Which place is cheaper, Koh Lanta or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai or Koh Lanta?
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 Pai and Koh Lanta. 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: Pai or Koh Lanta?
Pai
As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.
Koh Lanta
Located on the southern coast of Thailand is a place populated by long beaches and diving hotspots. Consisting of several islands, Koh Lanta is a large island with nine beaches along the coast. The beautiful scenery makes this a quiet and relaxing spot for tourists. The crowds on this island tend to be older than the party-seekers on Ko Phi Phi so you'll find more activities like serene walks on the beach or travelers catching a sunset.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 3-Day Tours from Bangkok, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Chiang Mai.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPai $64Koh Lanta $48
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, while the average daily cost in Koh Lanta is $48. 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 Pai and Koh Lanta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Koh Lanta $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Koh Lanta $48
Compare Hotels in Pai and Koh Lanta
Looking for a hotel in Pai or Koh Lanta? 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: Pai Hotel Prices and Koh Lanta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Koh Lanta $5.66
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Lanta:
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Ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta$16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Lanta
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Koh Lanta:
- Pravate Transfer Lanta Island to Krabi Airport, Krabi Town, Ao nang: $74
- One-Way Transfer from Koh Lanta to Krabi Town or Airport by Minivan: $11
- Koh lanta to phuket any hotel Private transfer: $171
- Koh Lanta :Krabi Airport Private Transfer:From Airport or Hotel: $111
Is it cheaper to fly into Pai or Koh Lanta?
Prices for flights to both Koh Lanta and Pai 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 dayPai $21Koh Lanta $11
Typical Food Prices in Koh Lanta
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Lanta:
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Casual Breakfast$4.36
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Casual Lunch$7.36
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Casual Dinner$12
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$46
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Lanta
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Koh Lanta.
- Cooking Experience at Lanta Thai Cookery School From Koh Lanta: $48
- Sukho Cuisine Thai Cooking School From Koh Lanta: $52
- Cooking Class and Market Tour at Lanta Thai Cookery School on Koh Lanta: $53
- Cooking Class & Market Tour with Thai Master Chef at Sukho Cuisine, Lanta: $62
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pai $40Koh Lanta $31
Tours and Activities in Pai
For Pai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Jungle Tipsy Tubing Experience with Shots: $6.76
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Lanta
Here are a few typical costs in Koh Lanta for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Emerald Cave Tour$19
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Yoga Session (1 Hour)$9.55
Tours and Activities in Koh Lanta
Here are a few actual costs in Koh Lanta for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 Island Tour to Emerald Cave by Longtail Boat from Koh Lanta: $28
- 4 Islands Day Tour By Opal Travel Speedboat: $42
- Full Day Sea Cave and Mangrove Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $52
- Half Day 2 Caves Ko Skull Tour Ko Lanta and Kayaking Ko Talabeng: $25
- Half Day Mangrove Forest Kayaking Tour From Koh Lanta: $29
- Koh Ha Koh Rok Day Tour by Opal Travel Speed boat: $47
- Koh Ngai, Koh Muk + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour by Classic Longtail Boat: $32
- Koh Phi Phi Day Tour by Opal Travel Speedboat: $42
- Lanta 4 Islands + Emerald Cave Snorkeling Tour: $26
- Lanta 4 Islands tour (Longtail boat): $26
- Lanta Mangrove Tour with Sea Cave Kayaking at Koh Talabeng: $30
- Lanta Old Town and Mangrove Forest Sightseeing Tour: $40
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPai $13Koh Lanta $3.79
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pai and Koh Lanta, we can see that Pai is more expensive. And not only is Koh Lanta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Lanta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Lanta 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 Pai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pai than you might in Koh Lanta.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pai Expensive? and Is Koh Lanta Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Koh Lanta?
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 Pai or Koh Lanta in the Summer?
Both Koh Lanta and Pai during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Pai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Lanta year-round.
June to September is the rainy season in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually gets less rain in July than Koh Lanta. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Koh Lanta receives 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Lanta, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Pai often gets less sunshine than Koh Lanta. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Lanta receives 206 hours of full sun.
In the summer, Pai is around the same temperature as Koh Lanta. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Koh Lanta averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Koh Lanta 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Pai or Koh Lanta in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Koh Lanta. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Koh Lanta attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Lanta receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Pai usually receives less rain than Koh Lanta. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Koh Lanta receives 281 mm (11.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Pai, it's very sunny this time of the year. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Koh Lanta during autumn. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Lanta receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Pai is generally around the same temperature as Koh Lanta. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Koh Lanta fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Koh Lanta 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Pai or Koh Lanta in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Pai as well as Koh Lanta. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Lanta throughout the year.
Also, January to April in Koh Lanta is the dry season. Pai usually gets less rain in January than Koh Lanta. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Koh Lanta receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the winter, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Lanta. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Lanta receives 287 hours of full sun.
Pai is cooler than Koh Lanta in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Koh Lanta fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Koh Lanta 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Pai or Koh Lanta in the Spring?
Both Koh Lanta and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Lanta because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Lanta is January to April. The rainy season in Koh Lanta is June to September. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Lanta. In April, Pai usually receives less rain than Koh Lanta. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Koh Lanta receives 124 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Koh Lanta. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Koh Lanta during spring. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Lanta receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is around the same temperature as Koh Lanta. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Koh Lanta averages at about 29°C (85°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Koh Lanta 29°C (85°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Lanta and Pai
| Pai | Koh Lanta | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 244 mm (9.6 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 224 mm (8.8 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 355 mm (14 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 281 mm (11.1 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 204 mm (8 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 116 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.