Which place is cheaper, Surat Thani or Haifa?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Haifa or Surat Thani?
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 Surat Thani. 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 Surat Thani?
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.
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Israel, The Best Cultural Tours in Israel, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHaifa $123Surat Thani $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Haifa is $123, while the average daily cost in Surat Thani is $53. 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 Surat Thani in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHaifa $74Surat Thani $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHaifa $148Surat Thani $50
Compare Hotels in Haifa and Surat Thani
Looking for a hotel in Haifa or Surat Thani? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Haifa $4.93Surat Thani $24
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $59
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $36
- Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui Sedan 1-3 PAX: $12
- From Koh Samui: One-Way Ferry Transfer to Surat Thani: $7.16
- Donsak pier to aonang , krabi town , klongmuang any hotel Private transfer: $114
Is it cheaper to fly into Haifa or Surat Thani?
Prices for flights to both Surat Thani 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 $44Surat Thani $14
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 Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Khao Sok: Elephant Day Care, Cooking Class, & Bamboo Raft: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Haifa $5.68Surat Thani $4.97
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
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- 5 island tour: $459
- Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $69
- From Khao Lak/Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake and Emerald Pool Tour: $105
- From Phuket: Cheow Lan Lake 2Day Guided Tour with Activities: $203
- From Phuket: Full-Day Private Tour to Khao Sok Highlights: $170
- Khao Sok Lake: Private Day Tour with Boat and Jungle Trek: $179
- Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake Sunset Cruise w/ Drinks: $91
- Khao Sok: Private Longtail Boat Tour at Cheow Lan Lake: $227
- Koh Phangan: Private Land Tour with Snorkeling: $241
- Koh Samui Day and Night Fishing Experience: $48
- Koh Samui Waterfall And Mummified Monk Temple Tour: $241
- Koh Samui: 4x4 Sightseeing Safari & Elephant Sanctuary Tour: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHaifa $13Surat Thani $4.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Haifa and Surat Thani, we can see that Haifa is more expensive. And not only is Surat Thani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Haifa is in Middle East and Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Haifa Expensive? and Is Surat Thani Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Haifa or Surat Thani?
Haifa has a larger population, and is about 267300 times larger than the population of Surat Thani. When comparing the sizes of Haifa and Surat Thani, 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 Surat Thani?
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 Surat Thani in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Haifa and Surat Thani. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Haifa year-round. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Surat Thani receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Haifa usually receives less rain than Surat Thani. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Haifa is around the same temperature as Surat Thani in the summer. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 27°C (81°F) in July, and Surat Thani fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHaifa 27°C (81°F)Surat Thani 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Surat Thani in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Haifa as well as Surat Thani. Haifa attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Surat Thani throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Surat Thani. Haifa usually gets less rain in October than Surat Thani. Haifa gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Haifa is cooler than Surat Thani. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Haifa in October average around 24°C (75°F), and Surat Thani averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHaifa 24°C (75°F)Surat Thani 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Surat Thani in the Winter?
Both Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Haifa. In January, Haifa usually receives more rain than Surat Thani. Haifa gets 100 mm (3.9 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In January, Haifa is generally much colder than Surat Thani. Daily temperatures in Haifa average around 14°C (57°F), and Surat Thani fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHaifa 14°C (57°F)Surat Thani 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Haifa or Surat Thani in the Spring?
Both Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani year-round.
Haifa usually gets less rain in April than Surat Thani. Haifa gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Haifa is cooler than Surat Thani in the spring. The daily temperature in Haifa averages around 19°C (66°F) in April, and Surat Thani fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHaifa 19°C (66°F)Surat Thani 29°C (83°F)
Typical Weather for Surat Thani and Haifa
| Haifa | Surat Thani | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 13°C (55°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 16°C (61°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 19°C (66°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (77°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.