Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Koh Pha Ngan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Pha Ngan or Whitsundays?
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 Pha Ngan and Whitsundays can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Koh Pha Ngan or Whitsundays?
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
Whitsundays
Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.
As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Pha Ngan $45Whitsundays $132
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Pha Ngan is $45, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $132. 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 Pha Ngan and Whitsundays in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Pha Ngan $23Whitsundays $69
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Pha Ngan $46Whitsundays $138
Compare Hotels in Koh Pha Ngan and Whitsundays
Looking for a hotel in Koh Pha Ngan or Whitsundays? 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 Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Pha Ngan $13Whitsundays $55
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.18
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Ferry Ride$14
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Gas for Scooter$3.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays
Also for Whitsundays, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $124
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Pha Ngan or Whitsundays?
Prices for flights to both Whitsundays and Koh Pha Ngan 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 Pha Ngan $10Whitsundays $30
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.09
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$11
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.09
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Ice Cream$0.55
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Juice$1.64
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3 Spring Rolls$0.82
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2 Pancakes$1.64
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Whitsundays
For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Pha Ngan $17Whitsundays $25
Tours and Activities in Whitsundays
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Whitsundays.
- From Daydream Is.: Whitsundays & Whitehaven Half-Day Cruise: $91
- Whitsundays Camira Sailing Adventure from Daydream Island: $150
- Daydream Island: Great Barrier Reef Adventure Cruise: $195
- Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $4,941
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Pha Ngan $9.89Whitsundays $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$7.09
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Pha Ngan and Whitsundays, we can see that Whitsundays is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Koh Pha Ngan is in Asia and Whitsundays is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Whitsundays would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Whitsundays than you might in Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive? and Is Whitsundays Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Pha Ngan or Whitsundays?
Whitsundays has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Pha Ngan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Koh Pha Ngan or Whitsundays in the Summer?
Both Whitsundays and Koh Pha Ngan during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Koh Pha Ngan is around the same temperature as Whitsundays in the summer. The daily temperature in Koh Pha Ngan averages around 24°C (76°F) in July, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 26°C (79°F)in January.
Whitsundays gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Pha Ngan. Koh Pha Ngan usually gets less rain in July than Whitsundaysin January. Koh Pha Ngan gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 331 mm (13 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryKoh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)Whitsundays 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Koh Pha Ngan or Whitsundays in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Pha Ngan and Whitsundays. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
In the autumn, Koh Pha Ngan is around the same temperature as Whitsundays. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Koh Pha Ngan in October average around 24°C (75°F), and Whitsundays averages at about 23°C (73°F)in April.
Whitsundays receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Pha Ngan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Koh Pha Ngan usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin April. Koh Pha Ngan gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Pha Ngan.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilKoh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Koh Pha Ngan or Whitsundays in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Koh Pha Ngan as well as Whitsundays. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Koh Pha Ngan is generally a little warmer than Whitsundaysin July. Daily temperatures in Koh Pha Ngan average around 22°C (72°F), and Whitsundays fluctuates around 16°C (62°F).
Koh Pha Ngan usually gets more rain in January than Whitsundaysin July. Koh Pha Ngan gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyKoh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)Whitsundays 16°C (62°F)
Should I visit Koh Pha Ngan or Whitsundays in the Spring?
Both Whitsundays and Koh Pha Ngan are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Koh Pha Ngan is around the same temperature as Whitsundays in the spring. The daily temperature in Koh Pha Ngan averages around 24°C (76°F) in April, and Whitsundays fluctuates around 23°C (73°F)in October.
In April, Koh Pha Ngan usually receives more rain than Whitsundaysin October. Koh Pha Ngan gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Whitsundays receives 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberKoh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)Whitsundays 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Whitsundays and Koh Pha Ngan
| Koh Pha Ngan | Whitsundays | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 331 mm (13 in) |
| Feb | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 377 mm (14.8 in) |
| Mar | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 312 mm (12.3 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jun | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 16°C (62°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 18°C (65°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| Oct | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 191 mm (7.5 in) |
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.