Which place is cheaper, Khao Sok National Park or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Phuket or Khao Sok National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Khao Sok National Park, 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 Khao Sok National Park?
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.
Khao Sok National Park
In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.
Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.
You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.
To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.
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 Bicycle Tours in Thailand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $105Khao Sok National Park $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $105, while the average daily cost in Khao Sok National Park is $88. 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 Khao Sok National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $56Khao Sok National Park $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $112Khao Sok National Park $44
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Khao Sok National Park
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Khao Sok National Park? 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: Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Phuket $11Khao Sok National Park $64
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: $5.32
- Gun Shooting Range in Phuket (Transfer Only): $6.83
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $12
- One-Way Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phi Phi: $14
- Airport Transfer To / From Hotel & Free Wifi: $15
- Phuket International and Domestic Airport - Departure Transfer : $16
- Phuket International Airport (HKT): Transfer to/from Phuket: $17
- Phuket Shared Arrival Transfer: $17
- Phuket Shared Departure Transfer: $17
- Private Departure Transfer : Phuket Hotel to Phuket Airport (SHA Plus): $17
- Private Arrival Transfer : Phuket Airport (SHA Plus): $17
- Departure Transfer : Phuket Hotel to Phuket Airport (Private): $17
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Khao Sok National Park?
Prices for flights to both Khao Sok National Park 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
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Food Meals for one dayPhuket $22Khao Sok National Park $26
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
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 3 Dishes Menu): $39
- Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $43
- Thai Cooking Class 2 Hrs ( 4 Dishes Menu): $47
- Afternoon Cocktails or Dinner in the Sky: $52
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Flavours of the South Guided Food Tour: $52
- Phuket Coral Island Sunset with Dinner by Catamaran Yacht: $53
- Coral Island & Sunset Dinner by Sailing Catamaran: $53
- Phuket Cooking Class Thai activity: $56
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $56
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $56
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $42Khao Sok National Park $28
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: $3.04
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Baan Teelanka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $12
- Trick Eye Museum Admission Ticket: $14
- Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket: $14
- The Selfie Experience Phuket Admission Ticket: $14
- Phuket Trickeye Museum Day Admission Ticket: $15
- Phuket to Koh Phi Phi by Phi Phi Cruiser: $17
- Travstore Original Phuket Discovery Tour: $17
- Simon Cabaret Show Phuket (Ticket Only): $20
- Simon Cabaret Show Phuket Entrance Tickets : $21
- Phuket City Tour with Landmark Viewpoints and Top Attraction: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.35Khao Sok National Park $5.65
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: $78
- Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $98
- Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery : $98
- 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 Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Khao Sok National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Khao Sok National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Phuket or Khao Sok National Park?
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 Phuket or Khao Sok National Park in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Khao Sok National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Khao Sok National Park attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Khao Sok National Park receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Phuket usually receives around the same amount of rain as Khao Sok National Park. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Khao Sok National Park this time of the year. In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during summer. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 206 hours of full sun in the summer.
In the summer, Phuket is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Phuket in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPhuket 28°C (82°F)Khao Sok National Park 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Khao Sok National Park in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Khao Sok National Park. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket usually gets less rain in October than Khao Sok National Park. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
In the autumn, Phuket often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 181 hours of full sun.
In October, Phuket is generally around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 27°C (81°F), and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPhuket 27°C (81°F)Khao Sok National Park 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Khao Sok National Park in the Winter?
Both Khao Sok National Park and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Khao Sok National Park because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Phuket is December to March. In January, Phuket usually receives less rain than Khao Sok National Park. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.
It's quite sunny in Khao Sok National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park during winter. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Sok National Park receives 287 hours of full sun in the winter.
Phuket is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 28°C (82°F) in January, and Khao Sok National Park fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPhuket 28°C (82°F)Khao Sok National Park 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Phuket or Khao Sok National Park in the Spring?
Both Khao Sok National Park and Phuket during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Khao Sok National Park year-round.
June to October is the rainy season in Phuket. Khao Sok National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets less rain in April than Khao Sok National Park. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Khao Sok National Park receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Khao Sok National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the spring, Phuket often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Sok National Park. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Sok National Park receives 249 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Phuket is around the same temperature as Khao Sok National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Phuket in April average around 29°C (84°F), and Khao Sok National Park averages at about 29°C (83°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPhuket 29°C (84°F)Khao Sok National Park 29°C (83°F)
Typical Weather for Khao Sok National Park and Phuket
| Phuket | Khao Sok National Park | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (83°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Mar | 29°C (84°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (84°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 157 mm (6.2 in) |
| May | 28°C (83°F) | 318 mm (12.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 345 mm (13.6 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 279 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 286 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 287 mm (11.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 284 mm (11.2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 272 mm (10.7 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 399 mm (15.7 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 417 mm (16.4 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 304 mm (12 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 351 mm (13.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 71 mm (2.8 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.