A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Koh Lanta vs. Koh Tao for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Koh Lanta or Koh Tao?

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 Koh Tao 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.

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.

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.

Which city is cheaper, Koh Tao or Koh Lanta?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lanta is $39, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao 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 city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Koh Lanta and Koh Tao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lanta $20
    Koh Tao $12
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lanta $40
    Koh Tao $24

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Lanta $4.67
    Koh Tao $7.15
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
    $17

Typical Local Transportation prices in Koh Tao

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


  • Motorbike Rental
    $5.34
  • Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry
    $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lanta or Koh Tao?

Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 $8.89
    Koh Tao $7.64
Typical Food prices in Koh Lanta

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


  • Casual Breakfast
    $4.50
  • Casual Lunch
    $7.59
  • Casual Dinner
    $13
  • Fancy Dinner (for Two)
    $48

Typical Food prices in Koh Tao

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:


  • Sit Down Lunch (for One)
    $5.62
  • Breakfast
    $4.22
  • Casual Breakfast (for Two)
    $3.37
  • Fancy Dinner (for Two)
    $14
  • Pancake
    $1.97
  • American Breakfast (for Two)
    $7.87
  • Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)
    $7.59

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lanta $25
    Koh Tao $22
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
    $20
  • Yoga Session (1 Hour)
    $9.84

Typical Entertainment prices in Koh Tao

For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Kayak Rental (One Hour)
    $7.03
  • Snorkel Rental
    $2.81
  • Kayak and Snorkel (2)
    $2.81

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lanta $3.13
    Koh Tao $5.89

Typical Alcohol prices in Koh Tao

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:


  • Beer
    $1.83
  • Bottle of Wine
    $10

About these numbers

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

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Koh Lanta vs. Koh Tao Travel Comparison

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