A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Phuket vs. Gili Trawangan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Phuket or Gili Trawangan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Gili Trawangan, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Phuket or Gili Trawangan?

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.

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan or Phuket?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $106, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan 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 Phuket and Gili Trawangan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Phuket $56
    Gili Trawangan $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Phuket $112
    Gili Trawangan $48
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Gili Trawangan

Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Gili Trawangan? 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 Phuket


Hotels in Gili Trawangan


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: Phuket Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Phuket $11
    Gili Trawangan $2.81
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:


  • Longtail Taxi (for Two)
    $8.27
  • Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town
    $6.89

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:

  • Ziplining Hanuman Experience in Phuket with Roundtrip Transfer (SHA Plus): $88
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Phuket HTL-APT (HKT): $24
  • Transfer to or from Phuket International Airport by Sedan: $17
  • Transfer from Phuket Hotel to Phi Phi Island: $28
  • TAXI PHUKET AIRPORT Transfer to PHUKET TOWN (SHA Plus): $31
  • Simon Cabaret Show in Phuket including Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $53
  • Simon Cabaret Show from Phuket with Transfer (SHA Plus): $46
  • Simon Cabaret Show at Phuket with Return Transfer (SHA Plus): $54
  • Simon Cabaret Phuket Show Included Tickets and Transfer: $37
  • Simon Cabaret Phuket Show Included Tickets and Transfer: $29
  • Similan Islands One Day Tour From Phuket Include Lunch & Pickup Transfer: $98
  • Siam Niramit Phuket Admission Ticket with Transfer Option: $45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan

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

  • Airport private Transfer: $39
  • Central Gili Island Bus Transfer Senggigi Mataram Kuta Lombok: $16
  • Lombok Transfer From 3 Gilis to Airport or Hotel In Lombok: $45
  • Private Transfer Three Gili Island Lombok by Speedboat: $100

Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Gili Trawangan?

Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan and Phuket 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
    Phuket $22
    Gili Trawangan $7.35
Typical Food Prices in Phuket

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:


  • Casual Dinner (for Two)
    $7.97
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $4.69
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $12
  • Thai Noodles
    $2.48
  • Bananas
    $0.69
  • Pizza (for Two)
    $8.27

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): $37
  • Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 3 Dishes Menu): $39
  • Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $44
  • Coral Island Trip & SunSet Dinner Cruise by Catamaran Yatch : $45
  • Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 4 Dishes Menu): $48
  • Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $51
  • Flavours of the South Food Tour: $52
  • Afternoon Cocktails or Dinner in the Sky: $53
  • Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $53
  • Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
  • Siam Niramit Show with Dinner Phuket: $53
  • Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $54

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan

For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sweet and Spicy - Indonesian Cooking Class in Gili Trawangan: $28
  • Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes: $30
  • Gili Trawangan Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise with snorkeling: $91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Phuket $43
    Gili Trawangan $4.05
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket

Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • One Day Boat Tour
    $25
  • Scuba Diving (Two Dives)
    $69
  • Thai Oil Massage
    $18
  • Surfboard Rental
    $8.27

Tours and Activities in Phuket

Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 3 Khai Islands Snorkeling Tour by Speed Boat: $43
  • Amazing Krabi Private 1 day tour from Phuket by VAN: $224
  • James Bond Island Highlights Tour from Phuket with Lunch: $117
  • Khai Island Half Day Tour by Speedboat from Phuket (SHA Plus): $62
  • Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Tour with Seaview Lunch from Phuket: $68
  • Phuket Night Food Walking tour : $90
  • Private Tour: Amazing Phuket Island Tour with Big Buddha : $67
  • Unseen Phuket Full Day Tour + Lunch : $155
  • Water Rafting 5 km Tour & ATV 1 hour - Real Adventure: $101
  • Whitewater Rafting & ATV Adventure Tour from Phuket including Lunch: $122
  • Zipline Adventure 32 Platforms + Roller + Skywalk: $110
  • 2 Hours Phuket Old Town Street Food Walking Tour: $45

Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan

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

  • Shared Gili Islands Snorkeling Tour: $17
  • Private Snorkeling Experience in Gili Trawangan: $23
  • Kuta Tour (South Of Lombok Beutiful Tour): $49
  • Lombok Private Tour Waterfall And Traditional Village Including Beach: $55
  • Gili Nanggu Day Tour: $80
  • Lombok Private Customize Tour: $85
  • Gili Trawangan 3 Island Half day Cruise with BBQ Lunch and Snorkeling : $91
  • 5H All Inclusive Breakfast &Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $110
  • 5H All Inclusive Sunset & Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $110

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Phuket $6.42
    Gili Trawangan $3.74
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:


  • Cocktails (for Two)
    $5.51
  • Beer
    $2.34

Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket

Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $25
  • Pub Crawl Tour: $25
  • Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $79
  • Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $99
  • 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 Phuket and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan 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 Phuket would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phuket than you might in Gili Trawangan.

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