A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Petra vs. Sukhothai for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Petra or Sukhothai?

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 Sukhothai can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Petra or Sukhothai?

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.

Sukhothai

If you are the kind of wandering traveler looking to find calm and inner peace, you will want to add Sukhothai to your list. Also known as "the dawn of happiness," this area is best known for the ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai – the capital of Thailand during the 13th century. As the first capital of Siam, the area's temples and monuments are restored and ready for visitors from around the world.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Sukhothai or Petra?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Sukhothai is $59. 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 Sukhothai in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Petra $59
    Sukhothai $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Petra $118
    Sukhothai $46
Compare Hotels in Petra and Sukhothai

Looking for a hotel in Petra or Sukhothai? 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.

Hotels in Petra


Hotels in Sukhothai


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 Sukhothai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Petra $23
    Sukhothai $17

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 Sukhothai

Also for Sukhothai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sukhothai airport: Transfer to Sukhothai Historical Park: $78
  • Sukhothai : private car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $138
  • Sukhothai Hotel Transfer: to/from Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: $159
  • One -Way Private Transfer to Chiang Mai: $187
  • Private Transfer to Bangkok City: $268
  • Private Transfer to Bangkok City: $322

Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Sukhothai?

Prices for flights to both Sukhothai 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Petra $38
    Sukhothai $19
Typical Food Prices in Petra

Some typical examples of dining costs in Petra are as follows:


  • Dinner for Two
    $12
  • 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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Petra $47
    Sukhothai $33
Typical Entertainment Prices in Petra

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Petra are as follows:


  • 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 Sukhothai

For Sukhothai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2.5-Hours Guided Countryside Sunset Bike Tour: $18
  • Half-Day Countryside Bike Tour: $26
  • Cycling Sukhothai Full Day Countryside Tour: $32
  • Historical Park & Countryside Cycling Tour: $42
  • Full-Day Historical Park Cycling Tour with Lunch: $42

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Petra $15
    Sukhothai $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Sukhothai, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Sukhothai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Sukhothai 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 Sukhothai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sukhothai 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 Sukhothai.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Sukhothai Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Petra or Sukhothai?

Sukhothai has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Petra. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Sukhothai, 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 Sukhothai?

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 Sukhothai in the Summer?

Both Sukhothai 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 Sukhothai year-round.

Sukhothai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in July than Sukhothai. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Sukhothai receives 190 mm (7.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Sukhothai. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sukhothai receives 176 hours of full sun.

The heat can be very extreme in Petra. In the summer, Petra is a little warmer than Sukhothai. Typically, the summer temperatures in Petra in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Sukhothai averages at about 29°C (84°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Petra 33°C (91°F) 
    Sukhothai 29°C (84°F)

Should I visit Petra or Sukhothai in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Sukhothai. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Sukhothai attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

October to April in Sukhothai is the dry season. Also, May to October is the rainy season in Sukhothai. Sukhothai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Sukhothai. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Sukhothai receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sukhothai this time of the year. In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Sukhothai during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Sukhothai receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Petra is generally around the same temperature as Sukhothai. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 27°C (80°F), and Sukhothai fluctuates around 28°C (83°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Petra 27°C (80°F) 
    Sukhothai 28°C (83°F)

Should I visit Petra or Sukhothai in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as Sukhothai. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Sukhothai throughout the year.

Petra usually gets more rain in January than Sukhothai. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sukhothai receives 7 mm (0.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sukhothai. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets less sunshine than Sukhothai. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sukhothai receives 266 hours of full sun.

Petra is much colder than Sukhothai in the winter. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 15°C (59°F) in January, and Sukhothai fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Petra 15°C (59°F) 
    Sukhothai 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Petra or Sukhothai in the Spring?

Both Sukhothai 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 Sukhothai because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Sukhothai is October to April. The rainy season in Sukhothai is May to October. In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Sukhothai. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Sukhothai receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Sukhothai. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sukhothai during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Sukhothai receives 279 hours of full sun in the spring.

Sukhothai can become quite hot in the spring. In the spring, Petra is cooler than Sukhothai. Typically, the spring temperatures in Petra in April average around 25°C (76°F), and Sukhothai averages at about 32°C (89°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Petra 25°C (76°F) 
    Sukhothai 32°C (89°F)

Typical Weather for Sukhothai and Petra

Petra Sukhothai
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 15°C (59°F) 48 mm (1.9 in) 25°C (77°F) 7 mm (0.3 in)
Feb 17°C (62°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 28°C (82°F) 12 mm (0.5 in)
Mar 20°C (68°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 30°C (86°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Apr 25°C (76°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 32°C (89°F) 51 mm (2 in)
May 28°C (83°F) 4 mm (0.2 in) 31°C (87°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Jun 31°C (88°F) 0 mm (0 in) 30°C (85°F) 183 mm (7.2 in)
Jul 33°C (91°F) 0 mm (0 in) 29°C (84°F) 190 mm (7.5 in)
Aug 32°C (90°F) 0 mm (0 in) 29°C (84°F) 257 mm (10.1 in)
Sep 30°C (87°F) 0 mm (0 in) 29°C (84°F) 241 mm (9.5 in)
Oct 27°C (80°F) 2 mm (0.1 in) 28°C (83°F) 157 mm (6.2 in)
Nov 21°C (70°F) 15 mm (0.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Dec 16°C (62°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 25°C (77°F) 6 mm (0.2 in)


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