Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Khao Lak?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Khao Lak or Whitsundays?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Khao Lak and Whitsundays 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: Khao Lak or Whitsundays?
Khao Lak
Resiliency and relaxation. Those are the two words used to describe one of Thailand's most breathtaking cities. Khao Lak is located in southern Thailand, and when the tsunami of 2004 hit, this area saw the most damage. With more than 4,000 fatalities, 3,000 still unaccounted for and enormous structural damages, many thought Khao Lak would not be able to bounce back. They have proved everyone wrong with a strong and impressive recovery. Now it has returned to its status of vacation hotspot. Unlike neighboring Phuket, though, the resorts in Khao Lak are designed for families and some peace and quiet.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.
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Khao Lak Prices
Thailand PricesWhitsundays Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKhao Lak $155Whitsundays $155
The average daily cost (per person) in Khao Lak is $155, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $155. 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 Khao Lak and Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKhao Lak $59Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKhao Lak $118Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Khao Lak and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Khao Lak or Whitsundays? 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: Khao Lak Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Khao Lak $60Whitsundays $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Khao Lak
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Khao Lak:
- Private Transfer Between Ko Lanta and Khao Lak: $242
- Khao Lak any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $198
- Similan Island Snorkeling Adventure -Full-Day Tour with Transfers: $137
- Transfer Service from Khao Lak Hotel to Krabi / Aonang: $119
- Private Transfer from Khao Lak to Phuket (HKT) Airport: $110
- Carnival Magic Phuket Show Ticket with Transfer from Khao Lak: $97
- Khao Lak River Tubing with Music, Drink, and Transfer: $95
- Transfer from Khao Lak Hotel to Phuket Airport: $75
- 2-Hour Guided Eco-Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $73
- Private Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak: $51
- 30-Minutes Guided Tour & Transfer to Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Khao Lak or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays and Khao Lak 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 dayKhao Lak $61Whitsundays $52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Khao Lak
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Khao Lak.
- Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak by Amazon Prime Series Chef: $59
- Riverside Thai Cooking Half Day Class: $65
- Khao Lak Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour & Your Own Menu: $89
- Authentic Thai Cooking in Khao Lak – Market Tour & Flexible Menu: $89
- Khao Sok Local Life Adventure & Traditional Cooking Class: $102
- ATV Quad Bike Excursion to Stunning Waterfalls with Dinner: $111
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset Dinner Cruise: $99
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Khao Lak $22Whitsundays $25
Tours and Activities in Khao Lak
Here are a few actual costs in Khao Lak for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1-Hour Guided Khaolak Elephant Sanctuary Observation Tour: $57
- 30 Minutes Khaolak ATV Quadbike & Waterfall Adventure: $80
- ATV Adventure: Khao Lak’s Best Off-Road Experience: $127
- Adventure Off Road Safari to Khao Lak National Park: $110
- Bamboo & Phi Phi Islands, Maya & Pileh Bay Day Tour From Khao Lak: $118
- Bamboo Rafting and Sea Turtle Conservation Center Half Day Tour From Khao Lak: $43
- Cheow Lan Lake with Nam Rad Emerald Pool Tour from Khao Lak: $138
- From Khao Lak : Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip with Lunch: $118
- Full Day 3 Spiritual Temple Tour with Lunch from Khao Lak: $83
- Full Day Phang Nga Bay Highlights Tour: $93
- Full-Day Rescued Elephant Walk with Guide Tour in Khaolak: $156
- Full-Day Similan island Snorking Tour By Speed Boat from Khao Lak: $112
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $164
- MILADY Whitsundays 2-Night Private Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,953
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKhao Lak $15Whitsundays $12
When comparing the travel costs between Khao Lak and Whitsundays, we can see that Khao Lak is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Khao Lak is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Khao Lak Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Khao Lak or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Khao Lak experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Khao Lak or Whitsundays in the Summer?
Both Whitsundays and Khao Lak during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Lak because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Khao Lak is around the same temperature as Whitsundays in the summer. The daily temperature in Khao Lak averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
In Whitsundays, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Khao Lak. In the summer, Khao Lak often gets less sunshine than Whitsundaysin January. Khao Lak gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 285 hours of full sun.
Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Khao Lak. Khao Lak usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Khao Lak gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKhao Lak 28°C (82°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Khao Lak or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Khao Lak and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Lak year-round.
In the autumn, Khao Lak is a little warmer than Whitsundays. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Khao Lak in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Whitsundays this time of the year. Khao Lak usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during autumn. Khao Lak gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 207 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Khao Lak gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Khao Lak usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin April. Khao Lak gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. November to April in Khao Lak is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Khao Lak.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKhao Lak 27°C (81°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Khao Lak or Whitsundays in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Khao Lak as well as Whitsundays. Khao Lak attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Khao Lak is generally much warmer than Whitsundaysin July. Daily temperatures in Khao Lak average around 27°C (80°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Whitsundays. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Lak this time of the year. In the winter, Khao Lak often gets more sunshine than Whitsundaysin July. Khao Lak gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Whitsundays receives 226 hours of full sun.
Khao Lak usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Whitsundaysin July. Khao Lak gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKhao Lak 27°C (80°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Khao Lak or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays and Khao Lak are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Lak throughout the year.
Khao Lak is a little warmer than Whitsundays in the spring. The daily temperature in Khao Lak averages around 29°C (83°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
It's quite sunny in Whitsundays. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Lak. Khao Lak usually receives less sunshine than Whitsundays during spring. Khao Lak gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Whitsundays receives 298 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Khao Lak. In April, Khao Lak usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Khao Lak gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Khao Lak is November to April. The rainy season in Khao Lak is May to October.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKhao Lak 29°C (83°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Khao Lak
| Khao Lak | Whitsundays | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (83°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 345 mm (13.6 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 286 mm (11.3 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 272 mm (10.7 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 417 mm (16.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 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.