Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Koh Tao?
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 Koh Tao can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Koh Tao?
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.
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 Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, 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 Petra and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Petra and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Petra 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: Petra Hotel Prices and Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Koh Tao $8.67
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
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 Petra or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao 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 $38Koh Tao $9.21
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
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.Petra $47Koh Tao $26
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
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.
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Koh 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 Petra and Koh Tao, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Koh Tao 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 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 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 Koh Tao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Koh Tao?
Petra has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Koh Tao, 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 Koh Tao?
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 Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Petra as well as Koh Tao. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Petra usually gets less rain in July than Koh Tao. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Petra or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
Both Koh Tao and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Koh Tao is October and November. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Petra is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Petra or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao and Petra during the winter 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 Koh Tao year-round.
February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. Petra usually gets less rain in January than Koh Tao. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 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 Petra. In the winter, Petra often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Petra is cooler than Koh Tao. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Petra or Koh Tao in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season. In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Tao this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Petra is generally around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Petra
| Petra | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.