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

Should you visit Krabi or Xigatse?

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 Xigatse can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Krabi or Xigatse?

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.

Xigatse

The second largest city in Tibet behind Lhasa, Xigatse, commonly known as Shigatse, is home to sights and attractions like the Tashilhunpo Monastery, plenty of markets, and the ruins of Shigatse temple. All places of interest are fairly walkable, though auto-rickshaws are also available.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in China, and The Best Adventure Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Xigatse 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 $72, while the average daily cost in Xigatse is $84. 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 Xigatse in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Krabi $41
    Xigatse $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Krabi $82
    Xigatse $60
Compare Hotels in Krabi and Xigatse

Looking for a hotel in Krabi or Xigatse? 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 Xigatse


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Krabi $4.27
    Xigatse $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Krabi

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


  • Scooter Rental
    $9.21
  • Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
    $3.07
  • 2 Bottles of Gasoline
    $2.46
  • Longboat Taxi from Town
    $6.14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi

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

  • Krabi airport to Pakbara pier Private transfer: $189
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KRABI AIRPORT: $157
  • Private Phuket Airport and Krabi Hotel Transfer: $148
  • Krabi airport to donsak pier Private transfer: $132
  • Transfer from Phuket to Krabi and Vice Versa: $120
  • Private Transfer from Phuket to Khao Lak, Krabi and More: $119
  • Private Transfer Between Koh Lanta and Ao Nang area: $111
  • Aonang any hotel to Khao Lak Private transfer: $105
  • Private Transfer Between Hotels in Krabi Town and Ko Lanta: $103
  • Aonang any hotel to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $98
  • VAN PHUKET AIRPORT TRANSFER to KRABI AIRPORT: $94
  • Aonang any hotel to Phuket Airport Private transfer: $91

Is it cheaper to fly into Krabi or Xigatse?

Prices for flights to both Xigatse 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 $24
    Xigatse $44
Typical Food Prices in Krabi

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


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $7.67
  • Drinks on the Beach
    $7.37
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $19
  • Nice Dinner (for Two)
    $34
  • Mango Shake
    $1.53
  • Pad Thai
    $3.07
  • Fruit from the Market
    $1.84
  • Pancakes
    $3.07
  • Coffee & Cake
    $2.30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi

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

  • Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $32
  • Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Island Hopping with BBQ Dinner by Big Boat: $36
  • Krabi 7 Islands Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $37
  • 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Buffet Dinner & Night Snorkeling: $40
  • Small-Group Smart Thai Cooking Class in Krabi: $40
  • 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 Tour By Long Tail Boat with BBQ Dinner: $43
  • Krabi 7 Island Sunset & BBQ Dinner (Join Tour): $44
  • Krabi 7 Islands Snorkeling, Sunset Dinner & Plankton Night: $44
  • Authentic Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang: $45
  • Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Smart Cook: $46

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Krabi $11
    Xigatse $14
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
    $18
  • Yoga Class (1 Hour)
    $13
  • Backgammon Set (travel size)
    $7.67
  • Kayak Trip (for Two)
    $58

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: $52
  • 2 Hour Horse Riding Tour On The Beach Krabi: $69
  • 2-Hour Clear Kayak Illuminated Night Tour in Krabi: $58
  • 2-Hour The best of Krabi Private Walking Tour: $284
  • 2D1N Khao Sok National Park Tour from Krabi: $270
  • 4 Island Full Day Krabi Tour: Longtail Boat & Lunch: $49
  • 4 Island Group Tour by Traditional Long Tail Boat in Ao Nang: $47
  • 4 Island Joint Tour by Speed Boat from Krabi: $52
  • 4 Island Tour by Longtail Boat Krabi + Lunch + Pick Up + Drop Off: $20
  • 4 Island tour by SPEEDBOAT from Krabi + Lunch + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $32
  • 4 Islands Full-day Tour from Krabi with Tub, Chicken, Poda Island & Phra Nang: $61
  • 4 Islands Full-day Tour from Krabi with Tub, Chicken, Poda Island & Phra Nang: $61

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Krabi $4.89
    Xigatse $3.38
Typical Alcohol Prices in Krabi

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


  • Beer
    $2.76
  • Cocktails (for Two)
    $9.21

Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:

  • Krabi Pub Crawl: $16
  • Railay Pub Crawl: $16


When comparing the travel costs between Krabi and Xigatse, we can see that Xigatse 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.

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


Which is Bigger, Krabi or Xigatse?

Xigatse has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Krabi. When comparing the sizes of Krabi and Xigatse, 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.