Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Haifa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Haifa or Koh Tao?
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 Tao. 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 Tao?
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 Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Israel, The Best Cultural Tours in Israel, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHaifa $123Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Haifa is $123, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHaifa $74Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHaifa $148Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Haifa and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Haifa or Koh Tao? 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 Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Haifa $4.93Koh Tao $8.67
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): $173
- Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv City: $173
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Haifa or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 $44Koh Tao $9.21
Typical Food Prices in Haifa
For Haifa, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$27
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Haifa $5.68Koh Tao $26
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: $290
- Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Rosh Hanikra Private Day Tour: $700
- 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: $388
- Haifa Private Tour: $160
- Haifa, Acre & Rosh Anikra Grottos Haifa Port FullDay Shared Tour: $231
- Haifa, Acre and Rosh Anikra for Cruises with Licensed Guide: $405
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port 2024 - Small Group: $255
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHaifa $13Koh Tao $7.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Haifa and Koh Tao, we can see that Haifa is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Haifa is in Middle East and Koh Tao 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 Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Tao.
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 Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Haifa or Koh Tao?
Haifa has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Haifa and Koh Tao, 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 Tao?
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 Tao in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Haifa usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In Haifa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during summer. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Haifa is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Haifa in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHaifa 27°C (81°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Koh Tao. Haifa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
October and November in Koh Tao is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Haifa usually gets less rain in October than Koh Tao. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 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 Tao. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun.
In October, Haifa is generally around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHaifa 24°C (75°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao 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 Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. It's quite rainy in Haifa. In January, Haifa usually receives around the same amount of rain as Koh Tao. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. Haifa usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during winter. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.
Haifa is much colder than Koh Tao in the winter. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHaifa 14°C (57°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao 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 Tao year-round.
February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. Haifa usually gets less rain in April than Koh Tao. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Tao, 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 Tao. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Haifa is cooler than Koh Tao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Haifa in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHaifa 19°C (66°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Haifa
| Haifa | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.