Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Phuket?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Phuket or Roatan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Roatan, 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 Roatan?
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem 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.
Roatan
Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.
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 Adventure Tours to Honduras, and The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras.
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Phuket Prices
Thailand PricesRoatan Prices
Honduras Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPhuket $132Roatan $42
The average daily cost (per person) in Phuket is $132, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $42. 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 Roatan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPhuket $61Roatan $10
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPhuket $122Roatan $20
Compare Hotels in Phuket and Roatan
Looking for a hotel in Phuket or Roatan? 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 $12Roatan $17
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)$8.95
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Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town$7.46
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
- Phuket Airport (HKT) Arrival Transfer to Phuket Hotels (Shared or Private): $11
- One-Way to/from Phi Phi Premium Ferry Transfer: $13
- Phuket Private Transfer from/to Phuket Airport HKT (one way): $16
- Ferry Transfer to/from Phi Phi Tonsai or Laem Tong: $16
- One-Way Ferry Transfer to/from Koh Phi Phi: $16
- One Way Cruise Transfer from Phuket to Phi Phi – Multiple Classes: $17
- Phuket Airport Arrival Transfer – Domestic & International: $19
- Phuket Private Transfer To or From Phuket Hotel by Van & WiFi: $19
- Phuket To Phi Phi Island By Phi Phi Cruiser - Include Pickup Transfer: $21
- Private PHUKET Arrival Transfer - Phuket Airport to Phuket Hotels: $22
- Private Transfer from Phuket Cruise Port to Phuket Airport (HKT): $22
- Private Transfer from Phuket city hotels to Phuket Cruise Port: $22
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$3.93
Is it cheaper to fly into Phuket or Roatan?
Prices for flights to both Roatan 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 $41Roatan $15
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)$8.62
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$5.07
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$13
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Thai Noodles$2.68
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Bananas$0.75
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Pizza (for Two)$8.95
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
- Authentic Peranakan Cooking Class & Tasting Menu in Phuket: $29
- Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $52
- Phuket 10+ Tastings Food Tour & Charming Old Town: $52
- Phuket Coral Island & Sunset Dinner Cruise by Catamaran Yacht: $54
- Authentic Thai Cooking Class by Suuko Wellness Spa: $56
- Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $61
- Phuket Food Tour and City Walk by Jane: $62
- Hands on Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $62
- Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option: $62
- Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $62
- Phuket Carnival Magic Tickets with Optional Buffet Dinner: $62
- Phuket City Tour with Phothong Ride and Cooking Class: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Phuket $46Roatan $25
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$27
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Scuba Diving (Two Dives)$75
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Thai Oil Massage$19
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Surfboard Rental$8.95
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Phuket Self Guided Island Tour: $1.15
- Phuket Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Oto Indoor Play Park Entrance Ticket in Phuket: $7.75
- Phuket Rock Beach Swing Tickets: $16
- Phuket Bird Park Admission Ticket: $18
- Half Day Phuket City tour + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off: $19
- Simon Cabaret Show Phuket Admission E-Ticket: $20
- Phuket to Koh Phi Phi by Phi Phi Cruiser: $21
- Phuket City Tour Sightseeing and Night Market Everyday: $23
- Skip the Line: Phuket Simon Cabaret Show Admission Ticket: $25
- Simon Cabaret Show Tickets in Patong Phuket: $25
- Simon Cabaret Show Tickets Optional First 3 Rows: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPhuket $6.95Roatan $6.52
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)$5.97
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Beer$2.54
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Pub Crawl Rooftop, Bars, GoGo & 3 Clubs with Shots: $15
- Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience and Lunch: $53
- Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $87
- Phuket Rum Distillery Cocktail Workshop And Wat Chalong Temple: $172
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Roatan, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Phuket is in Asia and Roatan is in Central America, 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 Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan 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 Roatan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Phuket Expensive? and Is Roatan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Phuket or Roatan?
Phuket has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Phuket and Roatan, 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.
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.