A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Sukhothai vs. Gili Trawangan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Sukhothai or Gili Trawangan?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Sukhothai and Gili Trawangan can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Sukhothai or Gili Trawangan?

Sukhothai

If you are the kind of wandering traveler looking to find calm and inner peace, you will want to add Sukhothai to your list. Also known as "the dawn of happiness," this area is best known for the ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai – the capital of Thailand during the 13th century. As the first capital of Siam, the area's temples and monuments are restored and ready for visitors from around the world.

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan, known as Gili T, is the most visited of the three Gili Islands, located on the northeast side of Lombok. These islands are known for world-class diving and snorkeling spots. It's not hard to see why, considering that any direction you step off the shoreline, there's a beautiful underwater world to explore.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Gili Trawangan or Sukhothai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Sukhothai is $59, while the average daily cost in Gili Trawangan is $36. 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 Sukhothai and Gili Trawangan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Sukhothai $23
    Gili Trawangan $24
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Sukhothai $46
    Gili Trawangan $48
Compare Hotels in Sukhothai and Gili Trawangan

Looking for a hotel in Sukhothai or Gili Trawangan? 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.

Hotels in Sukhothai


Hotels in Gili Trawangan


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: Sukhothai Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Sukhothai $17
    Gili Trawangan $2.76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sukhothai

Also for Sukhothai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer to Bangkok City: $268
  • Private Transfer to Bangkok City: $322
  • One -Way Private Transfer to Chiang Mai: $187
  • Sukhothai airport: Transfer to Sukhothai Historical Park: $78
  • Sukhothai Hotel Transfer: to/from Chiang Mai Hotel Transfer: $159
  • Sukhothai : private car transfer to/from Chiang Mai: $138

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gili Trawangan

Also for Gili Trawangan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer Three Gili Island Lombok by Speedboat: $100
  • Lombok Transfer From 3 Gilis to Airport or Hotel In Lombok: $45
  • Central Gili Island Bus Transfer Senggigi Mataram Kuta Lombok: $16
  • Airport private Transfer: $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Sukhothai or Gili Trawangan?

Prices for flights to both Gili Trawangan and Sukhothai 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Sukhothai $19
    Gili Trawangan $7.21

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Gili Trawangan

For Gili Trawangan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Sweet and Spicy - Indonesian Cooking Class in Gili Trawangan: $28
  • Learn to cook authentic Indonesian food at Gili Cooking Classes: $30
  • Gili Trawangan Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise with snorkeling: $91

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Sukhothai $33
    Gili Trawangan $3.98

Tours and Activities in Sukhothai

For Sukhothai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Cycling Sukhothai Full Day Countryside Tour: $32
  • 2.5-Hours Guided Countryside Sunset Bike Tour: $18
  • Full-Day Historical Park Cycling Tour with Lunch: $42
  • Half-Day Countryside Bike Tour: $26
  • Historical Park & Countryside Cycling Tour: $42

Tours and Activities in Gili Trawangan

For Gili Trawangan, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 5H All Inclusive Breakfast &Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $107
  • 5H All Inclusive Sunset & Snorkeling Cruise on Utopia Catamaran: $107
  • Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Cruise: $72
  • Gili Hai 3 Islands BBQ Sunset Cruise: $72
  • Gili Nanggu Day Tour: $80
  • Gili Trawangan 3 Island Half day Cruise with BBQ Lunch and Snorkeling : $91
  • Shared Gili Islands Snorkeling Tour: $19
  • Kuta Tour (South Of Lombok Beutiful Tour): $49
  • Lombok Private Customize Tour: $85
  • Lombok Private Tour Waterfall And Traditional Village Including Beach: $55
  • Private Snorkeling Experience in Gili Trawangan: $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Sukhothai $12
    Gili Trawangan $3.67


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sukhothai and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Sukhothai is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan 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 Sukhothai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sukhothai than you might in Gili Trawangan.

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


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