Should you visit Krabi or Koh Phi Phi?
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 Phi Phi 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 Phi Phi
The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.
Which city is cheaper, Koh Phi Phi or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $43, while the average daily cost in Koh Phi Phi is $61. 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 Phi Phi in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $54 in Krabi For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $70 in Koh Phi Phi For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Local Transportation
To get around in Krabi, the average visitor spends $3.91 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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Koh Phi Phi than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $5.90 on transportation in Koh Phi Phi on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
-
Scooter Rental
$8.76
-
Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
$2.92
-
2 Bottles of Gasoline
$2.34
-
Longboat Taxi from Town
$5.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Private Transfer To/From Khao Sok Area:
$141
-
Private Transfer from Krabi to Phuket with 2h of Sightseeing:
$91
-
Krabi Airport: Private Transfers to/from Hotels in Koh Lanta:
$87
-
Private Transfer from Krabi City to Krabi (KBV) Airport:
$41
-
Private Round Trip Transfer between Krabi Town and KBV Krabi Airport:
$39
-
Superfast Transfer from Koh Phi Phi to Krabi by Arisa Speed Boat:
$37
-
Phuket: Speedboat Transfer To/From Ko Phi Phi Don:
$31
-
Private Departure Transfer from Krabi Town to KBV Krabi Airport:
$19
-
Ferry Transfer Phuket To/From Phi Phi:
$16
-
Ferry Transfer To/From Koh Phi Phi with Van Transfer:
$14
Typical Local Transportation prices in Koh Phi Phi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Koh Phi Phi?
Prices for flights to both Koh Phi Phi 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
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 price of a meal in Koh Phi Phi can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $9.74 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $3.90 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Krabi $11
Koh Phi Phi $9.74
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:
-
Private 4-Island Sunset Tour with Dinner:
$721
Typical Food prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:
Entertainment
In Krabi, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $8.71 per person, per day.
Sightseeing expenses in Koh Phi Phi, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $39 per day, per person.
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:
-
From Koh Phi Phi: Island Hopping and Snorkeling Tour:
$55
-
From 4 Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat:
$306
-
Ko Lanta: Koh Rok and Koh Haa Snorkelling Tour by Speedboat:
$62
-
Ko Lanta: Mangrove Kayaking Half-Day Tour:
$36
-
Koh Lanta: Half-Day 3 Island and Kayaking Tour:
$152
-
Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser:
$17
-
Krabi 4 Island Tour By Speed Boat From Krabi:
$54
-
Krabi : 4-Hour City Tour with Tiger Cave Temple:
$81
-
ATV Adventure:
$39
-
Half-Day Zip Line Adventure:
$58
-
Hong Islands Boat Tour with Panorama Viewpoint:
$41
-
Island-Hopping Tour to Railay Beach, Poda, and More:
$330
Typical Entertainment prices in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Krabi spend on average $3.72 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Koh Phi Phi, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $4.85.
Typical Alcohol prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
-
Beer
$2.63
-
Cocktails (for Two)
$8.76
Typical Alcohol prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:
-
Mojito Bucket
$15
-
Banana Daiquiri
$5.84
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Phi Phi than you might in Krabi.
Related Articles for Krabi
Related Articles for Koh Phi Phi
