Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Ponce?
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 Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Ponce and Koh Pha Ngan can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan?
Ponce
Ponce is on the south coast of Puerto Rico. It's the second largest city on the island and has been around since 1692 when it was originally founded by Ponce de Leon's grandson Juan Ponce de Leon y Loayza. The city has several nicknames, including La Perla del Sur (The Pearl of the South), La Ciudad Senorial (The Noble, or Lordly, City), and La Ciudad de las Quenepas (Genip City).
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Ponce Prices
Puerto Rico PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPonce $230Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Ponce is $230, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $61. 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 Ponce and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPonce $151Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPonce $302Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Ponce and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan? 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: Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ponce $10Koh Pha Ngan $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ponce
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ponce:
- Aguadilla Hernandez Airport (BQN) to Isabela - RoundTrip Transfer: $87
- Isabela / Hatillo to Aguadilla Airport(BQN) - DepartureTransfer: $44
- Private Transfer from San Juan City Hotels to Ponce Cruise Port: $79
- Private Transfers from SJU Airport to Isla Verde, Condado or San Juan área : $60
- Rio Grande hotel to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $109
- San Juan Departure Share Transfer: $27
- San Juan PR Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Transfer: $46
- San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Transfer SJU Airport to Humacao and Nagüabo. Vice Versa One Way Trip: $185
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
- Vega Baja to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $170
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$9.42
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Ferry Ride$16
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Gas for Scooter$3.45
Is it cheaper to fly into Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan and Ponce 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 dayPonce $61Koh Pha Ngan $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ponce
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ponce.
- Latin Night with Dinner and Local Music with Transportation: $59
- Puerto Rico Art and Wine Dinner with One Way Transportation: $89
- Private Cooking Class with a Fun Local in San German, Puerto Rico: $96
- Private Half-Day Island Authentic Food Tour : $130
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.26
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$12
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.26
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Ice Cream$0.63
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Juice$1.88
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3 Spring Rolls$0.94
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2 Pancakes$1.88
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ponce $56Koh Pha Ngan $19
Tours and Activities in Ponce
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ponce are as follows:
- Private Sunset Walking Tour in San Juan: $25
- Guided Walking Tour in Ponce: $30
- Historical Walking Tour in Old San Juan: $30
- La Perla Cultural Tour: $35
- Prive Tours in Puerto Rico: $40
- Las Tinajas Waterfall: Guided Short Hike Adventure from Fajardo: $55
- Walking Guided Tour of History and Myths of Old San Juan : $60
- 2.5-Hour Historical Walking Tour of Old San Juan: $65
- Half-Day El Yunque Rainforest Tour from Fajardo: $65
- Half-Day Small-Group River Experience in El Yunque with Local : $68
- El Yunque Rainforest, Waterslides & Beach Tour from San Juan: $75
- Party Bus Experience in San Juan, Puerto Rico: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPonce $16Koh Pha Ngan $11
Sample the Local Flavors in Ponce
Also in Ponce, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Artisan Puertorrican Winery and Distillery Tour: $50
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$8.16
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ponce and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Ponce is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ponce is in Caribbean Islands and Koh Pha Ngan is in Asia, 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 Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Ponce would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ponce than you might in Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ponce Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan?
Ponce has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Ponce and Koh Pha Ngan, 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.
When is the best time to visit Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ponce and Koh Pha Ngan. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Ponce year-round. Koh Pha Ngan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Koh Pha Ngan receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Ponce usually receives less rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Ponce gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.
In July, Ponce is generally a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 28°C (83°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPonce 28°C (83°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Ponce as well as Koh Pha Ngan. Ponce attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Pha Ngan throughout the year.
Also, December to March in Koh Pha Ngan is the dry season. October and November in Koh Pha Ngan is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Pha Ngan. Ponce receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Ponce usually gets less rain in October than Koh Pha Ngan. Ponce gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
Ponce is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan in the autumn. The daily temperature in Ponce averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPonce 28°C (82°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan in the Winter?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Ponce are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Ponce throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Pha Ngan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
The dry season in Koh Pha Ngan is December to March. In January, Ponce usually receives more rain than Koh Pha Ngan. Ponce gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In the winter, Ponce is a little warmer than Koh Pha Ngan. Typically, the winter temperatures in Ponce in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Koh Pha Ngan averages at about 22°C (72°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPonce 25°C (77°F)Koh Pha Ngan 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Ponce or Koh Pha Ngan in the Spring?
Both Koh Pha Ngan and Ponce during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Ponce because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Pha Ngan year-round.
Ponce usually gets more rain in April than Koh Pha Ngan. Ponce gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Koh Pha Ngan receives 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
In April, Ponce is generally around the same temperature as Koh Pha Ngan. Daily temperatures in Ponce average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Pha Ngan fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPonce 26°C (79°F)Koh Pha Ngan 24°C (76°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Pha Ngan and Ponce
| Ponce | Koh Pha Ngan | |||
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| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 25°C (77°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Mar | 26°C (78°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) |
| Apr | 26°C (79°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (83°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (83°F) | 130 mm (5.1 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) |
| Oct | 28°C (82°F) | 135 mm (5.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 134 mm (5.3 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.