Which place is cheaper, Railay Beach or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Railay Beach?
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 Railay Beach can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Railay Beach?
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.
Railay Beach
If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Railay Beach $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Railay Beach $63
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Railay Beach $126
Compare Hotels in Petra and Railay Beach
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Railay Beach? 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 $23Railay Beach $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Petra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Petra:
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Ma'in Hotel and vice versa: $73
- Petra to Wadi Rum Private Transfer: $80
- Private Departure Transfer: Petra Hotels to Amman Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Petra City Hotels to Aqaba Airport: $93
- Private Transfer From Petra to Amman or Airport With Optional : $99
- Petra Private Transfer to or from Aqaba: $105
- Petra to Aqaba South Beach Hotels Private Transfer: $110
- Private transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $118
- Private Transfer Amman Airport to Petra or vice versa via the King's Highway: $120
- Private Transfer Petra to/from Wadi Rum: $135
- Petra to Madaba Private Transfer: $140
- Petra to Sheikh Hussein Crossing Border Private Transfer: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Railay Beach?
Prices for flights to both Railay Beach 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 $38Railay Beach $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 Railay Beach
Some typical examples of dining costs in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.46
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Pizza$4.64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Railay Beach $23
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 Railay Beach
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Rock Climbing (for Two)$19
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Railay Beach $15
Typical Alcohol Prices in Railay Beach
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Railay Beach are as follows:
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Beer$1.64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Railay Beach, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Railay Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Railay Beach 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 Railay Beach.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Railay Beach Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Petra or Railay Beach?
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 Railay Beach in the Summer?
Both Railay Beach and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The rainy season in Railay Beach is August to October. It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. In July, Petra usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Railay Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Railay Beach during summer. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
The heat can be very extreme in Petra. In the summer, Petra is a little warmer than Railay Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Petra in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Railay Beach in the Autumn?
Both Railay Beach and Petra during the autumn 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 Railay Beach year-round.
December to March is the dry season in Railay Beach. August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach. Railay Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in October than Railay Beach. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Petra. In the autumn, Petra often gets more sunshine than Railay Beach. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 181 hours of full sun.
In October, Petra is generally around the same temperature as Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 27°C (80°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Railay Beach 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or Railay Beach in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Railay Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season. In January, Petra usually receives more rain than Railay Beach. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Railay Beach this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during winter. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
Petra is much colder than Railay Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 15°C (59°F) in January, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Railay Beach 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Railay Beach in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Petra as well as Railay Beach. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Railay Beach throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Railay Beach. Petra usually gets less rain in April than Railay Beach. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the spring, Petra often gets more sunshine than Railay Beach. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 249 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Petra is cooler than Railay Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Petra in April average around 25°C (76°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 29°C (84°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Railay Beach 29°C (84°F)
Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Petra
| Petra | Railay Beach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.