Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Pai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pai 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 Pai 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: Pai or Koh Tao?
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 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 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 Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Pai is $64, 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 Pai and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPai $14Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPai $28Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Pai and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Pai 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: Pai Hotel Prices and Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pai $37Koh Tao $8.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pai
Also for Pai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $149
- Transfer and Tour to Pai / Chiang Mai: $149
- Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: to/from Pai Hotel: $132
- Chiang Mai City to/from Pai Hotel: Private Transfer: $132
- Chiang Mai Private Car transfer to or from Pai(Mae Hong Son): $107
- Pa Pae Meditation: Private Car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $70
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 Pai or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 Tao $9.21
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.Pai $40Koh Tao $26
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 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 dayPai $13Koh 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 Pai and Koh Tao, we can see that Pai 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 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 Tao.
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 Tao Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pai or Koh Tao?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Pai or Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pai and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Pai year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
Pai usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Pai is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pai in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPai 29°C (85°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Pai or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pai as well as Koh Tao. Pai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
October and November in Koh Tao is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets less rain in October than Koh Tao. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the autumn, Pai often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun.
In October, Pai is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (84°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPai 29°C (84°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Pai or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao and Pai are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Pai throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Pai gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.
Pai is around the same temperature as Koh Tao in the winter. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 24°C (74°F) in January, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPai 24°C (74°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Pai or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Pai during the spring 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 Tao year-round.
February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Koh Tao. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pai. In the spring, Pai often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun.
The heat can be very extreme in Pai. In the spring, Pai is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pai in April average around 32°C (89°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPai 32°C (89°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Pai
| Pai | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (74°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (83°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 32°C (89°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 31°C (88°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 30°C (86°F) | 181 mm (7.1 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 29°C (85°F) | 211 mm (8.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 29°C (84°F) | 256 mm (10.1 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 29°C (85°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 29°C (84°F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 24°C (76°F) | 12 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.