Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Karachi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Karachi or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Karachi or Koh Tao? 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 Tao?
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 Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKarachi $26Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Karachi is $26, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKarachi $11Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKarachi $22Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Karachi and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Karachi or Koh Tao? 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: Karachi Hotel Prices and Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Karachi $4.58Koh Tao $8.67
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Karachi or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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
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Food Meals for one dayKarachi $11Koh Tao $9.21
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 Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Karachi $5.07Koh Tao $26
Tours and Activities in Karachi
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Karachi are as follows:
- Experience local village life in Sindh: $200
- Full Day Private Tour in Karachi City: $161
- Full Day Private Tour to Mohatta Palace Zainab and Burns road: $195
- Karachi City Tour : $129
- Karachi Sightseeing Private tour: $159
- UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKarachi $3.35Koh Tao $7.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Karachi and Koh Tao, we can see that Koh Tao 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 Tao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Tao 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 Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Karachi or Koh Tao?
Karachi has a larger population, and is about 8410 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Karachi and Koh Tao, 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 Tao?
Karachi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Tao experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Karachi or Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Karachi as well as Koh Tao. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
In the summer, Karachi is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Karachi in July average around 30°C (86°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
In the summer, Karachi often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Karachi gets 155 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Karachi usually gets less rain in July than Koh Tao. Karachi gets 30 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKarachi 30°C (86°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Karachi or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
Both Koh Tao and Karachi are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Karachi is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Karachi average around 29°C (84°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Karachi. Karachi usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during autumn. Karachi gets 284 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. In October, Karachi usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The rainy season in Koh Tao is October and November.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKarachi 29°C (84°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Karachi or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao and Karachi during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
Karachi is cooler than Koh Tao in the winter. The daily temperature in Karachi averages around 19°C (66°F) in January, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Karachi. In the winter, Karachi often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao. Karachi gets 271 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun.
Karachi usually gets less rain in January than Koh Tao. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year. February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKarachi 19°C (66°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Karachi or Koh Tao in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Karachi and Koh Tao. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Karachi is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Karachi in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 25°C (77°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Tao this time of the year. In Karachi, it's very sunny this time of the year. Karachi usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during spring. Karachi gets 277 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Karachi usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Karachi gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKarachi 29°C (84°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Karachi
| Karachi | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 19°C (66°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (79°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 30°C (86°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 30°C (86°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 24°C (75°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 21°C (70°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.