Which place is cheaper, Pondicherry or Krabi?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Krabi or Pondicherry?
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 Pondicherry can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Krabi or Pondicherry?
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.
Pondicherry
Located on the eastern coast of India in the state of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry has a long and interesting history of trade and war as the largest French colony in India. Today the French influence in the city remains, especially in the old quarters. This being said, Pondicherry very much embodies and east-meets-west culture.
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 Bicycle Tours in India, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India.
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Krabi Prices
Thailand PricesPondicherry Prices
India Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKrabi $70Pondicherry $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Krabi is $70, while the average daily cost in Pondicherry is $36. 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 Pondicherry in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKrabi $40Pondicherry $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKrabi $80Pondicherry $28
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Pondicherry
Looking for a hotel in Krabi or Pondicherry? 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: Krabi Hotel Prices and Pondicherry Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Krabi $4.15Pondicherry $4.96
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.95
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride$2.98
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2 Bottles of Gasoline$2.39
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Longboat Taxi from Town$5.97
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Van Phuket Airport Transfer to Patong Beach Area (SHA Plus): $41
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to PHUKET TOWN (SHA Plus): $43
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to ROYAL YACHT HAVEN: $31
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to ROYAL PHUKET MARINA: $31
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to RAWAI BEACH: $46
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to PATONG BEACH: $77
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAIYANG BEACH: $29
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAITHON BEACH: $29
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to NAIHARN BEACH: $43
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to MAI KHAO BEACH: $31
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to LAYAN BEACH: $26
- VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to LAGUNA BEACH: $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pondicherry
Also for Pondicherry, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer: Pondicherry Hotels to Chennai Airport (MAA): $85
Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Pondicherry?
Prices for flights to both Pondicherry 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
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Food Meals for one dayKrabi $24Pondicherry $17
Typical Food Prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$7.46
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Drinks on the Beach$7.16
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$18
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Nice Dinner (for Two)$33
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Mango Shake$1.49
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Pad Thai$2.98
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Fruit from the Market$1.79
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Pancakes$2.98
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Coffee & Cake$2.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Snorkeling: $32
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $33
- 7 Islands Sunset & Plankton Swim with BBQ Dinner: $35
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $35
- Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Island Hopping with BBQ Dinner by Big Boat: $35
- Hands on Half-day Cooking Class by Authentic Thai Cooking: $38
- Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Night Snorkeling: $39
- Small-Group Smart Thai Cooking Class in Krabi: $39
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $40
- Krabi Best of 7 islands Adventure Tour with Beachside BBQ Dinner: $42
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pondicherry
For Pondicherry, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indian Cooking Class in Pondicherry: $28
- French-Creole Cooking Class in Pondicherry with a Local Family: $99
- South Indian Dinner With A Local Family In Pondicherry: $141
- Cooking class in Pondicherry (with Lunch or Dinner): $268
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Krabi $11Pondicherry $9.77
Typical Entertainment Prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Thai-English Book$9.84
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Thai Massages (for Two)$24
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Bikini & Sarong$18
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Yoga Class (1 Hour)$13
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Backgammon Set (travel size)$7.46
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Kayak Trip (for Two)$57
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Hour Horse Riding Tour On The Beach Krabi: $51
- 2 Hour Horse Riding Tour On The Beach Krabi: $75
- 2-Hour The best of Krabi Private Walking Tour: $282
- 2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi: $264
- 4 Island Full Day Krabi Tour: Longtail Boat & Lunch: $39
- 4 Island Joint Tour by Speed Boat from Krabi: $51
- 4 Island Snorkeling Tour on a LongTail Boat from Krabi: $37
- 4 Island Speed Boat Adventure from Krabi: $37
- 4 Island Tour by Longtail Boat Krabi + Lunch + Pick Up + Drop Off: $20
- 4 Island Tour by Traditional Big Longtail Boat from Krabi: $31
- 4 Island tour by SPEEDBOAT from Krabi + Lunch + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $31
- 4 Islands Day Tour by Speed Boat from Ao Nang, Krabi: $40
Tours and Activities in Pondicherry
For Pondicherry, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Arikamedu Tour from Pondicherry to an Ancient Indo-Roman Port: $95
- Best of the Pondicherry (Guided Full Day City Tour): $116
- Cultural Day Tour of Pondicherry and Auroville: $231
- Cultural Day Tour of Pondicherry and Auroville with Lunch: $280
- Day Trip to Mahabalipuram (Curated Private Sightseeing Experience): $131
- Experience Hands on Pottery Workshop: $20
- From Pondicherry to Kanchipuram and Mahabalipuram Heritage Tour: $140
- From Day Tour to Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram: $125
- Full Day Guided Tour of Pondicherry with lunch and hotel pickup: $115
- Guided City Tour in Pondicherry with complimentary refreshments: $47
- Heritage & Cultural Walking Tour of Pondicherry: $13
- Magical Pondicherry Markets Tour: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKrabi $4.75Pondicherry $6.05
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$2.68
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Cocktails (for Two)$8.95
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
- Krabi Pub Crawl - The Best Nightlife Tour in Ao Nang!: $15
- Railay Pub Crawl: $16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Krabi and Pondicherry, we can see that Krabi is more expensive. And not only is Pondicherry much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pondicherry would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pondicherry 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 Krabi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Krabi than you might in Pondicherry.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Krabi Expensive? and Is Pondicherry Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Krabi or Pondicherry?
Pondicherry has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi and Pondicherry, 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.
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.