Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Lahore?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Lahore or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Lahore and Koh Tao. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Lahore or Koh Tao?
Lahore
As Pakistan's second largest city and the capital of the north-eastern Punjab province, Lahore is widely considered the country's cultural capital. Some of its best-known features include the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque and Gurdwara, a mall surrounded by buildings from the British Raj, and many unique markets and neighborhoods.
Koh Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Pakistan, The Best Cultural Tours in Pakistan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayLahore $57Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Lahore is $57, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Lahore and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personLahore $37Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomLahore $74Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Lahore and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Lahore or Koh Tao? 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: Lahore Hotel Prices and Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Lahore $9.98Koh Tao $8.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lahore
Also for Lahore, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transit Trip: Lahore Guided Day Trip With Round Trip Airport Transfers: $140
- Airport Transfer : $60
- Chauffeur: Lahore International Airport Transfer - Arrival : $30
- Chauffeur: Lahore International Airport Transfer - Departure: $30
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Lahore or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Lahore 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 dayLahore $14Koh Tao $9.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lahore
For Lahore, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Street Food Tour of Lahore's Walled City : $85
- Lahore's Complete Night Food Tour: Local Culinary Experience: $110
- Full Day Lahore Private Guided Food Tour: $299
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Lahore $5.08Koh Tao $26
Tours and Activities in Lahore
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lahore.
- 1 Day Rohtas Fort & Khewra Salt Mines Tour: $120
- 2 Days Private Guided Tour in Lahore : $300
- Full Day Private Guided Lahore Sightseeing Tour : $95
- Guided Walking Tour: Walled City of Lahore : $90
- Kartarpur Corridor and Gurdwara Sahib Yatra Guided Tour: $175
- Kartarpur Tour: $150
- Kartarpur-Guru-Nanak sab One Day Tour : $250
- Khewra Salt Mines & Katas Raj Temple One Day Guided Tour: $210
- Lahore Big Bus City Tour: $20
- Lahore City, Fort, Museums and Walled City Exploration Tour: $120
- Lahore Full Day Sightseeing Guided Tour: $145
- Lahore Full Day Sightseeing Tour: $150
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayLahore $4.89Koh Tao $7.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lahore and Koh Tao, we can see that Lahore is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Lahore would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lahore than you might in Koh Tao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lahore Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Lahore or Koh Tao?
Lahore has a larger population, and is about 4570 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Lahore and Koh Tao, 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.
When is the best time to visit Lahore or Koh Tao?
Lahore has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Tao experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Lahore or Koh Tao in the Summer?
Both Koh Tao and Lahore are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Lahore. In the summer, Lahore is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lahore in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lahore. Lahore usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during summer. Lahore gets 228 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. It's quite rainy in Lahore. In July, Lahore usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Lahore gets 202 mm (8 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyLahore 33°C (91°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Lahore or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
Both Koh Tao and Lahore during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
In October, Lahore is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Lahore average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
It's quite sunny in Lahore. In the autumn, Lahore often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Lahore gets 290 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun.
Koh Tao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Lahore usually gets less rain in October than Koh Tao. Lahore gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year. October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberLahore 27°C (81°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Lahore or Koh Tao in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Lahore and Koh Tao. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Lahore is much colder than Koh Tao in the winter. The daily temperature in Lahore averages around 14°C (58°F) in January, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Tao this time of the year. In Lahore, it's very sunny this time of the year. Lahore usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during winter. Lahore gets 220 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Lahore usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Lahore gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter. February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryLahore 14°C (58°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Lahore or Koh Tao in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Lahore as well as Koh Tao. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
In the spring, Lahore is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lahore in April average around 28°C (83°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 25°C (77°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lahore this time of the year. In the spring, Lahore often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Lahore gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun.
Lahore usually gets less rain in April than Koh Tao. Lahore gets 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilLahore 28°C (83°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Lahore
| Lahore | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (58°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 22°C (72°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (83°F) | 20 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 33°C (91°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 35°C (96°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 202 mm (8 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (60°F) | 14 mm (0.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
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.