Which place is cheaper, Phuket or Haifa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Haifa or Phuket?
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 Phuket. 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 Phuket?
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.
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 Sightseeing Tours in Israel, The Best Cultural 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 dayHaifa $123Phuket $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Haifa is $123, 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 Haifa and Phuket in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHaifa $74Phuket $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHaifa $148Phuket $112
Compare Hotels in Haifa and Phuket
Looking for a hotel in Haifa 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: Haifa Hotel Prices and Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Haifa $4.93Phuket $11
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): $173
- Private Transfer from Haifa Cruise Port to Tel Aviv City: $173
- Transfers all over the Holyland: Haifa, TLV, Airport, JLM, Jordan: $195
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 Haifa or Phuket?
Prices for flights to both Phuket 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 $44Phuket $22
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 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.Haifa $5.68Phuket $42
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: $120
- Haifa Private Tour: $160
- Haifa, Acre & Rosh Anikra Grottos Haifa Port FullDay Shared Tour: $231
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port. Private Tour: $248
- Jerusalem & Bethlehem Tour from Haifa Port 2024 - Small Group: $255
- Romantic Walking Tour In Haifa for Couples: $290
- Full Day Tour to Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee: $290
- Christianity Day Tour: Haifa Port to Nazareth and Sea of Galilee : $295
- Haifa Port: Full-Day Christianity Cruise to Galilee: $388
- Haifa, Acre and Rosh Anikra for Cruises with Licensed Guide: $405
- Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Rosh Hanikra Private Day Tour: $700
- Wine private tour of Central Israel: $949
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 dayHaifa $13Phuket $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 Haifa and Phuket, we can see that Haifa is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Haifa 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 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 Phuket.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Haifa Expensive? and Is Phuket Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Haifa or Phuket?
Haifa has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Haifa 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 Haifa 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 Haifa or Phuket in the Summer?
Both Phuket 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 Phuket year-round.
Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Haifa usually gets less rain in July than Phuket. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 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 Haifa. In the summer, Haifa often gets more sunshine than Phuket. Haifa gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 206 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Haifa is around the same temperature as Phuket. Typically, the summer temperatures in Haifa in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Phuket averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHaifa 27°C (81°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Phuket in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Phuket. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa 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, Haifa usually receives less rain than Phuket. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 304 mm (12 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 Phuket during autumn. Haifa gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Haifa is generally cooler than Phuket. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 24°C (75°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHaifa 24°C (75°F)Phuket 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Phuket in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Phuket. Haifa 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. Haifa receives a lot of rain in the winter. Haifa usually gets more rain in January than Phuket. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 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. In the winter, Haifa often gets less sunshine than Phuket. Haifa gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 287 hours of full sun.
Haifa is much colder than Phuket in the winter. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHaifa 14°C (57°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Phuket in the Spring?
Both Phuket 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 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, Haifa usually receives less rain than Phuket. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 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 Haifa. Haifa usually receives more sunshine than Phuket during spring. Haifa gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
In the spring, Haifa is much colder than Phuket. Typically, the spring temperatures in Haifa in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Phuket averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHaifa 19°C (66°F)Phuket 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Phuket and Haifa
| Haifa | Phuket | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
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.