Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Pyeongchang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Pyeongchang or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Pyeongchang or Koh Tao, 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: Pyeongchang or Koh Tao?
Pyeongchang
Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.
Koh Tao
With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.
This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.
Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPyeongchang $114Koh Tao $37
The average daily cost (per person) in Pyeongchang is $114, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Pyeongchang and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPyeongchang $62Koh Tao $14
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPyeongchang $124Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Pyeongchang and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Pyeongchang or Koh Tao? 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: Pyeongchang Hotel Prices and Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pyeongchang $25Koh Tao $8.67
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.18
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$18
Is it cheaper to fly into Pyeongchang or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Pyeongchang 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 dayPyeongchang $27Koh Tao $9.21
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$5.46
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Breakfast$4.09
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.27
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$13
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Pancake$1.91
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American Breakfast (for Two)$7.64
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$7.36
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pyeongchang $51Koh Tao $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$6.82
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Snorkel Rental$2.73
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$2.73
Tours and Activities in Koh Tao
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Tao.
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
- Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277
- Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
- Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
- Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
- Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
- Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPyeongchang $8.79Koh Tao $7.14
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$1.77
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pyeongchang and Koh Tao, we can see that Pyeongchang is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Tao would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Tao 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 Pyeongchang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pyeongchang than you might in Koh Tao.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pyeongchang Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Pyeongchang or Koh Tao?
Pyeongchang has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Tao experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Koh Tao in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Pyeongchang and Koh Tao. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Pyeongchang is around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pyeongchang in July average around 24°C (76°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
Pyeongchang usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during summer. Pyeongchang gets 144 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Pyeongchang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pyeongchang usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Pyeongchang gets 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyPyeongchang 24°C (76°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Pyeongchang as well as Koh Tao. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
In October, Pyeongchang is generally much colder than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Pyeongchang average around 15°C (60°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
In the autumn, Pyeongchang often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Pyeongchang gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pyeongchang usually gets less rain in October than Koh Tao. Pyeongchang gets 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year. October and November in Koh Tao is the rainy season.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberPyeongchang 15°C (60°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Koh Tao in the Winter?
Both Koh Tao and Pyeongchang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Pyeongchang. Pyeongchang is much colder than Koh Tao in the winter. The daily temperature in Pyeongchang averages around 0°C (33°F) in January, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. Pyeongchang usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during winter. Pyeongchang gets 190 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.
In January, Pyeongchang usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Pyeongchang gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter. The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryPyeongchang 0°C (33°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Pyeongchang or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Pyeongchang during the spring are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
In the spring, Pyeongchang is much colder than Koh Tao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pyeongchang in April average around 12°C (54°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 25°C (77°F).
In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Pyeongchang. In the spring, Pyeongchang often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Pyeongchang gets 204 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun.
Pyeongchang usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Koh Tao. Pyeongchang gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year. February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilPyeongchang 12°C (54°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Pyeongchang
| Pyeongchang | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 0°C (33°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | 1°C (35°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | 6°C (42°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 12°C (54°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (69°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (76°F) | 217 mm (8.5 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 25°C (77°F) | 262 mm (10.3 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 20°C (68°F) | 216 mm (8.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (60°F) | 112 mm (4.4 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (49°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | 3°C (38°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 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.