Which place is cheaper, Khao Sok National Park or Queenstown?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Queenstown or Khao Sok National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Queenstown and Khao Sok National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Queenstown or Khao Sok National Park?
Queenstown
Queenstown is a popular tourist destination on New Zealand's South Island. It is beautifully surrounded by the Southern Alps and sits on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. Across the lake you will find a stunning view of the Remarkables, a dramatic mountain range. The town itself is quite touristy, but prices still remain reasonable. There are options for all travel budgets, whether you're a backpacker hoping to save a few dollars or a family looking for some luxury accommodation. Despite its natural and tranquil setting, Queenstown is actually very much a party town, particularly during the peak seasons. Don't be surprised to find people out enjoying themselves until the early hours of the morning. If you're not into the party scene and are hoping to get a decent night's sleep, consider staying a little outside of town. About an hour outside of Queenstown you'll find Wanaka, which is a much smaller and peaceful town without the party scene.
Khao Sok National Park
In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.
Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.
You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.
To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in New Zealand, The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayQueenstown $104Khao Sok National Park $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Queenstown is $104, while the average daily cost in Khao Sok National Park is $88. 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 Queenstown and Khao Sok National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personQueenstown $55Khao Sok National Park $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomQueenstown $110Khao Sok National Park $44
Compare Hotels in Queenstown and Khao Sok National Park
Looking for a hotel in Queenstown or Khao Sok National Park? 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: Queenstown Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Queenstown $10Khao Sok National Park $64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queenstown
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queenstown:
- Queenstown Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Queenstown: $68
- From Mount Cook Transfer w/ Guided Landmark Tour: $104
- Private Transfer from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Port: $166
- Private Transfer from Queenstown to Milford Sound Cruise Port: $166
- Private Transfer from Queenstown Central to Wanaka: $178
- Private Transfer from Wanaka to Queenstown Airport: $178
- Private Transfer from Wanaka to Queenstown Central: $178
- Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer: $736
- Tasman Glacier Helihike with Flight Transfers: $890
Is it cheaper to fly into Queenstown or Khao Sok National Park?
Prices for flights to both Khao Sok National Park and Queenstown 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 dayQueenstown $36Khao Sok National Park $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Queenstown
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Queenstown.
- Bar Crawl with 5 Free Shots and Pizza: $18
- Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown: $114
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Queenstown $21Khao Sok National Park $28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Queenstown
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Queenstown are as follows:
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Skyline Gondola (for 2)$30
Tours and Activities in Queenstown
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Queenstown are as follows:
- Time Tripper Underwater Experience: $8.91
- Skip the Line: Odyssey Sensory Maze Entry Queenstown Ticket: $19
- Private Race Car Simulation Experience: $20
- Gibbston Valley Wines - Winery Tour: $23
- Escape Adventure AR Experience in Queenstown: $24
- Fear Factory Haunted House Admission Ticket: $24
- Minus 5 Ice Bar Experience with Drink Options: $25
- Go Karts - Highlands Motorsport and Tourism Park: $30
- Lake Wakatipu Scenic Cruise: $35
- Million Dollar Cruise in Queenstown: $36
- Kids Club Experience Including Childcare: $48
- Guided Segway Tour: $53
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayQueenstown $8.90Khao Sok National Park $5.65
Sample the Local Flavors in Queenstown
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Queenstown:
- Ice Bar Crawl: $24
- Queenstown & Gibbston Valley: Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tours: $53
- Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Bannockburn - departing Queenstown: $60
- Afternoon brewery tour with lunch: $110
- Afternoon Wine Tasting Tour with 3 Wineries: $110
- Original Wine Tour: $112
- Classic Wine Tour: $118
- Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Vineyards, Caves and Cheeseboard: $120
- Wine Tasting Tour: $130
- Afternoon Boutique Wine Tour: $132
- The Ultimate Luxury Hop on Hop off Wine Tour: $138
- Central Otago Wine Tour from Queenstown Including Lunch: $144
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Queenstown and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Queenstown is more expensive. And not only is Khao Sok National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Queenstown is in Pacific and Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Khao Sok National Park 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 Queenstown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Queenstown than you might in Khao Sok National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Queenstown Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.
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.