Which place is cheaper, Ao Nang or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Ao Nang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Ao Nang can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Ao Nang?
Petra
Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, and The Best Budget Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Ao Nang $107
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Ao Nang is $107. 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 Petra and Ao Nang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Ao Nang $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Ao Nang $104
Compare Hotels in Petra and Ao Nang
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Ao Nang? 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: Petra Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Ao Nang $56
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $18
- Private Eco-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Station, Krabi: $18
- Krabi Airport Private One-Way SUV Transfer: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Bus Statation: $22
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Ao Nang - Downtown, Krabi: $22
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $23
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Phuket: $31
- Krabi:Speedboat Transfer to Phi Phi Islands: $41
- Phuket: Speedboat Transfer to Ao Nang or Railay via Ko Yao: $41
- Private SUV-Transfer: One-way Krabi to Phuket: $105
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Ao Nang?
Prices for flights to both Ao Nang and Petra 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 dayPetra $38Ao Nang $24
Typical Food Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:
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Dinner for Two$12
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Juice$1.76
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Petra
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Petra.
- Cooking outside in little Petra between the Mountains. : $45
- Private Outdoor bedouin Dinner in Petra: $300
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Krabi: Ya's Cookery Late Afternoon Thai Cooking Class: $39
- Krabi : Authentic Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour: $40
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $46
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang, Krabi: $50
- Krabi 7 Island Sunset by Luxury Vintage Boat With BBQ Dinner: $127
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Ao Nang $11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:
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Entry to Petra for One$71
Tours and Activities in Petra
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Petra are as follows:
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- 3-hour Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Krabi: South Kayak Klong Root Kayaking Tour: $16
- Krabi ATV adventure drive 30mins: $22
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $22
- Krabi 4 Island One Day Tour by Speed boat or Longtail boat: $24
- ATV adventure 30 mins drive: $27
- Krabi: Bioluminescent Plankton, Snorkeling & Sunset Tour: $27
- Kayak Tour in Krabi Mangrove Forest with Lunch: $27
- Krabi: ATV adventure and extreme: $31
- Kayaking klongroot and atv adventure: $32
- From Hong Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch: $32
- Krabi: Tiger Cave, Hot Springs and Emerald Pool Jungle Tour: $35
- Krabi: Railay Beach Bioluminescent Plankton Ferry Cruise: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Ao Nang $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Ao Nang, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Ao Nang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Ao Nang 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 Ao Nang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ao Nang 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 Petra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Petra than you might in Ao Nang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Ao Nang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Ao Nang?
Petra has a larger population, and is about 75% larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Ao Nang, 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.
When is the best time to visit Petra or Ao Nang?
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 Petra or Ao Nang in the Summer?
Both Ao Nang and Petra during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ao Nang year-round.
August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang. Ao Nang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in July than Ao Nang. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Ao Nang receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Ao Nang, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Ao Nang. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ao Nang receives 206 hours of full sun.
It's very hot in Petra this time of the year. Petra is a little warmer than Ao Nang in the summer. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 33°C (91°F) in July, and Ao Nang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Ao Nang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Ao Nang in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Ao Nang. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Ao Nang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Ao Nang. Ao Nang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Ao Nang. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Ao Nang receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Ao Nang during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Ao Nang receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In the autumn, Petra is around the same temperature as Ao Nang. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Petra in October average around 27°C (80°F), and Ao Nang averages at about 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Ao Nang 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or Ao Nang in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as Ao Nang. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ao Nang throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Ao Nang is the dry season. Petra usually gets more rain in January than Ao Nang. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ao Nang receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets less sunshine than Ao Nang. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ao Nang receives 287 hours of full sun.
In January, Petra is generally much colder than Ao Nang. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 15°C (59°F), and Ao Nang fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Ao Nang 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Ao Nang in the Spring?
Both Ao Nang and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Ao Nang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Ao Nang. In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Ao Nang. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Ao Nang receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Ao Nang. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Ao Nang during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Ao Nang receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.
Petra is cooler than Ao Nang in the spring. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 25°C (76°F) in April, and Ao Nang fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Ao Nang 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Ao Nang and Petra
| Petra | Ao Nang | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 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.