Which place is cheaper, Hat Yai or Jaisalmer?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Jaisalmer or Hat Yai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Jaisalmer or Hat Yai? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Jaisalmer or Hat Yai?
Jaisalmer
Jaisalmer is located in western part of the Rajasthan state of India. The city is known as the "Golden City" for its Sonar Qila, or 'Golden Fort'. This fort is different than other forts in India in that it is a living fort, meaning that it contains many hotels, homes, and shops for locals and visitors. The city is very close to the Thar Desert, to which excursions can be made.
Hat Yai
The fourth largest city of Thailand, Hat Yai is a popular tourist destination, especially on weekends and holidays for people in neighboring Malaysia and Singapore. It is best known as a commercial hub and shopping destination, and for its floating market and Buddhist temple.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJaisalmer $37Hat Yai $16
The average daily cost (per person) in Jaisalmer is $37, while the average daily cost in Hat Yai is $16. 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 Jaisalmer and Hat Yai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJaisalmer $13Hat Yai $5.11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJaisalmer $26Hat Yai $10
Compare Hotels in Jaisalmer and Hat Yai
Looking for a hotel in Jaisalmer or Hat Yai? 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: Jaisalmer Hotel Prices and Hat Yai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jaisalmer $12Hat Yai $0.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jaisalmer
Also for Jaisalmer, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Hotel To Jaisalmer Airport: $10
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer Airport To Jaisalmer Hotel: $10
- One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Hotel To Airport: $12
- One Way Transfer Service From Jaisalmer Airport To Hotel: $12
- From Jaisalmer : Private Transfer To Sam / Khuri Sand Dunes: $18
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Sam Sand Dunes: $19
- Private Transfer From Jaisalmer To Khuri Sand Dunes: $19
- Pokhran Airport transfer: $28
- Private Transfer from Jaisalmer to Jodhpur: $37
- One Way Transfer From Jaisalmer To Jodhpur: $42
- From Jaisalmer : Transfer To Jodhpur Via Osian Temple: $43
- One Way Jaisalmer To Jodhpur Transfer: $44
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hat Yai
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hat Yai:
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pak Bara Pier: $73
- Private Van transfer from Hatyai City to Pak Bara Pier: $73
- Private Hatyai Airport Transfer to Pak Bara Pier by Van: $69
- private van transfer from Hatyai Airport to Pabara Pier: $68
- Transfer from Hatyai Airport to Koh Lipe: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Jaisalmer or Hat Yai?
Prices for flights to both Hat Yai and Jaisalmer 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 dayJaisalmer $13Hat Yai $10
Typical Food Prices in Jaisalmer
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jaisalmer:
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Dinner$4.78
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day SunSet Tour with Dinner: $26
- Jaisalmer Heritage Cultural Walking & Street Food Tour: $28
- Half Day Camel Safari Sunset with Dinner Tour (Non Touristic): $30
- Pleasant Sunset Safari With Dinner On Dunes (From 2:00 PM to Approx. 10:00 PM): $33
- Peaceful Non -Touristic Sunset Camel Safari With Dinner : $35
- Sunset Safari With Dinner: $37
- Half Day Desert Safari with Camel ride & dinner: $42
- Sun Set Safari with Dinner: $45
- 4×4 Jeep Safari And Camel Safari With Dinner On Sand dunes: $48
- DiNnER iN HeVeN /aT Golden Desert of Jaisalmer: $55
- Away from the Crowd Dinner on dunes/ In Non Touristic Desert: $55
- DiNnER !N G0LdEN DE$ERT 0F jASeLMeR: $55
Typical Food Prices in Hat Yai
Some typical examples of dining costs in Hat Yai are as follows:
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Roti Snack$0.55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jaisalmer $12Hat Yai -
Typical Entertainment Prices in Jaisalmer
For Jaisalmer, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Sam Sand Dunes for Two$3.59
Tours and Activities in Jaisalmer
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jaisalmer.
- Temple Tour Of Jaisalmer Rajasthan: $6.14
- Jaisalmer Walking Tour: A Stroll Through Time and Culture: $12
- Explore Jaisalmer with Professional Tour Guide: $12
- Explore Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Colorful Markets of Jaisalmer (3 Hour Guided Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer- Guided Walking Tour: $13
- Experience Jaisalmer at Night (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Vibrant Markets of Jaisalmer (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Golden City Photography Guided Tour to Capture City Hues: $13
- Heritage & Cultural Trails of Jaisalmer Guided Walking Tour: $13
- Explore Jaisalmer in Nightlights -2 Hour Guided Walking Tour: $14
- Jaisalmer Heritage Trails (2 Hour Guided Walking Tour): $14
Tours and Activities in Hat Yai
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hat Yai are as follows:
- One Way Speedboat and Van Ticket Koh Lipe to Hat Yai Airport: $30
- One Way Van and Speedboat Ticket Hat Yai Airport to Koh Lipe: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJaisalmer $9.23Hat Yai $2.52
Typical Alcohol Prices in Hat Yai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Hat Yai:
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Beer$1.64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jaisalmer and Hat Yai, we can see that Jaisalmer is more expensive. And not only is Hat Yai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hat Yai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hat Yai 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 Jaisalmer would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jaisalmer than you might in Hat Yai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jaisalmer Expensive? and Is Hat Yai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jaisalmer or Hat Yai?
Hat Yai has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Jaisalmer. When comparing the sizes of Jaisalmer and Hat Yai, 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.
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.