A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Lanta vs. Chennai for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Lanta or Chennai?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Koh Lanta and Chennai 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: Koh Lanta or Chennai?

Koh Lanta

Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.

Chennai

Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to India, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in India.


Which place is cheaper, Chennai or Koh Lanta?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lanta is $61, while the average daily cost in Chennai is $30. 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 Koh Lanta and Chennai in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lanta $27
    Chennai $13
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lanta $54
    Chennai $26
Compare Hotels in Koh Lanta and Chennai

Looking for a hotel in Koh Lanta or Chennai? 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 Koh Lanta


Hotels in Chennai


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: Koh Lanta Hotel Prices and Chennai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Lanta $6.20
    Chennai $2.26
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Lanta

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:


  • Ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta
    $18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lanta

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lanta:

  • Private Transfer Between Hotels in Phuket and Ko Lanta: $209
  • Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta Private Transfer with Hotel Pickup: $122
  • Koh Lanta Private Transfers to or from Krabi Airport (KBV): $89
  • Koh Lanta Elephant Experience with Hotel Transfer: $55
  • ATV Jungle Ride on Ko Lanta Noi with Hotel Transfers: $47
  • Koh Lanta to Phuket Town, Kata, Karon & Patong Shared Transfer: $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai

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

  • Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
  • Bangalore - private departure transfer from Hotel to Airport: $35
  • Chennai Airport (MAA) Private Transfer to Chennai City/Hotels: $22
  • Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
  • Chennai Airport: Layover City Guided Tour with Transfers: $48
  • Chennai Private City and Airport Transfer: $27
  • 12-Day Guided Tour to Kochi with Transfers: $1,094
  • Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $43
  • From Chennai Mylapore walking trail with Guide & Transfers: $45
  • Private Arrival Transfer Chennai Airport MAA to Mahabalipuram: $55
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai Airport (MAA) to Pondicherry Hotels: $108
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Chennai International Airport to Hotel: $26

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lanta or Chennai?

Prices for flights to both Chennai and Koh Lanta 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
    Koh Lanta $20
    Chennai $9.61
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta

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


  • Casual Breakfast
    $4.78
  • Casual Lunch
    $8.06
  • Casual Dinner
    $13
  • Fancy Dinner (for Two)
    $51

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Lanta

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

  • Cooking Experience at Lanta Thai Cookery School From Koh Lanta: $53
  • Cooking Class and Market Tour at Lanta Thai Cookery School on Koh Lanta: $59
  • Thai Cooking in a Teak House on Koh Lanta: $60
  • Thai Cooking and Market Tour in Koh Lanta: $63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai

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

  • Ayurvedic or South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with an Author: $40
  • Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with Vidhya: $48
  • PRIVATE Chennai Cooking Class in a Local Home with Meena: $54
  • South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class near Chennai Airport: $62
  • Traditional Indian Art, Craft and Cooking Tour: $71
  • Private Authentic Indian Cooking Demo in Chennai in Tara's Home: $76
  • Neighborhood Market Tour & South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai: $152
  • Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $200

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lanta $34
    Chennai $2.40
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Lanta

Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • Emerald Cave Tour
    $21
  • Yoga Session (1 Hour)
    $10

Tours and Activities in Koh Lanta

Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lanta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3 Islands & Talabeng Sea Cave Half-Day Tour: $27
  • 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Longtail Boat from Koh Lanta: $31
  • Full Day Sea Cave and Mangrove Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $51
  • Full Day Snorkeling Tour to Koh Rok and Koh Haa from Koh Lanta: $55
  • Half Day Mangrove Kayaking Adventure Tour From Koh Lanta: $43
  • Half-Day Mangrove & Lanta Old Town Tour: $30
  • Half-Day Mangrove Tour by Kayak or Longtail Boat: $23
  • Half-Day Thung Yee Peng Mangrove Kayaking Adventure: $31
  • Ko Lanta Mangrove Kayaking Tour With Lunch and Lanta Old Town: $31
  • Koh Kradan & 4 Islands Full-Day Tour by Longtail Boat: $33
  • Koh Lanta 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speedboat: $50
  • Koh Maa & Koh Ngai Full-Day Tour by Longtail Boat: $31

Tours and Activities in Chennai

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.

  • Agra: Taj Mahal Skip-the-Line & Guided Private 3 Hours Tour: $4.51
  • Taj Mahal & Agra Fort Tour from Delhi by Car – Fast Entry: $4.51
  • Tuk-Tuk Tour of Mahabalipuram Monuments: $11
  • Private Night Walking Tour Chennai: $12
  • Exploring Chennai Bustling Markets: Guided Tour by Foot: $12
  • Explore Chennai City: Guided Walking Tour on Foot: $12
  • Spiritual Stories of Guided Tour through Holy Sites: $12
  • Explore Chennai City in Nightlights: Guided Tour by Foot: $12
  • Explore Chennai City: 2 Hours Guided Walking Tour: $13
  • Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $14
  • Mahabalipuram Heritage Day Tour-Approved by Ministry of India: $18
  • 2 Hour Street Food Walking Tour: $19

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lanta $4.15
    Chennai $2.67


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

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


Which is Bigger, Koh Lanta or Chennai?

Chennai has a larger population, and is about 710 times larger than the population of Koh Lanta. When comparing the sizes of Koh Lanta and Chennai, 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.