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

Should you visit Krabi 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 Krabi and Kao-hsiung can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Krabi or Kao-hsiung?

Krabi

Krabi is both a large town and region in southern Thailand. While the region is covered in beaches, if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi (where you'll find famous places such as Railay, Ao Nang, Haad Yao, and plenty of others). Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies, and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience. There's a good chance you'll be passing through on your way to one of the famous beaches, so take advantage of your brief time here.

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 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in Taiwan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Taiwan.


Which place is cheaper, Kao-hsiung or Krabi?

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 Krabi is $74, while the average daily cost in Kao-hsiung is $134. 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 Krabi and Kao-hsiung in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Krabi $42
    Kao-hsiung $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Krabi $84
    Kao-hsiung $120
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Kao-hsiung

Looking for a hotel in Krabi 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 Krabi


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: Krabi Hotel Prices and Kao-hsiung Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Krabi $4.37
    Kao-hsiung $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $9.42
  • Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
    $3.14
  • 2 Bottles of Gasoline
    $2.51
  • Longboat Taxi from Town
    $6.28

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi

Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $14
  • Ferry Transfer To or From Phi Phi Don Island: $14
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Krabi HTL-APT (KBV): $15
  • One-Way Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phi Phi: $16
  • Private Transfer Krabi Airport and Ao Nang Area: $17
  • Private Departure Transfer : Krabi Hotel to Krabi Airport: $20
  • Krabi to Khao Lak Transfer by AC Van: $20
  • Private Transfer : Krabi Airport Arrival to Krabi Hotel: $22
  • TAXI AIRPORT TRANSFER to LAGUNA Beach Area: $22
  • Speedboat Transfer to/from Tonsai or Laemtong Beach: $22
  • TAXI AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAITHON BEACH Area: $24
  • Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phangan: $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kao-hsiung

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kao-hsiung:

  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport to Kenting: $138
  • Private Transfer from Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Kaohsiung Port : $75
  • Private Kaohsiung Airport to Taitung Resorts Arrival Transfer: $192
  • Kaohsiung Airport Chauffeur service , Kaohsiung Airport Transfer : $50
  • Kaohsiung Airport -> Kaohsiung Hotel Private Transfer (Large room for luggage) : $35
  • Kaohsiung Airport (KHH) to Guanziling Resorts - Arrival Transfer: $134
  • Guanziling Resorts to Kaohsiung Airport KHH Departure Transfer: $134

Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Kao-hsiung?

Prices for flights to both Kao-hsiung and Krabi 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
    Krabi $25
    Kao-hsiung $59
Typical Food Prices in Krabi

For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $7.85
  • Drinks on the Beach
    $7.54
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $19
  • Nice Dinner (for Two)
    $35
  • Mango Shake
    $1.57
  • Pad Thai
    $3.14
  • Fruit from the Market
    $1.88
  • Pancakes
    $3.14
  • Coffee & Cake
    $2.36

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi

For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $37
  • 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Night Snorkeling: $38
  • Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $44
  • Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night : $45
  • Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $46
  • Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $46
  • Krabi Thai Cooking Class at Ya Cookery School: $48
  • Krabi Morning and Evening Food Tours with Market Visits: $51
  • Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $51
  • Thai Charm Cooking School Krabi: $51
  • Kayaking and BBQ Dinner On The Beach Ao Thalane From Krabi: $53
  • Krabi 7 Island Sunset Tour by Speed Boat with BBQ Dinner : $53

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.
    Krabi $12
    Kao-hsiung $22
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Thai-English Book
    $10
  • Thai Massages (for Two)
    $25
  • Bikini & Sarong
    $19
  • Yoga Class (1 Hour)
    $14
  • Backgammon Set (travel size)
    $7.85
  • Kayak Trip (for Two)
    $60

Tours and Activities in Krabi

For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Jurassic World Filming Tour Kayak and ATV Adventure in Krabi: $19
  • Railay Phra Nang and Diamond Cave Sunset tour: $21
  • Krabi 4 Islands Snorkeling and Thale Waek Full Day Tour : $21
  • ATV Adventure in Krabi Thailand: $22
  • Klong Root Kayaking and Swimming with ATV Tour From Krabi : $24
  • 4 Islands Day Tour from Krabi: $24
  • Snorkel and Beach Tour to Hong Islands from Krabi: $27
  • Railay Beach and Caves Tour from Ao Nang - Half Day: $28
  • Krabi 7 Islands Sunset and Snorkeling Tour By Longtail Boat: $29
  • Krabi Sea Kayaking Adventure at Ao Thalane: $30
  • From Krabi - 4 Islands Speedboat Tour with Lunch & Snorkelling: $30
  • Saitai Mountain Tail ATV Adventure From Krabi: $30

Tours and Activities in Kao-hsiung

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

  • 1 day tour - Kaohsiung: $200
  • Alishan Day Tour from Kaohsiung (Incl. Park Entrance): $90
  • Buddha Museum- Half Day Tour : $90
  • Classic Northern Kaohsiung Day Tour: $60
  • Classic Southern Kaohsiung Day Tour: $60
  • Food and Culture Walking Tour in Tainan: $78
  • Kaohsiung Area Classic Tour: $255
  • Kaohsiung City Walking Day Tour: $70
  • Kaohsiung Departure - Tainan City Day Tour: $220
  • Kaohsiung Like a Local: Customized Private Tour: $48
  • Kaohsiung Private Tour with Transportation : $249
  • Kaohsiung Suburbs Full-Day Tour: $220

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Krabi $5.00
    Kao-hsiung $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:


  • Beer
    $2.83
  • Cocktails (for Two)
    $9.42


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Kao-hsiung, we can see that Kao-hsiung is more expensive. And not only is Krabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Krabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krabi 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 Kao-hsiung would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kao-hsiung than you might in Krabi.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Krabi Expensive? and Is Kao-hsiung Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Krabi or Kao-hsiung?

Kao-hsiung has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi and Kao-hsiung, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.