Which place is cheaper, Shiretoko National Park or Surat Thani?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Surat Thani or Shiretoko National Park?
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 Shiretoko National Park 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 Shiretoko National Park?
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."
Shiretoko National Park
Shiretoko National Park, Japan is comprises the entire Shiretoko Penninusla in the northeast island of Hokkaido. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is considered to be one of the most remote areas in Japan with very few and very small settlements. This makes Shiretoko the perfect place for a fun hiking and camping adventure.
While the park is open year round, the weather in the area tends to greatly affect the enjoyment of your trip due to harsh winters and heavy rain at the end of summer. There is a short period from May to early July that is considered the best time to visit due to slightly less rain and comfortable temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Japan, and The Best Adventure Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurat Thani $53Shiretoko National Park $74
The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $53, while the average daily cost in Shiretoko National Park is $74. 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 Shiretoko National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurat Thani $25Shiretoko National Park $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurat Thani $50Shiretoko National Park $66
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Shiretoko National Park
Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Shiretoko 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: Shiretoko National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surat Thani $24Shiretoko National Park $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Koh Samui: One-Way Ferry Transfer to Surat Thani: $7.16
- Private Airport Transfer in Koh Samui Sedan 1-3 PAX: $12
- Private Arrival Transfer : Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui Hotel (SHA Plus): $14
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Bo Phut: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Chaweng: $36
- Private Transfer from Samui (USM) Airport to Choeng Mon Beach: $36
- Transfer to Don Sak Pier: $59
- Donsak pier to aonang , krabi town , klongmuang any hotel Private transfer: $114
- Private Transfer Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Shiretoko National Park?
Prices for flights to both Shiretoko National Park 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 $14Shiretoko National Park $25
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$4.09
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:
- Khao Sok: Elephant Day Care, Cooking Class, & Bamboo Raft: $71
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surat Thani $4.97Shiretoko National Park $15
Tours and Activities in Surat Thani
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Surat Thani.
- Pick up and drop off tourists around Koh Samui: $14
- The one and only Zipline Experience of Lamai Viewpoint: $38
- Koh Samui Day and Night Fishing Experience: $48
- Koh Samui: 4x4 Sightseeing Safari & Elephant Sanctuary Tour: $58
- Koh Samui: Unique Iocal Tour & Elephant Sanctuary with lunch: $65
- Blue Stars Kayaking Adventure in Angthong Marine Park: $69
- X Quad Novice Waterfall ATV Tour (1 Driver): $76
- Koh Samui: Elephant Kingdom Sanctuary Half-Day Tour: $81
- Samui Dolphins Tour by Catamaran Yacht: $87
- Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake Sunset Cruise w/ Drinks: $91
- From Khao Lak/Khao Sok: Cheow Lan Lake and Emerald Pool Tour: $105
- Samui X Quad ATV Tour (1 Driver) with lunch: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurat Thani $4.96Shiretoko National Park $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surat Thani and Shiretoko National Park, we can see that Shiretoko National Park is more expensive. And not only is Surat Thani much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Shiretoko National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shiretoko National Park 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 Shiretoko National Park Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Surat Thani or Shiretoko National Park?
Shiretoko National Park 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 Shiretoko National Park in the Summer?
Both Shiretoko National Park 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, the summer months attract visitors to Shiretoko National Park because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Surat Thani is generally much warmer than Shiretoko National Park. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 28°C (82°F), and Shiretoko National Park fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Surat Thani. Surat Thani usually gets more rain in July than Shiretoko National Park. Surat Thani gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulySurat Thani 28°C (82°F)Shiretoko National Park 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Shiretoko National Park in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Surat Thani and Shiretoko National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Surat Thani year-round. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Shiretoko National Park this time of year.
Surat Thani is much warmer than Shiretoko National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Surat Thani averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Shiretoko National Park fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).
Surat Thani gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Surat Thani usually receives more rain than Shiretoko National Park. Surat Thani gets 240 mm (9.5 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberSurat Thani 27°C (81°F)Shiretoko National Park 10°C (51°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Shiretoko National Park in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Surat Thani as well as Shiretoko National Park. Surat Thani attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Shiretoko National Park. In the winter, Surat Thani is much warmer than Shiretoko National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Surat Thani in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Shiretoko National Park averages at about -6°C (20°F).
Surat Thani usually gets less rain in January than Shiretoko National Park. Surat Thani gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuarySurat Thani 25°C (77°F)Shiretoko National Park -6°C (20°F)
Should I visit Surat Thani or Shiretoko National Park in the Spring?
Both Shiretoko National Park 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, many visitors come to Shiretoko National Park in the spring for the natural beauty.
Shiretoko National Park can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Surat Thani is generally much warmer than Shiretoko National Park. Daily temperatures in Surat Thani average around 29°C (83°F), and Shiretoko National Park fluctuates around 5°C (40°F).
In April, Surat Thani usually receives more rain than Shiretoko National Park. Surat Thani gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Shiretoko National Park receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilSurat Thani 29°C (83°F)Shiretoko National Park 5°C (40°F)
Typical Weather for Shiretoko National Park and Surat Thani
| Surat Thani | Shiretoko National Park | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 25°C (77°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | -6°C (20°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Feb | 26°C (79°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) | -7°C (19°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Mar | 27°C (81°F) | 24 mm (0.9 in) | -3°C (28°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 29°C (83°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| May | 29°C (83°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (83°F) | 145 mm (5.7 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 20°C (67°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 28°C (82°F) | 196 mm (7.7 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 97 mm (3.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 240 mm (9.5 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 26°C (79°F) | 335 mm (13.2 in) | 4°C (38°F) | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Dec | 26°C (78°F) | 134 mm (5.3 in) | -2°C (28°F) | 51 mm (2 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.