A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Karachi vs. Koh Pha Ngan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan?

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

Should I visit Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan? 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: Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan?

Karachi

Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.

Koh Pha Ngan

Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Karachi?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Karachi is $26, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $45. 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 Karachi and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Karachi $11
    Koh Pha Ngan $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Karachi $22
    Koh Pha Ngan $46
Compare Hotels in Karachi and Koh Pha Ngan

Looking for a hotel in Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Karachi


Hotels in Koh Pha Ngan


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: Karachi Hotel Prices and Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Karachi $4.58
    Koh Pha Ngan $13

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $8.18
  • Ferry Ride
    $14
  • Gas for Scooter
    $3.00

Is it cheaper to fly into Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan?

Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan and Karachi 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
    Karachi $11
    Koh Pha Ngan $10

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.

  • Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $94
  • Half-Day Karachi Burns Road Private Victoria Ride with Dinner: $100
  • Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199

Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:


  • Noodle Lunch (for One)
    $1.09
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $11
  • Smoothies (for Two)
    $1.09
  • Ice Cream
    $0.55
  • Juice
    $1.64
  • 3 Spring Rolls
    $0.82
  • 2 Pancakes
    $1.64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Karachi $5.07
    Koh Pha Ngan $17

Tours and Activities in Karachi

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:

  • Karachi City Tour : $129
  • UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
  • Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
  • Full Day Private Tour in Karachi City: $161
  • Full Day Private Tour to Mohatta Palace Zainab and Burns road: $195
  • Experience local village life in Sindh: $200

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Karachi $3.35
    Koh Pha Ngan $9.89

Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:


  • Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)
    $7.09


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Karachi Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan?

Karachi has a larger population, and is about 980 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Karachi and Koh Pha Ngan, 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 Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan?

Karachi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Pha Ngan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Karachi and Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Karachi is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan in the summer. The daily temperature in Karachi averages around 30°C (86°F) in July, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Karachi usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Karachi gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Karachi 30°C (86°F) 
    Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)

Should I visit Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Karachi as well as Koh Pha Ngan. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.

In the autumn, Karachi is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Karachi in October average around 29°C (84°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 24°C (75°F).

It's quite rainy in Koh Pha Ngan. Karachi usually gets less rain in October than Koh Pha Ngan. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Karachi 29°C (84°F) 
    Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)

Should I visit Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?

Both Koh Pha Ngan and Karachi are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Karachi is generally cooler than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Karachi average around 19°C (66°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

In January, Karachi usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Pha Ngan is December to March.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Karachi 19°C (66°F) 
    Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)

Should I visit Karachi or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?

Both Koh Pha Ngan and Karachi during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.

Karachi is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan in the spring. The daily temperature in Karachi averages around 29°C (84°F) in April, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).

Karachi usually gets less rain in April than Koh Pha Ngan. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Karachi 29°C (84°F) 
    Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)

Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Karachi

Karachi Koh Pha Ngan
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 19°C (66°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 22°C (72°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Feb 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 22°C (72°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Mar 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 23°C (74°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Apr 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 24°C (76°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 164 mm (6.5 in)
Jun 31°C (88°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 25°C (77°F) 145 mm (5.7 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 24°C (76°F) 143 mm (5.6 in)
Aug 30°C (86°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 24°C (76°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 25°C (76°F) 196 mm (7.7 in)
Oct 29°C (84°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 24°C (75°F) 240 mm (9.5 in)
Nov 24°C (75°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 23°C (74°F) 335 mm (13.2 in)
Dec 21°C (70°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 134 mm (5.3 in)