Should you visit Krabi or Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Koh Pha Ngan can help you decide which place is right for you.
Krabi
Thailand is covered in beaches, but if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to Krabi, also known as "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. 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.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $46, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $41. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Krabi and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $58 in Krabi For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Koh Pha Ngan's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $42. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $21.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Krabi cost around $11 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.40.
The average traveler spends about $9.25 per day in Koh Pha Ngan for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Krabi $11
Koh Pha Ngan $9.25
Typical Food prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Gourmet Thai Cooking Class in Krabi:
$42
Typical Food prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
Local Transportation
To get around in Krabi, the average visitor spends $4.12 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
The cost of a taxi ride in Koh Pha Ngan is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $12 per person, per day, on local transportation in Koh Pha Ngan.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental
$9.23
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
$3.08
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2 Bottles of Gasoline
$2.46
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Longboat Taxi from Town
$6.15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Ferry & Bus Transfers between Koh Samui and Krabi:
$26
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Ferry & Bus Transfers between Krabi and Koh Samui:
$26
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Ferry Transfers between Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi:
$18
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Ferry Transfers between Krabi and Koh Phi Phi:
$16
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Koh Lanta to Koh Phangan High Speed Transfers:
$40
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Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi High Speed Transfers:
$18
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Koh Lanta to Koh Samui High Speed Transfers:
$36
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Koh Lanta to Koh Tao High Speed Transfers:
$49
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Koh Lanta to Railay Beach High Speed Transfers:
$23
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Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan and Koh Mook Boat Transfers:
$16
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Koh Phangan to Krabi High-Speed Transfers:
$34
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Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta High Speed Transfers:
$18
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
$9.23
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Ferry Ride
$15
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Gas for Scooter
$3.38
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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.
Entertainment
In Krabi, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $9.17 per person, per day.
Entertainment and activities in Koh Pha Ngan typically cost an average of $15 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Typical Entertainment prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser:
$17
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Full-Day 4 Islands Long-Tail Boat Tour in Krabi:
$24
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Hong Island Kayaking Tour in a Long-Tail Boat:
$27
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Koh Phangan to Krabi Single/Return Ferry Ticket:
$30
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Krabi to Koh Phangan Single/Return Ferry Ticket:
$30
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Half Day Rock Climbing Tours in Railay Beach:
$31
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Lanta: 4 Island Tour by Longtail Boat with Emerald Cave:
$32
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Krabi to Koh Tao Single/Return Ferry Ticket:
$36
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Jungle Tour to Tiger Temple, Hot Springs & Crystal Pool:
$36
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Koh Tao to Krabi Single/Return Ferry Ticket:
$38
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James Bond Island Longtail Boat Tour & Kayak Option:
$42
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From Lanta: Snorkel Tour to Koh Ngai & Kayak on Koh Talabeng:
$47
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Krabi spend on average $3.92 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Koh Pha Ngan may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $8.92 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typical Alcohol prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
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Beer
$2.77
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Cocktails (for Two)
$9.23
Typical Alcohol prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
When comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Krabi 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.
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