A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Lipe vs. Kao-hsiung for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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.


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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Lipe is $114, while the average daily cost in Kao-hsiung is $126. 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
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Koh Lipe $48
    Kao-hsiung $56
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Koh Lipe $96
    Kao-hsiung $112
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.

Hotels in Koh Lipe


Hotels in Kao-hsiung


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Koh Lipe $20
    Kao-hsiung $11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lipe

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lipe:

  • Island Transfer from Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta by Speedboat: $74
  • Fast and Convenient Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta Speedboat Transfer: $79
  • Private Transfer Pak Bara Pier to Hatyai Airport by Van: $93
  • Direct Transfer from Koh Lipe to Phuket by Speedboat: $103

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:

  • Kaohsiung Airport Chauffeur service , Kaohsiung Airport Transfer: $50
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $74
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Port to Kaohsiung Airport (KHH): $83

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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Koh Lipe $50
    Kao-hsiung $55

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Koh Lipe $25
    Kao-hsiung $20

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: $29
  • Koh Lipe Highlight 5 Islands Snorkeling Adventure Day Trip: $31
  • Koh Lipe 5 Stunning Island Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $32
  • Private Experience with Fishing, Barbeque, Sashimi and Snorkeling: $76
  • Private Koh Lipe Inner Zone Snorkeling Tour by Longtail Boat: $115
  • Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) 1 day Experience: $124
  • Koh Lipe Beginner Scuba Diving Half Day Tour with Lunch: $127
  • Koh Lipe Unseen 7 Islands Day Tour by Private Longtail Boat: $135
  • Koh Lipe Inside Outside Snorkel Tour by Private Longtail Boat: $163

Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kao-hsiung are as follows:

  • Zuojhen Fossil Park Fossil Discovery Experience Ticket: $5.00
  • Chimei Museum Permanent Exhibition Entry Ticket Tainan: $14
  • Wanpi World Wildlife Experience Ticket Tainan: $24
  • National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium Admission Ticket: $25
  • Suzuka Circuit Park Admission Ticket in Kaohsiung: $32
  • Southern Taiwan Golf 2 Day Tour: $40
  • Kaohsiung Private Walking Tour with a Local: $48
  • Classic Kaohsiung Day Tour: Fo Guang Shan x Lotus Pond x Pier-2: $62
  • Maritime Kaohsiung Lotus Pond, Cijin Island and Love River Cruise: $65
  • Kenting National Park & Pingtung Coastal Day Tour from Kaohsiung: $65
  • Food and Culture Walking Tour in Tainan: $69
  • Tainan Night Walking Tour: $70

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Koh Lipe $8.95
    Kao-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?.