A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Nakhon Ratchasima vs. Railay Beach for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach?

Nakhon Ratchasima

If you're planning on traveling from Bangkok to Isaan, you'll likely make Nakhon Ratchasima your pit stop or home base. However, there is so much more to this sprawling metropolis than just a layover. Underneath the chaos of it all, is a charming and traditional Thai city.

Railay Beach

If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, and The Best Budget Tours to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Nakhon Ratchasima?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Nakhon Ratchasima Prices
    Thailand Prices
    Railay Beach Prices
    Thailand Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Nakhon Ratchasima $54
    Railay Beach $129

The average daily cost (per person) in Nakhon Ratchasima is $54, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach is $129. 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 Nakhon Ratchasima and Railay Beach in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Nakhon Ratchasima $21
    Railay Beach $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Nakhon Ratchasima $42
    Railay Beach $134
Compare Hotels in Nakhon Ratchasima and Railay Beach

Looking for a hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach? 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 Nakhon Ratchasima


Hotels in Railay Beach


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: Nakhon Ratchasima Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Nakhon Ratchasima $4.82
    Railay Beach $27
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Nakhon Ratchasima

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Nakhon Ratchasima:


  • Tuk Tuk
    $1.46
  • Bus to Vientiane
    $1.46

Is it cheaper to fly into Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach?

Prices for flights to both Railay Beach and Nakhon Ratchasima 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
    Nakhon Ratchasima $28
    Railay Beach $40

Typical Food Prices in Railay Beach

Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $5.83
  • Pizza
    $4.96

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Nakhon Ratchasima $6.21
    Railay Beach $24

Tours and Activities in Nakhon Ratchasima

For Nakhon Ratchasima, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • From Bangkok: Khao Yai National Park 2-Day Tour highlight: $459
  • From Bangkok: Khao Yai 3-Day Tour highlight: $656

Typical Entertainment Prices in Railay Beach

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:


  • Rock Climbing (for Two)
    $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Nakhon Ratchasima $11
    Railay Beach $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Nakhon Ratchasima

Also in Nakhon Ratchasima, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • KHAOYAI : Wine Tasting Tour & Primo Piazza & Hokkaido Flower: $191

Typical Alcohol Prices in Railay Beach

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


  • Beer
    $1.75


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Nakhon Ratchasima and Railay Beach, we can see that Railay Beach is more expensive. And not only is Nakhon Ratchasima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Nakhon Ratchasima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Nakhon Ratchasima 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 Railay Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Railay Beach than you might in Nakhon Ratchasima.

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



When is the best time to visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Nakhon Ratchasima as well as Railay Beach. Nakhon Ratchasima attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.

August to October in Railay Beach is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Nakhon Ratchasima receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nakhon Ratchasima usually gets less rain in July than Railay Beach. Nakhon Ratchasima gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

In July, Nakhon Ratchasima is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Nakhon Ratchasima average around 30°C (86°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Nakhon Ratchasima 30°C (86°F) 
    Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach in the Autumn?

Both Railay Beach and Nakhon Ratchasima are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Nakhon Ratchasima throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Railay Beach is December to March. The rainy season in Railay Beach is August to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. It's quite rainy in Nakhon Ratchasima. In October, Nakhon Ratchasima usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Nakhon Ratchasima gets 152 mm (6 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Nakhon Ratchasima is around the same temperature as Railay Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Nakhon Ratchasima averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Nakhon Ratchasima 28°C (82°F) 
    Railay Beach 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach in the Winter?

Both Railay Beach and Nakhon Ratchasima during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Nakhon Ratchasima because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.

December to March is the dry season in Railay Beach. Nakhon Ratchasima usually gets less rain in January than Railay Beach. Nakhon Ratchasima gets 5 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the winter, Nakhon Ratchasima is around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Nakhon Ratchasima in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Nakhon Ratchasima 25°C (77°F) 
    Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Nakhon Ratchasima or Railay Beach in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nakhon Ratchasima and Railay Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Nakhon Ratchasima year-round. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Nakhon Ratchasima usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Nakhon Ratchasima gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Nakhon Ratchasima can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Nakhon Ratchasima is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Nakhon Ratchasima average around 31°C (89°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Nakhon Ratchasima 31°C (89°F) 
    Railay Beach 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Nakhon Ratchasima

Nakhon Ratchasima Railay Beach
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 5 mm (0.2 in) 28°C (82°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 21 mm (0.8 in) 28°C (83°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Mar 30°C (86°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 29°C (84°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Apr 31°C (89°F) 66 mm (2.6 in) 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
May 31°C (88°F) 152 mm (6 in) 28°C (83°F) 318 mm (12.5 in)
Jun 30°C (87°F) 105 mm (4.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 279 mm (11 in)
Jul 30°C (86°F) 123 mm (4.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Aug 30°C (85°F) 128 mm (5 in) 28°C (82°F) 262 mm (10.3 in)
Sep 29°C (84°F) 244 mm (9.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 399 mm (15.7 in)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 152 mm (6 in) 27°C (81°F) 304 mm (12 in)
Nov 26°C (79°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 165 mm (6.5 in)
Dec 24°C (76°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)


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