A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Phuket vs. Sado for Food, Couples, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Phuket or Sado?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Phuket or Sado, 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.

Phuket

Phuket is a party-hard, stunning, and activity-filled resort island. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

Sado

Sado is a cultural, off-the-beaten-path, and traditional island. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and food.

Phuket and Sado: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phuket or Sado?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Phuket. Although Phuket and Sado are popular destinations, Phuket has more sights and attractions for tourists. Phuket is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Sado attracts visitors for its museums, food, and hiking. Phuket is more touristy than Sado and is known for its long sandy beaches, wild nightlife, colorful resorts, and easy access to day tours. It is also well known for The Seated Maravija Buddha Statue (Big Buddha). Sado is famous for its beautiful scenery, traditional culture, and population of endangered crested ibis.

How is Phuket different from Sado?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sado and Phuket. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Phuket or Sado?

Sado is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Sado can be an interesting and educational experience. The former gold mines are open to the public and fascinating to explore. For a traditional town, head to Shukunegi, which has narrow alleys and historic homes. Also worth a visit is the Sado History Museum.

Phuket does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Phuket or Sado? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sado is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Phuket is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Sado. You'll find great seafood including crab, tuna, and prawns. There are also fresh vegetables, rice, and other typical Japanese ingredients in the area.

Phuket is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Because it served as an international port for so long, food around the island has many international influences. For the most authentic local food, head into Phuket Town. Many dishes include seafood, but there are also chicken curries and noodle soup. Like elsewhere in Thailand, the food can be quite spicy but because the island is so touristy, they're accustomed to people asking for "no spice."

Is Phuket or Sado Better for Nightlife?

Phuket is an unbeatable place for nightlife. However, Sado is a mediocre island for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Phuket is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The island has a long running reputation as a party destination and it lives up to expectations. The biggest party area is Patong, particularly around Bangla Road, but even in Kata and Karon, it's hard to escape the party atmosphere.

Sado doesn't offer many options. This is a quiet island and doesn't have much in the form of nightlife.

Is Phuket or Sado Better for Resorts?

Phuket is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Sado is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Phuket is a great choice. It's easy accessibility and larger size make this the premiere resort destination in Thailand. There are five star resorts, family-friendly resorts, and everything in between. Many people use the island as a base for exploring other nearby islands. Any resort or tour company can arrange excursions or activities for guests.

Sado is not a resort destination.

Is Phuket or Sado Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Phuket is notable for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Sado is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Phuket. You can dive and snorkel year round, but the visibility is usually best between November and May. There are countless boat tours available and the easy accessibility make this a good base for snorkeling and diving. Many areas are overrun with tourists though, so it'll be hard to find a quiet, undisturbed location.

Sado is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Phuket or Sado Better for Beaches?

Phuket is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, Sado is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Phuket. The island has more than 30 beaches to choose from, ranging from party hard areas to a few quieter gems in more remote locations. The area became a world-famous destination because of its white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, and the beaches will not disappoint, even if development has taken over the island.

Sado is not a beach destination.

Is Phuket or Sado Better for Hiking?

Sado is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Phuket is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Sado. There is wonderful hiking on the island. Head to the Osado Mountain Range for wildflowers and spectacular views and scenery.

Phuket is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Phuket or Sado?

Phuket is a popular place for shopping. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its shopping opportunities.

Phuket is a great destination for shopping. Shopping malls offer a range of stores, air conditioning, and fixed prices while markets have more local items and unique souvenirs. There are also galleries and other souvenir shops all over the island.

If you're looking to go shopping, Sado has some nice offerings. You'll find shops where you can pick up any necessities that you may have forgotten. There are also souvenir shops where you can find local items to remember your trip.

Is Phuket or Sado Better for Families?

Phuket and Sado are both nice destinations for the whole family.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Phuket. Many people visit this island with kids because it has beautiful beaches and tons of activities including water sports, water parks, and amusement areas. The island is filled with a diversity of tourists, so you'll encounter a number of areas with party-hard atmospheres, but there are also tons of family-friendly resorts to choose from as well.

