A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Taipei vs. Koh Pha Ngan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Taipei 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 Taipei 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: Taipei or Koh Pha Ngan?

Taipei

Few cities in the world are full of more diverse opportunities than the cultural crosshairs city of Taipei. As the capital of Taiwan, this 300-year-old city is the financial, cultural and governmental center of Taiwan. Located in the northern part of the island between the Yangming Mountains and Central Mountains, this city of 2.6 million people is always ready to welcome more visitors.

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 Cultural Tours in Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Taipei?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $206, 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 Taipei and Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Taipei $155
    Koh Pha Ngan $27
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Taipei $310
    Koh Pha Ngan $54
Compare Hotels in Taipei and Koh Pha Ngan

Looking for a hotel in Taipei 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.

Hotels in Taipei


Hotels in Koh Pha Ngan


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: Taipei Hotel Prices and Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Taipei $11
    Koh Pha Ngan $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Taipei:


  • Easycard
    $2.15
  • Easycard
    $9.92

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei

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

  • Beito to Taipei Taoyuan Airport (TPE)-Departure Transfer: $192
  • Bruns 9 seater, charter tour, business transfer, airport transfer, round-the-island charter tour: $299
  • Jiufen: one-way private transfer to or from Taipei City: $42
  • Keelung (Taipei) Cruise Port to Taipei city - Arrival Private Transfer : $104
  • Keelung Cruise Port to Taiwan Taoyuan Airport (TPE) - Departure Private Transfer: $144
  • Keelung(Taipei) Cruise Port to Taipei-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $208
  • Keelung: one-way private transfer to or from Taipei City: $42
  • Luxury Chartered Private Transfer Taoyuan Airport to Taipei City: $140
  • Luxury Chartered Private Transfer from Taipei to Taoyuan Airport: $139
  • One-way Private Transfer between Jiufen and Taipei: $42
  • Private Transfer from Keelung (Taipei) Cruise Port to Taipei City: $76
  • Private Transfer from Keelung Port to Taiwan Taoyuan Airport(TPE): $133

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:


  • Scooter Rental
    $9.42
  • Ferry Ride
    $16
  • Gas for Scooter
    $3.45

Is it cheaper to fly into Taipei or Koh Pha Ngan?

Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan and Taipei 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
    Taipei $29
    Koh Pha Ngan $20
Typical Food Prices in Taipei

For Taipei, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • EasyCard
    $17
  • Lunch at The Can
    $7.28
  • EasyCard
    $33
  • Lunch
    $3.14
  • Lunch
    $1.98
  • Dinner
    $6.62
  • Lunch
    $3.80
  • Lunch
    $4.96
  • Louisa coffee
    $3.14

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taipei

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

  • Taipei Food Tour Taiwan Traditional Breakfast and Market and Tea: $45
  • Food Tours w/ Top 10 Taiwan Food (Breakfast/Dinner): $45
  • Taipei Food Tour: Night Market & Convenience Store(Food Included): $45
  • Taipei Walking Food Tour in Ningxia Night Market(10 Foods Incl.): $45
  • Local Favorites: Taiwan Night Market Food Tour in 2 hours: $49
  • Street Food & Hidden Eats Night Market Food Tour: $55
  • Taipei Hidden Eats, Market & Street Food Tour with 8+ Tastings: $55
  • Xiao long bao, Pork thick soup, Bubble milk tea. (Taiwan Cooking Class)-B : $65
  • Private Walking Food Tour in Ningxia Night Market(10 Foods Incl.): $70
  • Xiao Long Bao, Chicken vermicelli with mushroom and sesame oil, Tofu strips salad, Bubble milk tea. Taiwan Traditional Delicacies Experience-A (Taipei Cooking Class): $77
  • Iconic Food Tour: Local Street Food, Drinks & Sites: $82
  • Private Street Food Tour of Taipei with a Local Guide: $84

Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:


  • Noodle Lunch (for One)
    $1.26
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    $12
  • Smoothies (for Two)
    $1.26
  • Ice Cream
    $0.63
  • Juice
    $1.88
  • 3 Spring Rolls
    $0.94
  • 2 Pancakes
    $1.88

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Taipei $18
    Koh Pha Ngan $19

Tours and Activities in Taipei

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

  • Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Tour: $0.50
  • Old Town Walking Tour: $0.55
  • Vintage Taipei - Best of Taiwan and Sunset Walking Tour: $1.20
  • Chiang Kai-Shek Shilin Residence Ticket: $3.28
  • Zoo Entrance Ticket: $4.33
  • Walking Tours in Taipei Dihua, Longshan Temple, Shuanglian Market: $5.00
  • Taipei's Origin & Longshan Temple - Taiwan Cultural Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Night Market Walking Tours in Shilin, Ningxia, Longshan, Ximen: $5.00
  • Taipei Historic Shared Walking Tour: $5.00
  • Miramar Ferris Wheel Ticket: $6.57
  • Taiwan Museum, MOCA Taipei & Miniatures Museum Entry Tickets: $8.53
  • Taipei Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Taipei $19
    Koh Pha Ngan $11

Sample the Local Flavors in Taipei

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taipei:

  • Taipei Nightlife: Taipei Pub Crawls (2 Different Routes): $27
  • Private Tour to Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery: $145

Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:


  • Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)
    $8.16


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Taipei Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Taipei or Koh Pha Ngan?

Taipei has a larger population, and is about 660 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Taipei 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.