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

Should you visit Haifa or Koh Phi Phi?

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 Koh Phi Phi. 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 Koh Phi Phi?

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.

Koh Phi Phi

The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best 2-Week Tours in Israel, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Phi Phi or Haifa?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Haifa is $124, while the average daily cost in Koh Phi Phi is $78. 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 Koh Phi Phi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Haifa $75
    Koh Phi Phi $44
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Haifa $150
    Koh Phi Phi $88
Compare Hotels in Haifa and Koh Phi Phi

Looking for a hotel in Haifa or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Haifa


Hotels in Koh Phi Phi


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 Koh Phi Phi Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Haifa $4.97
    Koh Phi Phi $7.49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Haifa

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

  • Transfers all over the Holyland: Haifa, TLV, Airport, JLM, Jordan: $195
  • Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv Airport (TLV): $178
  • Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv City: $178

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Phi Phi

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:


  • Ferry to Maya Beach (for 2)
    $16
  • Longboat Taxi
    $2.96

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Phi Phi

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

  • Speedboat Transfer Phi Phi Tonsai to Phuket with Dropoff Service: $28
  • Phi Phi to Phuket Comfortable Transfer by Speedboat : $25
  • One-Way Departure Transfer from Phi Phi Island (Speedboat) to Phuket Airport : $58

Is it cheaper to fly into Haifa or Koh Phi Phi?

Prices for flights to both Koh Phi Phi 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Haifa $45
    Koh Phi Phi $12
Typical Food Prices in Haifa

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


  • Dinner
    $27

Typical Food Prices in Koh Phi Phi

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:


  • Crepe
    $1.78
  • Sit Down Lunch
    $10
  • Casual Lunch
    $6.22
  • Coconut Donut
    $0.30
  • Lunch at Mexican Restaurant (for 2)
    $12
  • Sit Down Dinner
    $15

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Haifa $5.74
    Koh Phi Phi $49

Tours and Activities in Haifa

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

  • Romantic Walking Tour In Haifa for Couples: $299
  • Caesarea, Haifa & Akko Tour / From Jerusalem: $150
  • Caesarea, Haifa & Akko Tour / From Tel-Aviv: $150
  • Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Rosh Hanikra Private Day Tour: $726
  • Christianity Day Tour: Haifa Port to Nazareth and Sea of Galilee : $295
  • From Tel Aviv: Caesarea, Haifa & Akko Guided Tour: $1,300
  • From Tel Aviv: Northern Israel Coast Private Tour: $999
  • Full Day Tour to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee: $290
  • Haifa Port Shore Excursion: Nazareth and Sea of Galilee Day Tour from Haifa Port: $120
  • Haifa Port: Full-Day Christianity Cruise to Galilee: $400
  • Haifa Private Tour: $166
  • Haifa, Acre & Rosh Anikra Grottos Haifa Port FullDay Shared Tour: $231

Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Phi Phi

For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Kayak Rental
    $8.89

Tours and Activities in Koh Phi Phi

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Phi Phi.

  • 6 Hours Private Tour Around Phi Phi Islands From Phi Phi: $178
  • 7 Hours Banana Beach Shared Tour: $117
  • Deluxe Tour Before Sunset At Phi Phi Islands: $75
  • Early Bird Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $63
  • Early Bird Phi Phi and 4 Islands Tour by Speedboat from Krabi: $92
  • Ferry from Phi Phi Islands to Phuket with Dropoff Service by Royal Jet Cruiser: $15
  • Half Day & Sunset Phi Phi Island Tour From Phi Phi by Speedboat: $63
  • Half Day Tour Around Phi Phi Islands By Private Longtail Boat From Phi Phi: $119
  • Half-Day Morning Bamboo Island Tour from Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $24
  • Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser: $19
  • Maya Bay Sleep aboard Tour From Phi Phi: $138
  • PHI PHI ISLAND - Sunrise Trip From Phi Phi Don By Phi Phi Local Tour: $72

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Haifa $13
    Koh Phi Phi $6.14

Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Phi Phi

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:


  • Mojito Bucket
    $15
  • Banana Daiquiri
    $5.93


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

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


Which is Bigger, Haifa or Koh Phi Phi?

Haifa has a larger population, and is about 270 times larger than the population of Koh Phi Phi. When comparing the sizes of Haifa and Koh Phi Phi, 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 Koh Phi Phi?

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 Haifa or Koh Phi Phi in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Koh Phi Phi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa year-round. Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Koh Phi Phi receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Haifa usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phi. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Phi Phi this time of the year. In Haifa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during summer. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Haifa is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Haifa in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Haifa 27°C (81°F) 
    Koh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Haifa or Koh Phi Phi in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Koh Phi Phi. Haifa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Phi Phi throughout the year.

Also, December to March in Koh Phi Phi is the dry season. May to November in Koh Phi Phi is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Phi Phi. Haifa usually gets less rain in October than Koh Phi Phi. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Haifa this time of the year. In the autumn, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 181 hours of full sun.

In October, Haifa is generally cooler than Koh Phi Phi. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Haifa 24°C (75°F) 
    Koh Phi Phi 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Haifa or Koh Phi Phi in the Winter?

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

The dry season in Koh Phi Phi is December to March. It's quite rainy in Haifa. In January, Haifa usually receives more rain than Koh Phi Phi. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Koh Phi Phi. Haifa usually receives less sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during winter. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.

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


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Haifa 14°C (57°F) 
    Koh Phi Phi 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Haifa or Koh Phi Phi in the Spring?

Both Koh Phi Phi and Haifa during the spring 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 Koh Phi Phi year-round.

May to November is the rainy season in Koh Phi Phi. Koh Phi Phi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Haifa usually gets less rain in April than Koh Phi Phi. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Koh Phi Phi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Haifa. In the spring, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 249 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Haifa is much colder than Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Haifa in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 29°C (84°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Haifa 19°C (66°F) 
    Koh Phi Phi 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Koh Phi Phi and Haifa

Haifa Koh Phi Phi
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 100 mm (3.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 28°C (83°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Mar 16°C (61°F) 60 mm (2.4 in) 29°C (84°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Apr 19°C (66°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
May 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 318 mm (12.5 in)
Jun 25°C (77°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 279 mm (11 in)
Jul 27°C (81°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 262 mm (10.3 in)
Sep 25°C (77°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 27°C (81°F) 399 mm (15.7 in)
Oct 24°C (75°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 27°C (81°F) 304 mm (12 in)
Nov 20°C (68°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 27°C (81°F) 165 mm (6.5 in)
Dec 15°C (59°F) 110 mm (4.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)