Which place is cheaper, Phuket or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Phuket?
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 Phuket can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Phuket?
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.
Phuket
Phuket Island is the tourist mecca of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Phuket $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Phuket is $105. 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 Phuket in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Phuket $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Phuket $112
Compare Hotels in Petra and Phuket
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Phuket? 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 Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Petra $23Phuket $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
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Longtail Taxi (for Two)$8.18
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$6.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Phuket Airport Bus Transfer from/to Karon Beach: $5.35
- From Phuket or Pa Tong: Transfer to Gun Shooting Range: $6.76
- Airport Transfer To / From Hotel & Free Wifi: $10
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $12
- Phuket Airport Transfer (SHA Plus) : $13
- One-Way Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phi Phi: $14
- Airport Transfer To / From Hotel & Free Wifi: $15
- Phuket International and Domestic Airport - Arrival Transfer : $15
- Phuket International and Domestic Airport - Departure Transfer : $15
- Phuket International Airport (HKT): Transfer to/from Phuket: $16
- Phuket Shared Arrival Transfer: $17
- Private Phuket Departure Transfer - Hotel to Phuket Airport : $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Phuket?
Prices for flights to both Phuket 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 $38Phuket $22
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 Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
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Casual Dinner (for Two)$7.88
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$4.64
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Thai Noodles$2.45
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Bananas$0.68
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Pizza (for Two)$8.18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Thai Cooking Class 1.5 Hrs ( 2 Dishes Menu): $36
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Coral Island Catamaran Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $43
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $55
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $55
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $55
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Phuket $42
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 Private Guided Tour In Petra with hotel pick up.: $75
- Private Indiana-Jones Archeological Trail Tour: $90
- Private Half-Day Tour of Petra with Lunch: $120
- Wadi Rum Day Tour from Petra ending in Aqaba: $138
- Private Petra Back Entrance Tour with Guide .: $140
- 3 Hour Horse Riding Adventure around the Petra Area: $145
- Wadi Rum Private Tour from Petra with Martian and Star Wars Film Site: $173
- Petra Back Entrance Private Walking Tour: $215
- Private Full-Day Tour to Petra and Wadi Rum from Dead Sea: $269
- Private Back Trail Tour of Petra starting from the Monastery : $276
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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One Day Boat Tour$25
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$68
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Thai Oil Massage$17
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Surfboard Rental$8.18
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Botanic Garden Admission Ticket: $3.01
- The Selfie Experience Phuket Admission Ticket: $4.14
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Phuket to Phi Phi Tonsai Ferry by Royal Jet Cruiser with Pickup Service: $13
- Trick Eye Museum Admission Ticket: $14
- Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket: $14
- Phuket Trickeye Museum Day Admission Ticket: $15
- Baan Teelanka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $16
- Original Discovery Tour: $17
- Old Phuket Farm Ticket - Countryside Local Life Culture: $18
- Child Ticket age 6 - 12 years old (Tourist): $18
- Simon Cabaret Show Phuket (Ticket Only): $20
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Phuket $6.35
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
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Cocktails (for Two)$5.46
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Beer$2.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- All-Night Bar Crawl with Drinks & 4 Venues: $22
- Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
- Pub Crawl Tour: $25
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $77
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $97
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple : $172
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop & Wat Chalong Temple: $213
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Phuket, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Phuket 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 Phuket would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phuket 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 Phuket.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Phuket Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Phuket?
Phuket has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Phuket, 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 Phuket?
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 Petra or Phuket in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Phuket. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Phuket receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Petra usually receives less rain than Phuket. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Phuket during summer. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Phuket. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Phuket in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Petra as well as Phuket. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. June to October in Phuket is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Phuket. Petra usually gets less rain in October than Phuket. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 304 mm (12 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 autumn, Petra often gets more sunshine than Phuket. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 181 hours of full sun.
Petra is around the same temperature as Phuket in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Phuket fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Phuket 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or Phuket in the Winter?
Both Phuket and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Phuket is December to March. In January, Petra usually receives more rain than Phuket. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Phuket. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives less sunshine than Phuket during winter. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
In the winter, Petra is much colder than Phuket. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Phuket averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Phuket 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Phuket in the Spring?
Both Phuket and Petra during the spring 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 Phuket year-round.
June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in April than Phuket. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the spring, Petra often gets more sunshine than Phuket. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 249 hours of full sun.
In April, Petra is generally cooler than Phuket. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Phuket 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Phuket and Petra
| Petra | Phuket | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.