Sado offers lots of family activities. The former gold mines are fascinating and open to the public. There are also parks and interesting wildlife such as the Japanese ibis that you can see.

Is Phuket or Sado Better for Couples?

Phuket is notable for romance. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its romantic activities.

Phuket is a very popular place to visit for couples. The island is filled with beautiful beaches and plenty of activities for all travel styles. It's a tourist and party mecca in Thailand with many resorts and restaurants to choose from.

Sado makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The area's history and nature make it a unique place for a couple's trip. There are museums, and outdoor spaces that you visit as well as the interesting mines.

Is Phuket or Sado Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sado is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Phuket is a resort island with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Sado. There are a couple of hostels as well as guesthouses that backpackers can stay at while they're in town.

Phuket is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It has a long history as a party island with expensive prices and hordes of tourists. Many backpackers complain about the lack of authenticity and prefer to spend their time elsewhere.

Is Phuket or Sado Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Phuket is a popular place for its public transit. However, Sado is a mediocre island for times when you don't have a car.

Phuket has a few public transit options. Tuk tuks, buses, and motorbike taxis are all available on the island. The buses are usually Songtaew, which have open air seating areas.

Public transit is quite limited in Sado. There are no trains on the island and the bus routes are infrequent and slow. You really must have a car to explore the area.

Is Phuket or Sado a more walkable city?

Phuket is a popular place for its walkability. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its high level of walkability.

Phuket is somewhat walkable. Most of the hotels and resorts are walking distance to the beach and many resort areas are small enough to be explored on foot.

Sado is not a very walkable resort island. The island isn't particularly walkable, so you'll want to have a vehicle to explore.

For even more information, also check out Is Phuket Worth Visiting? and Is Sado Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sado or Phuket?

How long in Phuket or Sado?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Phuket and Sado. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Phuket than in Sado. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Phuket, and 2-3 days is enough time in Sado.

Families should spend more time in Phuket than Sado. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Phuket, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Phuket than Sado. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Phuket that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sado than Phuket if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sado.

One day in Phuket or Sado?

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Phuket. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Sado. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Phuket or Sado?

Phuket is a fun place to experience. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Sado is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Phuket or Sado?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the party-hard destination of Phuket. This resort island offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sado. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Phuket or Sado?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the stunning resort island of Phuket. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the off-the-beaten-path destination of Sado. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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 Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Phuket and Sado, we can see that Phuket is more expensive. And not only is Sado much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sado would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sado 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 Sado.

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

When is the best time to visit Phuket or Sado?

Sado has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Phuket experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Phuket or Sado in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Phuket and Sado. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Sado for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Phuket is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 28°C (82°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phuket usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sado during summer. Phuket gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun in the summer.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the summer. Phuket gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Phuket usually receives more rain than Sado. Phuket gets 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Phuket or Sado in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Phuket as well as Sado. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Sado because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

Phuket is much warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phuket averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In the autumn, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Sado. Phuket gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Phuket receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Phuket usually gets more rain in October than Sado. Phuket gets 304 mm (12 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, December to March in Phuket is the dry season. June to October in Phuket is the rainy season.

Should I visit Phuket or Sado in the Winter?

Both Sado and Phuket are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sado this time of year.

It's quite cold in Sado in the winter. In the winter, Phuket is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phuket in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually receives more sunshine than Sado during winter. Phuket gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. In January, Phuket usually receives less rain than Sado. Phuket gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Phuket is December to March.

Should I visit Phuket or Sado in the Spring?

Both Sado 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.

In April, Phuket is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Phuket average around 29°C (84°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

It's quite sunny in Phuket. In the spring, Phuket often gets more sunshine than Sado. Phuket gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. Phuket usually gets more rain in April than Sado. Phuket gets 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year. June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.

Typical Weather for Sado and Phuket