Which place is cheaper, Surat Thani or Koh Tarutao?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Koh Tarutao or Surat Thani?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Koh Tarutao and Surat Thani. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Koh Tarutao or Surat Thani?
Koh Tarutao
While much of Thailand has been built up into a tourist destination of hotels and resorts, there are spots that are still untouched and covered in the beauty of this part of the world. The unspoiled regions of the Ko Tarutao Marine National Park is 51 islands of rainforest ready for visitors. Established in 1974, the park is the second oldest in the country, and was the setting for the 2002 season of the reality television show Survivor. The park includes stunning coral reefs, pristine white beaches and wildlife of all shapes and sizes. Trek through and keep your eyes out for mouse deer, wild pigs, sea otters, tree pythons, sea eagles, hornbills, reef egrets and so much more.
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, and The Best Nightlife Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKoh Tarutao $98Surat Thani $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Koh Tarutao is $98, while the average daily cost in Surat Thani is $53. 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 Tarutao and Surat Thani in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKoh Tarutao $50Surat Thani $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKoh Tarutao $100Surat Thani $50
Compare Hotels in Koh Tarutao and Surat Thani
Looking for a hotel in Koh Tarutao or Surat Thani? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Koh Tarutao $34Surat Thani $24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $59
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $36
- Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $14
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui Sedan 1-3 PAX: $12
- From Koh Samui: One-Way Ferry Transfer to Surat Thani: $7.16
- Donsak pier to aonang , krabi town , klongmuang any hotel Private transfer: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Koh Tarutao or Surat Thani?
Prices for flights to both Surat Thani and Koh Tarutao 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 Tarutao $28Surat Thani $14
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Khao Sok: Elephant Day Care, Cooking Class, & Bamboo Raft: $72
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Koh Tarutao $14Surat Thani $4.97
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- 5 island tour: $459
- Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $69
- From Khao Lak/Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake and Emerald Pool Tour: $105
- From Phuket: Cheow Lan Lake 2Day Guided Tour with Activities: $203
- From Phuket: Full-Day Private Tour to Khao Sok Highlights: $170
- Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake Sunset Cruise w/ Drinks: $91
- Khao Sok: Private Longtail Boat Tour at Cheow Lan Lake: $214
- Koh Phangan: Private Land Tour with Snorkeling: $241
- Koh Phangan: Snorkeling and Beach Hopping Boat Tour: $217
- Koh Samui Day and Night Fishing Experience: $48
- Koh Samui Waterfall And Mummified Monk Temple Tour: $241
- Koh Samui: 4x4 Sightseeing Safari & Elephant Sanctuary Tour: $58
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKoh Tarutao $7.01Surat Thani $4.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Tarutao and Surat Thani, we can see that Koh Tarutao is more expensive. And not only is Surat Thani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Surat Thani would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surat Thani 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 Tarutao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Tarutao than you might in Surat Thani.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Tarutao Expensive? and Is Surat Thani Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Koh Tarutao or Surat Thani?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Surat Thani in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Tarutao and Surat Thani. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tarutao year-round. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Surat Thani receives a lot of rain in the summer. Koh Tarutao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Tarutao usually receives more rain than Surat Thani. Koh Tarutao gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In the summer, Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Surat Thani. Typically, the summer temperatures in Koh Tarutao in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Surat Thani averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Surat Thani 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Surat Thani in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Tarutao as well as Surat Thani. Koh Tarutao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Surat Thani throughout the year.
Also, November to April in Koh Tarutao is the dry season. May and October in Koh Tarutao is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Surat Thani. Koh Tarutao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in October than Surat Thani. Koh Tarutao gets 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
In October, Koh Tarutao is generally around the same temperature as Surat Thani. Daily temperatures in Koh Tarutao average around 27°C (81°F), and Surat Thani fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKoh Tarutao 27°C (81°F)Surat Thani 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Surat Thani in the Winter?
Both Surat Thani and Koh Tarutao are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tarutao throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Surat Thani because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In January, Koh Tarutao usually receives around the same amount of rain as Surat Thani. Koh Tarutao gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Surat Thani in the winter. The daily temperature in Koh Tarutao averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Surat Thani fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKoh Tarutao 27°C (80°F)Surat Thani 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Koh Tarutao or Surat Thani in the Spring?
Both Surat Thani and Koh Tarutao during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tarutao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Surat Thani year-round.
November to April is the dry season in Koh Tarutao. May and October is the rainy season in Koh Tarutao. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tarutao. Koh Tarutao usually gets more rain in April than Surat Thani. Koh Tarutao gets 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the spring, Koh Tarutao is around the same temperature as Surat Thani. Typically, the spring temperatures in Koh Tarutao in April average around 29°C (85°F), and Surat Thani averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKoh Tarutao 29°C (85°F)Surat Thani 29°C (83°F)
Typical Weather for Surat Thani and Koh Tarutao
| Koh Tarutao | Surat Thani | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (80°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.