Should you visit Phuket or Krabi?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Krabi, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Krabi
Thailand is covered in beaches, but if you're more interested in immersion in Thai culture than the salty ocean, consider a trip to Krabi, also known as "Krabi Town". Pronounced "Grabee," this small, but bustling city is just up the river from the coast, and is the gateway to the beaches in the surrounding Province of Krabi. Krabi Town is full of hotels, agencies and western restaurants, but if you look hard enough, you'll easily see the energy and life of Thailand. While there are no beaches in the town itself, there is plenty of Thai culture to experience.
Which city is cheaper, Krabi or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $92, while the average daily cost in Krabi is $45. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Phuket and Krabi in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Phuket is about $102 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $56 in Krabi For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
On average, meal and food prices in Phuket cost around $18 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $7.20.
On average, meal and food prices in Krabi cost around $11 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $4.40.
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Food
Meals for one day
Phuket $18
Krabi $11
Typical Food prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
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Thai Akha Kitchen Cooking Class & Local Market Tour:
$23
-
Tom Yum Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$23
-
Asia Scenic Thai Cooking Class:
$25
-
Siamese Cookery House Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok:
$26
-
InFusion Cooking Classes in Koh Samui:
$26
-
Sompong Thai Cooking Class:
$27
-
Galangal Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$28
-
Lanna Smile Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai:
$29
-
Chocolate Cooking Class at SO Sofitel Bangkok:
$31
-
Thai Cooking Course Hua Hin:
$31
-
Pum Thai Cooking Class in Patong Beach:
$31
-
Bangkok Thai Cooking Academy:
$31
Typical Food prices in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Krabi
For Krabi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Thai Akha Kitchen Cooking Class & Local Market Tour:
$23
-
Tom Yum Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$23
-
Asia Scenic Thai Cooking Class:
$25
-
Siamese Cookery House Thai Cooking Class in Bangkok:
$26
-
InFusion Cooking Classes in Koh Samui:
$26
-
Sompong Thai Cooking Class:
$27
-
Galangal Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai:
$28
-
Lanna Smile Thai Cooking Class in Chiang Mai:
$29
-
Pum Thai Cooking Class in Patong Beach:
$31
-
Chocolate Cooking Class at SO Sofitel Bangkok:
$31
-
Thai Cooking Course Hua Hin:
$31
-
Bangkok Thai Cooking Academy:
$31
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Phuket is $8.99 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Krabi, the average visitor spends $4.09 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
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[Next Day Result] COVID-19 RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen Test by Nabon Inter Medical Clinic in Phuket (Transfer arranged by TTD):
$21
-
[Next Day Result] COVID-19 RT-PCR Test by Bangkok Hospital Phuket (Transfer Arranged by TTD):
$105
-
Transfer from Phuket Hotel to Phuket Airport:
$43
-
Transfer from Phuket Hotel to Phi Phi Island:
$25
-
Transfer from Phuket Airport to Phuket Hotel:
$43
-
Transfer from Phuket Airport to Khao Lak Hotel:
$50
-
Tiger Kingdom Ticket in Phuket with Transfers:
$22
-
Tiger Kingdom Ticket in Chiang Mai with Transfers:
$5.59
-
Shared Airport Bus Transfer Phuket :
$3.09
-
Samui Airport Transfers (USM) for Koh Samui and More:
$15
-
Private Van: Phuket Airport Transfers:
$38
-
Private Transfer: Van Charter incl Airport Pick Up or Drop Off:
$92
Typical Local Transportation prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Krabi are as follows:
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Scooter Rental
$9.17
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Short Tuk-Tuk Ride
$3.06
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2 Bottles of Gasoline
$2.45
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Longboat Taxi from Town
$6.12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Krabi
Also for Krabi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Krabi/Phuket Airport Transfers (KBV/HKT) for Krabi & More:
$15
-
Private Phuket Airport Transfers (HKT) for Phuket and Other Areas by Oriental Holiday:
$18
-
7 Spa Luxury Spa Treatments in Pattaya with Round Trip Transfers:
$26
-
Ferry & Bus Transfers between Koh Samui and Krabi:
$26
-
Ferry & Bus Transfers between Krabi and Koh Samui:
$26
-
Ferry Transfers between Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi:
$18
-
Ferry Transfers between Krabi and Koh Phi Phi:
$16
-
Kata Rocks Resort & Residences (8D7N) with free COE Application and Airport Transfers:
$2,321
-
Koh Lanta to Koh Phangan High Speed Transfers:
$40
-
Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi High Speed Transfers:
$18
-
Koh Lanta to Koh Samui High Speed Transfers:
$36
-
Koh Lanta to Koh Tao High Speed Transfers:
$49
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Krabi?
