Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Nairobi?
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 Nairobi or Koh Pha Ngan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Nairobi and Koh Pha Ngan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Nairobi or Koh Pha Ngan?
Nairobi
Nairobi is Kenya's capital as well as the country's largest city. With a population of about 3 million, it is also one of the largest cities in Africa. It is a prominent city both politically and financially within the region. There are many international companies that are located in Nairobi and the Nairobi Securities and Exchange is one of the largest in Africa.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Nairobi Prices
Kenya PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNairobi $67Koh Pha Ngan $58
The average daily cost (per person) in Nairobi is $67, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $58. 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 Nairobi and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNairobi $12Koh Pha Ngan $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNairobi $24Koh Pha Ngan $50
Compare Hotels in Nairobi and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Nairobi or Koh Pha Ngan? 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: Nairobi Hotel Prices and Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Nairobi $11Koh Pha Ngan $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nairobi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Nairobi:
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Taxi from Airport$9.24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nairobi
Also for Nairobi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Transfer in Nairobi- JKIA: $30
- Airport Transfers: $40
- Airport Transfers In Nairobi: $50
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi: $47
- Airport Transfers in Nairobi City: $70
- Airport/hotel/transfers In Van/bus/sedan Car Within Nairobi: $80
- From JKIA Airport Nairobi Private Transfer in a Car 3 Pax Max: $35
- Museum of Illusion Nairobi Experience with Transfers: $75
- Mwashi Airport Transfer & Taxi: $27
- Nairobi Airport Transfers: $50
- Nairobi Airport Transfers to Wilson Airport and Hotels: $40
- Nairobi Airport transfers: $40
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$8.95
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Ferry Ride$15
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Gas for Scooter$3.28
Is it cheaper to fly into Nairobi or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan and Nairobi 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 dayNairobi $13Koh Pha Ngan $19
Typical Food Prices in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner for Two$5.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Carnivore Restaurant: Lunch or Dinner Experience in Nairobi: $21
- Kenyan Cooking Class & Authentic Dining Experience with a Local: $40
- Traditional Kenyan Cooking Class & Local Market Tour: $55
- Popular Kenyan Food Cooking Class and Local Market Experience: $60
- Carnivore restaurant Dinner or lunch from Nairobi: $65
- Carnivore Resturant Dinner Experience: $68
- Cooking Lesson of Local Food $ Lunch: $68
- Private Kenyan Cooking Class in Nairobi with a Local: $76
- Dinner Experience with Cat Show at Safari Park Hotel: $90
- The Carnivore Restaurant Lunch or Dinner with transport: $97
- Safari Cat Dancers Show And Dinner: $100
- Barbecue Lunch/ Dinner At The Carnivore Restaurant - Nairobi: $100
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.19
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$11
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.19
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Ice Cream$0.60
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Juice$1.79
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3 Spring Rolls$0.90
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2 Pancakes$1.79
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Nairobi $46Koh Pha Ngan $18
Typical Entertainment Prices in Nairobi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Nairobi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Village Visit$15
Tours and Activities in Nairobi
For Nairobi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Fashion African Fabric & Souvenir Market Tour: $12
- Ebike adventure Hire Nairobi (Electric mountain bike hire): $15
- Nairobi Matatu Culture Experience: $18
- Kibera Community Tour with Local Guide MC Dawn: $20
- Nairobi Walking City Tour +pick-up: $20
- Nairobi’s ultimate Walking City Tour with Hotel pickup: $20
- Nairobi City Walk Tour +pickup: $22
- Nairobi Green Bus City Sightseeing Tour 4 Hours: $23
- Kibera Slum Compassionate Walking Experience 3 Hours: $23
- Nairobi History, Culture and Modern City Walking Tour: $24
- Nairobi City Tour: $25
- Nairobi city walking tour: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNairobi $16Koh Pha Ngan $11
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$7.76
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nairobi and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Nairobi is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Nairobi is in Africa and Koh Pha Ngan is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Nairobi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nairobi than you might in Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Nairobi Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Nairobi or Koh Pha Ngan?
Nairobi has a larger population, and is about 230 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Nairobi and Koh Pha Ngan, 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.