Which place is cheaper, Kao-hsiung or Koh Lipe?
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 Koh Lipe or Kao-hsiung?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Koh Lipe and Kao-hsiung can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Koh Lipe or Kao-hsiung?
Koh Lipe
Ko Lipe used to be one of Thailand's most gorgeous hidden treasures. While it's still breathtaking, it's certainly not hidden anymore. With a small community of approximately 700 chow lair, or sea gypsies, this region is doing its best to maintain the beauty of its culture and beaches despite the influx of tourism. The rapid development has seen additions of concrete cafes and travel agencies. There are still rich, cultural gems to find in Ko Lipe - you just have to be willing to wander.
Kao-hsiung
Kaohsiung is the second-most populated city and also the largest port city in the country, located in the south of Taiwan. Compared to Taipei, the lifestyle in Kaohsiung is laid-back and noticeably slower, populated with friendly locals. However, with Taipei in the spotlight, Kaohsiung is often overlooked, though it offers so much in the way of art and culture, history, and delicious food.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in Taiwan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Taiwan.
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Koh Lipe Prices
Thailand PricesKao-hsiung Prices
Taiwan Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Lipe $117Kao-hsiung $129
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $117, while the average daily cost in Kao-hsiung is $129. 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 Lipe and Kao-hsiung in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Lipe $49Kao-hsiung $58
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Lipe $98Kao-hsiung $116
Compare Hotels in Koh Lipe and Kao-hsiung
Looking for a hotel in Koh Lipe or Kao-hsiung? 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: Koh Lipe Hotel Prices and Kao-hsiung Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Lipe $20Kao-hsiung $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:
- Koh Lipe to Hatyai Speedboat and Van Transfer: $39
- Fast and Convenient Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta Speedboat Transfer: $72
- Island Transfer from Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta by Speedboat: $75
- Comfortable Koh Lipe to Phuket Direct Speedboat Transfer: $92
- Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $94
- Direct Transfer from Koh Lipe to Phuket by Speedboat: $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $133
- Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts-Round-Trip Transfer: $265
- Kaohsiung Airport Chauffeur service , Kaohsiung Airport Transfer: $50
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport to Kenting: $138
- Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Lipe or Kao-hsiung?
Prices for flights to both Kao-hsiung and Koh Lipe 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 dayKoh Lipe $51Kao-hsiung $56
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kao-hsiung
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kao-hsiung.
- Sunset Dinner on Monkey Mountain: $100
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Lipe $26Kao-hsiung $21
Tours and Activities in Koh Lipe
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lipe for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Experience the Koh Lipe Backyard including 5 Mysterious Islands: $24
- 7 Islands 8 Spots Far Away Longtail Boat Snorkeling Tour: $25
- Experience the Koh Lipe Frontier in the Eastern Adang Archipelago: $28
- Full-Day Koh Lipe 7 Islands Snorkeling Experience with Lunch: $30
- Koh Lipe 5 Stunning Island Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $32
- Koh Lipe Highlight 5 Islands Snorkeling Adventure Day Trip: $34
- Private Experience with Fishing, Barbeque, Sashimi and Snorkeling: $77
- Koh Lipe Beginner Scuba Diving Half Day Tour with Lunch: $116
- Private Koh Lipe Inner Zone Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $117
- Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $125
- Koh Lipe Unseen 7 Islands Day Tour by Private Longtail Boat: $137
Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kao-hsiung are as follows:
- Kenting Aquarium Admission Ticket in Taiwan: $28
- Suzuka Circuit Park Ticket in Kaohsiung: $33
- Kaohsiung Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
- Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: Fo Guang Shan x Lotus Pond x Pier-2: $62
- Kenting and Pingtung Popular Sightseeing Spot Tour From Kaohsiung: $65
- Kaohsiung City Walking and Night Market Tour: $70
- Kaohsiung Cultural Day: TourMoon World, Hakka Lei Cha DIY, Pier-2: $73
- Food and Culture Walking Tour in Tainan: $78
- Alishan Join-in Day Tour from Kaohsiung (Incl. Park Entrance): $86
- Tainan Romantic Escape: Qipao Experience & Love Match Ceremony: $114
- Private Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: $115
- Private Custom Kaohsiung Day Tour: $115
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Lipe $9.21Kao-hsiung $10
When comparing the travel costs between Koh Lipe and Kao-hsiung, we can see that Kao-hsiung 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Lipe Expensive? and Is Kao-hsiung Expensive?.
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.