Which place is cheaper, Surat Thani or Petra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Petra or Surat Thani?
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 Surat Thani can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Petra or Surat Thani?
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.
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPetra $125Surat Thani $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Petra is $125, while the average daily cost in Surat Thani is $53. 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 Surat Thani in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPetra $59Surat Thani $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPetra $118Surat Thani $50
Compare Hotels in Petra and Surat Thani
Looking for a hotel in Petra or Surat Thani? 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 $23Surat Thani $24
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Koh Samui: One-Way Ferry Transfer to Surat Thani: $7.16
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui Sedan 1-3 PAX: $12
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $14
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $36
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $59
- Donsak pier to aonang , krabi town , klongmuang any hotel Private transfer: $114
- Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
Is it cheaper to fly into Petra or Surat Thani?
Prices for flights to both Surat Thani 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 $38Surat Thani $14
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 Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.09
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Khao Sok: Elephant Day Care, Cooking Class, & Bamboo Raft: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Petra $47Surat Thani $4.97
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 Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- Pick up and drop off tourists around Koh Samui: $14
- The one and only Zipline Experience of Lamai Viewpoint: $38
- Koh Samui Day and Night Fishing Experience: $48
- Koh Samui: 4x4 Sightseeing Safari & Elephant Sanctuary Tour: $58
- Koh Samui: Unique Iocal Tour & Elephant Sanctuary with lunch: $65
- Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $69
- X Quad Novice Waterfall ATV Tour (1 Driver): $76
- Koh Samui: Elephant Kingdom Sanctuary Half-Day Tour: $81
- Samui Dolphins Tour by Catamaran Yacht: $87
- Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake Sunset Cruise w/ Drinks: $91
- From Khao Lak/Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake and Emerald Pool Tour: $105
- Samui X Quad ATV Tour (1 Driver) with lunch: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPetra $15Surat Thani $4.96
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Surat Thani, we can see that Petra is more expensive. And not only is Surat Thani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Surat Thani Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Petra or Surat Thani?
Petra has a larger population, and is about 14000 times larger than the population of Surat Thani. When comparing the sizes of Petra and Surat Thani, 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 Surat Thani?
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 Surat Thani in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Petra as well as Surat Thani. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Surat Thani throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Surat Thani. Petra usually gets less rain in July than Surat Thani. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
The heat can be very extreme in Petra. In the summer, Petra is a little warmer than Surat Thani. Typically, the summer temperatures in Petra in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Surat Thani averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPetra 33°C (91°F)Surat Thani 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Petra or Surat Thani in the Autumn?
Both Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Surat Thani. In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Surat Thani. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
In October, Petra is generally around the same temperature as Surat Thani. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 27°C (80°F), and Surat Thani fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPetra 27°C (80°F)Surat Thani 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Petra or Surat Thani in the Winter?
Both Surat Thani 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 Surat Thani year-round.
Petra usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Surat Thani. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
Petra is much colder than Surat Thani in the winter. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 15°C (59°F) in January, and Surat Thani fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPetra 15°C (59°F)Surat Thani 25°C (77°F)
Should I visit Petra or Surat Thani in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Surat Thani. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Surat Thani. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Surat Thani receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
In the spring, Petra is cooler than Surat Thani. Typically, the spring temperatures in Petra in April average around 25°C (76°F), and Surat Thani averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPetra 25°C (76°F)Surat Thani 29°C (83°F)
Typical Weather for Surat Thani and Petra
| Petra | Surat Thani | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 15°C (59°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 17°C (62°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 20°C (68°F) | 36 mm (1.4 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 25°C (76°F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 32°C (90°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 30°C (87°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (80°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 21°C (70°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 16°C (62°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.