Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Roatan?
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 Roatan or Koh Pha Ngan?
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 Roatan and Koh Pha Ngan. 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: Roatan or Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
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 Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Adventure Tours to Honduras, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Roatan Prices
Honduras PricesKoh Pha Ngan Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRoatan $42Koh Pha Ngan $61
The average daily cost (per person) in Roatan is $42, 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 Roatan and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRoatan $11Koh Pha Ngan $27
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRoatan $22Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Roatan and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Roatan 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: Roatan Hotel Prices and Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Roatan $18Koh Pha Ngan $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Roatan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:
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Water Taxi$4.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:
- Catch a ride to West Bay & back to Port, Hotel, or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $75
- Catch a ride to West End & back to Port, Hotel or Airport (Roundtrip Transfer): $60
- Chocolate Factory, Rum Factory, Markets, Island Tour, Private Transfer: $50
- Discover Scuba Diving in Roatan at Upachaya with Private Transfer: $150
- Ground transfers and ticket ferry to Utila or La Ceiba: $80
- Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan -Round-Trip Transfer: $115
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan - Arrival Private Transfer: $57
- Mahogany Bay Cruise Port to Roatan Island hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $124
- Mayan Eden Eco Wildlife Park, City Tour & Private Transfer: $67
- Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $155
- Roatan Buggy Adventure, Monkey & Sloth Park, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
- Roatan East End Cultural Experience, Island Lunch & Private Transfer: $99
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 Roatan or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan and Roatan 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 dayRoatan $15Koh Pha Ngan $20
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.
- Authentic Roatan Cooking Class and Cultural Experience: $125
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.Roatan $26Koh Pha Ngan $19
Tours and Activities in Roatan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:
- Organized trips and adventures: $26
- Half-day Shopping & Sightseeing Tour: $33
- Roatan Fun Bus Group Sightseeing Island Private Tour: $37
- Half Day Roatan Sightseeing and Jungle Island Tour: $41
- Roatan Jungle Top Wildlife Guided Eco-Park Tour: $45
- Roatan : Private Customizeble Tour with Driver & Guide: $45
- Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras: $45
- Private Customize Best of Roatan Island Tour: $45
- Roatan Coxen Hole Tour by Bus: $45
- Roatan Night Snorkel Adventure: $45
- Experience A Comprehensive Real Estate Tour: $46
- Roatan Private Custom Tour History culture Chocolate Rum Sample: $48
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRoatan $6.64Koh Pha Ngan $11
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 Roatan and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Koh Pha Ngan is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Roatan is in Central America 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 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 Koh Pha Ngan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Roatan Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Roatan or Koh Pha Ngan?
Koh Pha Ngan has a larger population, and is about 58% larger than the population of Roatan. When comparing the sizes of Roatan 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.
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.