Which place is cheaper, Fraser Island or Surat Thani?
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 Surat Thani or Fraser Island?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Surat Thani and Fraser Island 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: Surat Thani or Fraser Island?
Surat Thani
The best way to see the real culture of a country is to go where the tourists are not. If you are itching to experience real Thai culture, you may want to visit the city of Surat Thani. Located on the central gulf coast of southern Thailand, this city is usually the gateway to other Thai islands – meaning visitors run through it without stopping. Stay a while and get to know Surat Thani – known to the locals as the "City of Good People."
Fraser Island
Fraser Island, located off Australia's eastern Queensland coast, is the world's largest sand island. It is best known as a camping and ecotourism destination, with a number of panoramic viewpoints, beaches, lakes, and freshwater pools. Hervey Bay, a beachside city on the nearby mainland, is a primary gateway to the island.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Honeymoon Tours in Australia.
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Surat Thani Prices
Thailand PricesFraser Island Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurat Thani $71Fraser Island $243
The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $71, while the average daily cost in Fraser Island is $243. 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 Surat Thani and Fraser Island in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurat Thani $27Fraser Island $102
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurat Thani $54Fraser Island $204
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Fraser Island
Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Fraser Island? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surat Thani $27Fraser Island $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From URT Airport: Shared Transfer to Koh Samui/Koh Phangan: $3.10
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $16
- Private Transfer Koh Samui Airport to The Ritz Carlton Koh Samui: $22
- Samui Airport Transfer: $33
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $39
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $39
- Koh Samui: Zipline Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $62
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $78
- Surat Thani Airport to/From Ratchaprapa Dam Private Transfer: $81
- Surat Thani Airport: Private Transfer to/from Khao Sok: $90
- Donsak pier to Krabi,Phuket,Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $127
Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Fraser Island?
Prices for flights to both Fraser Island and Surat Thani 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 daySurat Thani $28Fraser Island $83
Typical Food Prices in Surat Thani
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Surat Thani:
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Dinner$4.71
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Surat Thani
For Surat Thani, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Koh Samui: Evening Thai Cooking Class with Organic Garden: $121
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surat Thani $5.72Fraser Island $45
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- Private Taxi Services and Tourism in Koh Samui: $13
- Samui Go-Karting Experience – Sodikart RT10 Outdoor Race: $22
- Koh Tao 5 Best Snorkeling Sunset Tour by Big Boat: $32
- Pig Island Koh Taen Snorkeling Tour by Speedboat from Koh Samui: $47
- Pig Island & Koh Tan Tour by Speed Boat (Snorkeling & Kayaking): $49
- Koh Samui Island Hopping Adventure in Coral and Pig Island: $53
- Khao Sok ATV Jungle Trail Adventure Experience: $57
- Koh Samui: Feed & Shower with Elephants Experience: $65
- Pink Dolphin and Pig Island Snorkeling Tour from Koh Samui: $65
- Dolphin Watching Tan and Pig Island Tour from Koh Samui : $66
- Full-Day Speedboat Tour to Koh Tao & Koh Nangyuan with Lunch: $69
- Koh Phangan: Quad ATV Jungle Adventure with Scenic Views: $73
Tours and Activities in Fraser Island
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Fraser Island are as follows:
- 2 Hours Hervey Bay Funset Cruise: $53
- Fraser Experience Shared Full Day Guided Tour: $208
- Hervey Bay Ultimate Whale Watching Cruise: $80
- Hervey Bay Whale Watching Cruise: $104
- Hervey Bay to K'gari/Fraser Island 2-Day Tour (Beach House): $370
- Hervey Bay: Best Value Half Day Whale Watching Cruise: $80
- Hervey Bay: Half Day Whale watching & Island Stop Tour: $111
- K'gari (Fraser Island) All Inclusive Day Tour: $174
- K'gari (Fraser Island) Small Group 4WD Adventure - From Noosa: $201
- K'gari (Fraser Island) Small Group Day Tour - From Rainbow Beach: $186
- Remote Fraser Island Experience: $173
- Remote K'gari (Fraser Island) & Whale Experience: $173
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurat Thani $5.71Fraser Island $21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surat Thani and Fraser Island, we can see that Fraser Island is more expensive. And not only is Surat Thani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Surat Thani is in Asia and Fraser Island is in Pacific, 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 Surat Thani would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surat Thani 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 Fraser Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Fraser Island than you might in Surat Thani.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surat Thani Expensive? and Is Fraser Island Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Surat Thani or Fraser Island?
Fraser Island has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Surat Thani experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Surat Thani or Fraser Island in the Summer?
Both Fraser Island and Surat Thani during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Surat Thani because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Fraser Island for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Surat Thani is around the same temperature as Fraser Island. Typically, the summer temperatures in Surat Thani in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Fraser Island averages at about 26°C (78°F)in January.
Fraser Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Surat Thani. Surat Thani usually gets less rain in July than Fraser Islandin January. Surat Thani gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuarySurat Thani 28°C (82°F)Fraser Island 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Fraser Island in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Surat Thani and Fraser Island. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Surat Thani year-round. Furthermore, many visitors come to Fraser Island in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Surat Thani is generally a little warmer than Fraser Islandin April. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 27°C (81°F), and Fraser Island fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
Surat Thani gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Surat Thani usually receives more rain than Fraser Islandin April. Surat Thani gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilSurat Thani 27°C (81°F)Fraser Island 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Fraser Island in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Surat Thani as well as Fraser Island. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, most visitors come to Fraser Island for the cuisine during these months.
Surat Thani is much warmer than Fraser Island in the winter. The daily temperature in Surat Thani averages around 25°C (77°F) in January, and Fraser Island fluctuates around 15°C (59°F)in July.
Surat Thani usually gets less rain in January than Fraser Islandin July. Surat Thani gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulySurat Thani 25°C (77°F)Fraser Island 15°C (59°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Fraser Island in the Spring?
Both Fraser Island and Surat Thani are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Surat Thani throughout the year. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Fraser Island because of the beaches and the natural beauty.
In the spring, Surat Thani is a little warmer than Fraser Island. Typically, the spring temperatures in Surat Thani in April average around 29°C (83°F), and Fraser Island averages at about 21°C (71°F)in October.
In April, Surat Thani usually receives less rain than Fraser Islandin October. Surat Thani gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Fraser Island receives 75 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberSurat Thani 29°C (83°F)Fraser Island 21°C (71°F)
Typical Weather for Fraser Island and Surat Thani
| Surat Thani | Fraser Island | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 163 mm (6.4 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (83°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 21°C (71°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | 25°C (77°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.