Prices for flights to both Krabi 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.
Entertainment
Phuket's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $38 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Krabi, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $9.12 per person, per day.
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
$28
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)
$76
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Thai Oil Massage
$20
-
Surfboard Rental
$9.17
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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4 Island Day Tour by Speedboat or Longtail Boat from Lanta Island:
$31
-
ATV Half Day Adventure in Pattaya:
$28
-
Ancient Ayutthaya Tour: Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Bang Pa-In Royal Palace & More by AK Travel:
$33
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Aquaria Phuket Ticket:
$4.95
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Ayutthaya Day Tour from Bangkok with Bang Pa In and Night Market Visit by TTD:
$31
-
Ayutthaya Day Tour from Bangkok with Bang Pa-In Summer Palace and Market Visit:
$35
-
Bangkok Floating Markets Day Tour from Siam Paragon by TTD:
$28
-
Dii Wellness Med Spa Experience by Divana at Central Embassy BTS Ploenchit:
$62
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Go Bangkok e-Scooter Tour:
$46
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Indoor Go Karting Experience by EasyKart Bangkok:
$13
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Krabi Koh Klang Cultural Day Tour by TTD:
$74
-
Krabi Sunrise Tour with Breakfast and Kayaking at Klong Nam Sai:
$33
Typical Entertainment prices in Krabi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Krabi's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Krabi
For Krabi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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SHOCK PRICE!! Only at THB10 for Airport Rail Link (ARL) Single Journey Ticket with FREE EMS:
$0.30
-
Pattaya Pipo Pony Club Admission Ticket in Pattaya:
$1.55
-
Pattaya Sheep Farm Ticket:
$2.19
-
Ramayana Water Park Ticket in Pattaya:
$3.75
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Nails, Eyelash, and Waxing Beauty Experience at Ju's Nail:
$3.75
-
Wakeboarding Experience at Thai Wake Park in Pattaya:
$4.19
-
Pong Yang Adventure Park Experience:
$4.49
-
Aquaria Phuket Ticket:
$4.95
-
Rejuv Salon Beauty Experiences at Sathon Bangkok:
$5.85
-
Nong Nooch Tropical Garden Ticket in Pattaya:
$5.89
-
Sleep Salon & Nails Experience in Bangkok:
$6.15
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Kanchanaburi Mallika City Ticket:
$6.19
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Phuket may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $5.70 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting Krabi spend on average $3.90 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
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)
$6.12
-
Beer
$2.60
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
PB Valley Vineyard and Wine Tasting Tour in Khao Yai:
$22
-
Bangkok Pub Crawl by Pub Crawls Thailand:
$22
Typical Alcohol prices in Krabi
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Krabi are as follows:
-
Beer
$2.75
-
Cocktails (for Two)
$9.17
Sample the Local Flavors in Krabi
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Krabi:
-
PB Valley Vineyard and Wine Tasting Tour in Khao Yai:
$22
-
Bangkok Pub Crawl by Pub Crawls Thailand:
$22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Krabi, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Krabi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Krabi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Krabi 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 Krabi.
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