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

Should you visit Koh Lanta or Darjiling?

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 Darjiling 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 Darjiling?

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.

Darjiling

What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.

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, Darjiling 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 $62, while the average daily cost in Darjiling 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 Koh Lanta and Darjiling in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lanta $27
    Darjiling $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lanta $54
    Darjiling $24
Compare Hotels in Koh Lanta and Darjiling

Looking for a hotel in Koh Lanta or Darjiling? 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 Darjiling


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 Darjiling Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Lanta $6.31
    Darjiling $6.63
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:

  • Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta Private Transfer with Hotel Pickup: $125
  • Koh Lanta Private Transfers to or from Krabi Airport (KBV): $91

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling

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

  • Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $65
  • Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $182

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lanta or Darjiling?

Prices for flights to both Darjiling 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 $21
    Darjiling $21
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta

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


  • Casual Breakfast
    $4.86
  • Casual Lunch
    $8.21
  • Casual Dinner
    $14
  • Fancy Dinner (for Two)
    $52

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: $49
  • Thai Cooking and Market Tour in Koh Lanta: $51
  • Sukho Cuisine Thai Cooking School From Koh Lanta: $58
  • Cooking Class and Market Tour at Lanta Thai Cookery School on Koh Lanta: $60
  • Thai Cooking in a Teak House on Koh Lanta: $61

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lanta $34
    Darjiling $11
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)
    $11

Tours and Activities in Koh Lanta

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

  • 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Longtail Boat from Koh Lanta: $31
  • Full Day Sea Cave and Mangrove Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $58
  • Full Day Snorkeling Tour to Koh Rok and Koh Haa from Koh Lanta: $56
  • Half Day Mangrove Kayaking Adventure Tour From Koh Lanta: $44
  • Half Day Mangrove and Lanta Old Town Tour: $31
  • Half-Day Thung Yee Peng Mangrove Kayaking Adventure: $31
  • 4 Islands Tour by Speedboat with Snorkeling: $48
  • Koh Rok and Koh Haa Snorkeling Tour with Beachside Lunch: $54
  • Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour: $36
  • Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour by Speedboat: $50
  • Lanta 4 Islands tour (Longtail boat): $30
  • Lanta Mangrove Tour with Sea Cave Kayaking at Koh Talabeng: $34

Tours and Activities in Darjiling

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

  • Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
  • Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
  • Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $22
  • Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $22
  • Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $27
  • Mirik Lake Day Tour From Darjeeling: $33
  • Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour: $49
  • Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $58
  • Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $73
  • Best of Gangtok (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $74
  • Mirik Lake Day tour: $85
  • Private Calcutta Tour With Guide and Authentic Bengali lunch: $89

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lanta $4.23
    Darjiling $7.77


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Lanta and Darjiling, we can see that Koh Lanta is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Darjiling.

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 Darjiling Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Koh Lanta or Darjiling?

Darjiling has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Koh Lanta. When comparing the sizes of Koh Lanta and Darjiling, 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.