa. In the summer, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Khao Lak. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Lak receives 206 hours of full sun.
Haifa is around the same temperature as Khao Lak in the summer. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Khao Lak fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHaifa 27°C (81°F)Khao Lak 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Khao Lak in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Khao Lak. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa year-round. Khao Lak attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
November to April in Khao Lak is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Khao Lak. Khao Lak receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Haifa usually receives less rain than Khao Lak. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Haifa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Khao Lak during autumn. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Lak receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Haifa is cooler than Khao Lak. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Haifa in October average around 24°C (75°F), and Khao Lak averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHaifa 24°C (75°F)Khao Lak 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Khao Lak in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Khao Lak. Haifa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Lak throughout the year.
Haifa receives a lot of rain in the winter. Haifa usually gets more rain in January than Khao Lak. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Lak. In the winter, Haifa often gets less sunshine than Khao Lak. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Lak receives 287 hours of full sun.
In January, Haifa is generally much colder than Khao Lak. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 14°C (57°F), and Khao Lak fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHaifa 14°C (57°F)Khao Lak 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Khao Lak in the Spring?
Both Khao Lak and Haifa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Haifa throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Lak because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Khao Lak is November to April. The rainy season in Khao Lak is May to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Lak. In April, Haifa usually receives less rain than Khao Lak. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Khao Lak receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Khao Lak. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Haifa. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Khao Lak during spring. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Lak receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
Haifa is cooler than Khao Lak in the spring. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 19°C (66°F) in April, and Khao Lak fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHaifa 19°C (66°F)Khao Lak 29°C (83°F)
Typical Weather for Khao Lak and Haifa
| Haifa | Khao Lak | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 345 mm (13.6 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 286 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 272 mm (10.7 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 417 mm (16.4 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.