Which place is cheaper, Taupo or Surat Thani?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Surat Thani or Taupo?
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 Taupo 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 Taupo?
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."
Taupo
Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurat Thani $53Taupo $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Surat Thani is $53, while the average daily cost in Taupo is $111. 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 Taupo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurat Thani $25Taupo $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurat Thani $50Taupo $124
Compare Hotels in Surat Thani and Taupo
Looking for a hotel in Surat Thani or Taupo? 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: Taupo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surat Thani $24Taupo $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surat Thani
Also for Surat Thani, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Donsak pier to aonang , krabi town , klongmuang any hotel Private transfer: $114
- 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 Surat Thani Airport (URT) to / from Surat Thani: $196
- 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Surat Thani or Taupo?
Prices for flights to both Taupo 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 $14Taupo $24
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 $4.97Taupo $35
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Taupo
Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Bungy Jumping$152
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Jet Boating$56
Tours and Activities in Taupo
Here are a few actual costs in Taupo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 11-Day North Island Revive Small Group Tour: $1,959
- Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $30
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - Cabin in the Woods: $23
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Candy Cottage: $22
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Hunting Lodge: $23
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Marvelous Circus: $22
- Great Lake Trail Lake Taupo 2-Day Mountain Biking Tour: $97
- Hukafalls: 30-Minute Jet Boat Experience: $83
- Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $27
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 10.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $29
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 8.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $29
- Lake Māori Rock Carvings Scenic Boat Cruise: $29
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurat Thani $4.96Taupo $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Taupo
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:
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Wine$5.05
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surat Thani and Taupo, we can see that Taupo 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 Taupo 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 Taupo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taupo 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 Taupo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surat Thani or Taupo?
Taupo has a larger population, and is about 22470 times larger than the population of Surat Thani. When comparing the sizes of Surat Thani and Taupo, 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.