Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan or Pattaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pattaya or Gili Trawangan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Pattaya and Gili Trawangan 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: Pattaya or Gili Trawangan?
Pattaya
Go where the locals go. If that is your vacation motto, you will want to take a look at the popular weekend getaway of Pattaya, Thailand. This seaside resort on the Eastern Gulf Coast of Thailand is just outside of Bangkok, and full of resorts, beer bars and beaches.
Hosting more than five million visitors a year, Pattaya is easily accessed from the capital and the airport. Keep in mind, the sex tourism industry is still a large money earner for this city, but efforts by local authorities have created resorts and attractions for families and vacationers from all around the world.
Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPattaya $66Gili Trawangan $36
The average daily cost (per person) in Pattaya is $66, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan is $36. 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 Pattaya and Gili Trawangan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPattaya $24Gili Trawangan $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPattaya $48Gili Trawangan $48
Compare Hotels in Pattaya and Gili Trawangan
Looking for a hotel in Pattaya or Gili Trawangan? 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: Pattaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pattaya $12Gili Trawangan $2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pattaya
Also for Pattaya, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Pattaya HTL-APT (BKK): $59
- Tiffany Show Pattaya with Transfer: $64
- The Sanctuary of Truth at Pattaya Admission Ticket with Return Transfer: $35
- Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $22
- Teddy Bear Museum in Pattaya with Return Transfer: $19
- Surat Thani Hotel Transfer: to/from Bangkok Hotel Transfer: $427
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum at Pattaya with Return Transfer: $57
- Return hotel transfers to Gems Gallery Pattaya (Jewelry) : $2.15
- Private U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya Airport Transfer to Pattaya City: $22
- Private Transfer from Sattahip to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $101
- Private Transfer from Rayong to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $112
- Private Transfer from Rayong to Pattaya: $76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan
Also for Gili Trawangan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Three Gili Island Lombok by Speedboat: $100
- Lombok Transfer From 3 Gilis to Airport or Hotel In Lombok: $45
- Airport private Transfer: $39
- Central Gili Island Bus Transfer Senggigi Mataram Kuta Lombok: $16
Is it cheaper to fly into Pattaya or Gili Trawangan?
Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan and Pattaya 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 dayPattaya $22Gili Trawangan $7.21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pattaya
For Pattaya, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- All Star Dinner Cruise with Cabaret Show: $32
- Thai Cooking Class in Pattaya: $67
- 3 Islands Catamaran Tour with Dinner Buffet: $70
- Islands Hopping Tour by Catamaran with Dinner Buffet in Chon Buri: $98
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sweet and Spicy - Indonesian Cooking Class in Gili Trawangan: $28
- Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes: $30
- Gili Trawangan Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise with snorkeling: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pattaya $21Gili Trawangan $3.98
Tours and Activities in Pattaya
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Pattaya.
- 1 Hour ATV Off Road Adventure In Pattaya: $63
- 3 Days Thailand Motorcycle Coastal Tour: $1,066
- 5 Days – Motorcycle tour to River Kwai and Khao Yai: $1,776
- A Superstar Model Experience in Pattaya with Photo Expert: $113
- ATV & Buggy Adventures Pattaya - Novice Rider 27km Basic Track: $100
- Adventure Coral Island Koh Larn Pattaya with Indian Lunch: $7.97
- All Star Cabaret Cruise Pattaya with Indian Buffet Lunch: $42
- Amazing Discovery Pattaya Tours with Floating Market & Lunch : $76
- Art in Paradise Pattaya Admission Ticket: $6.00
- Art in Paradise Pattaya Tickets: $10
- Art in Paradise at Pattaya Admission Ticket: $12
- Art in Paradise at Pattaya Admission Ticket (3D Art ): $12
Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan
For Gili Trawangan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 5H All Inclusive Breakfast &Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $108
- 5H All Inclusive Sunset & Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $108
- Gili Nanggu Day Tour: $80
- Gili Trawangan 3 Island Half day Cruise with BBQ Lunch and Snorkeling : $91
- Shared Gili Islands Snorkeling Tour: $19
- Kuta Tour (South Of Lombok Beutiful Tour): $49
- Lombok Private Customize Tour: $85
- Lombok Private Tour Waterfall And Traditional Village Including Beach: $55
- Private Snorkeling Experience in Gili Trawangan: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPattaya $8.18Gili Trawangan $3.67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pattaya and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Pattaya is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan 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 Pattaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pattaya than you might in Gili Trawangan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pattaya Expensive? and Is Gili Trawangan Expensive?.
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.