A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kao-hsiung vs. Gili Trawangan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kao-hsiung or Gili Trawangan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kao-hsiung and Gili Trawangan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Kao-hsiung or Gili Trawangan?

Kao-hsiung

Kaohsiung is the second-most populated city and also the largest port city in the country, located in the south of Taiwan. Compared to Taipei, the lifestyle in Kaohsiung is laid-back and noticeably slower, populated with friendly locals. However, with Taipei in the spotlight, Kaohsiung is often overlooked, though it offers so much in the way of art and culture, history, and delicious food.

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Taiwan, The Best Adventure Tours to Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan or Kao-hsiung?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Kao-hsiung Prices
    Taiwan Prices
    Gili Trawangan Prices
    Indonesia Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Kao-hsiung $134
    Gili Trawangan $40

The average daily cost (per person) in Kao-hsiung is $134, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan is $40. 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 Kao-hsiung and Gili Trawangan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kao-hsiung $60
    Gili Trawangan $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kao-hsiung $120
    Gili Trawangan $46
Compare Hotels in Kao-hsiung and Gili Trawangan

Looking for a hotel in Kao-hsiung or Gili Trawangan? 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 Kao-hsiung


Hotels in Gili Trawangan


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: Kao-hsiung Hotel Prices and Gili Trawangan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kao-hsiung $12
    Gili Trawangan $2.65

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:

  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport to Kenting: $138
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port : $75
  • Private Kaohsiung Airport to Taitung Resorts Arrival Transfer: $192
  • Kaohsiung Airport Chauffeur service , Kaohsiung Airport Transfer : $50
  • Kaohsiung Airport -> Kaohsiung Hotel Private Transfer (Large room for luggage) : $35
  • Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $134
  • Guanziling Resorts to Kaohsiung Airport KHH Departure Transfer: $134

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan

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

  • Private Speedboat transfer Between Lombok and Gili Islands: $15
  • Gili Trawangan Luxury Speedboat Transfer to Bali: $24

Is it cheaper to fly into Kao-hsiung or Gili Trawangan?

Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan and Kao-hsiung 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
    Kao-hsiung $59
    Gili Trawangan $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kao-hsiung

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kao-hsiung.

  • Sunset Dinner on Monkey Mountain : $100

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan

For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Indonesian Food Cooking Class of Gili Air: $33
  • Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes: $33
  • Gili Trawangan Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise with snorkeling: $91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kao-hsiung $22
    Gili Trawangan $3.82

Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kao-hsiung are as follows:

  • 1 day tour - Kaohsiung: $200
  • Alishan Day Tour from Kaohsiung (Incl. Park Entrance): $90
  • Buddha Museum- Half Day Tour : $90
  • Classic Northern Kaohsiung Day Tour: $60
  • Classic Southern Kaohsiung Day Tour: $60
  • Food and Culture Walking Tour in Tainan: $78
  • Kaohsiung Area Classic Tour: $255
  • Kaohsiung City Walking Day Tour: $70
  • Kaohsiung Departure - Tainan City Day Tour: $220
  • Kaohsiung Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $48
  • Kaohsiung Private Tour with Transportation : $249
  • Kaohsiung Suburbs Full-Day Tour: $220

Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan

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

  • Experience The Gili Fireshow with Cocktail: $9.75
  • From Gili Islands Snorkeling Boat Tour: $15
  • Group Snorkeling Tour Gili Islands Including GoPro Documentation: $15
  • Gili Islands Snorkel Tour - Explore an Underwater Paradise: $16
  • Gili Islands Sunset Boat Tour and Snorkeling: $17
  • Cycling Tour with Snorkeling and Viewpoint: $31
  • Cycling, Viewpoint & Paddle Boarding Tour: $34
  • Gili Meno Horse Riding Adventure on the Beach for 1 Hour: $42
  • Gili Air 1 Hour Horseback Beach Adventure: $46
  • Kuta Tour (South Of Lombok Beutiful Tour): $49
  • Lombok Private Tour Waterfall And Traditional Village Including Beach: $62
  • Mushroom Tour with Jungle Breakfast: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kao-hsiung $11
    Gili Trawangan $3.53


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kao-hsiung and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Kao-hsiung is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan 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 Kao-hsiung would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kao-hsiung than you might in Gili Trawangan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kao-hsiung Expensive? and Is Gili Trawangan Expensive?.