A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tampere vs. Phuket for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tampere or Phuket?

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 Tampere and Phuket can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Tampere or Phuket?

Tampere

Tampere is a city in southern Finland. It sits between Nasijarvi Lake and Pyhajarvi Lake, with the Tammerkoski rapids in between. It is one of the larger Finnish cities, with more than 200,000 inhabitants, but Tampere has managed to keep the small town feel. The city center is compact in size, and the atmosphere is friendly and casual. The city is located on a scenic spot on a narrow isthmus. The Tammerkoski rapids and their riverbanks form the backdrop for the old industrial buildings, and ridges formed thousands of years ago by ancient seas and retreating ice offer fantastic views over the two lakes. Original architecture and innovative urban development blend together to please both viewers and users of the built environment. Enjoy the surrounding lakes on peaceful rowboat trips or on cruises on larger vessels, or concentrate on the urban sights from a sightseeing bus. Regenerated industrial buildings now house quirky museums, enticing shops, pubs, cinemas and cafes. Tampere has a down-to-earth vitality that makes it a favorite for many visitors.

Phuket

Phuket Island is the holiday gem of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Finland, The Best Budget Tours to Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Phuket or Tampere?

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 Tampere is €172, while the average daily cost in Phuket is €117. 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 Tampere and Phuket in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tampere €80
    Phuket €54
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tampere €160
    Phuket €108
Compare Hotels in Tampere and Phuket

Looking for a hotel in Tampere or Phuket? 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 Tampere


Hotels in Phuket


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: Tampere Hotel Prices and Phuket Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tampere €59
    Phuket €10

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tampere

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

  • Tampere Private Transfer from Tampere city centre to Tampere airport: $91
  • Forest Campfire Experience with Hotel Transfer: $404

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:


  • Longtail Taxi (for Two)
    €7.95
  • Taxi from Airport to Phuket Town
    €6.63

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:

  • Krabi to Island Transfer & Private Phi Phi Tour: $430
  • Phuket’s Must-Do Tours with Return Private Airport Transfers: $242
  • Jet Ski Island Hopping Tour with Transfers from Phuket: $211
  • Phuket Airport to Koh Lanta any hotel Private transfer: $184
  • Flying Hanuman Ziplining Experience in Phuket with Return Transfer: $166
  • ATV Bike 1 hr + Zipline Adventure 35 platforms with meal and Free Transfer: $154
  • Phuket Phi Phi Private Longtail Boat with Hotel Transfer: $147
  • Phi Phi Khai and Bamboo Island Sunrise with Transfer from Phuket: $142
  • Private Phuket Airport Transfer to Hotels: $138
  • Flying Hanuman Ziplines 42 platform & Transfer RoundTrips: $138
  • Private Airport Arrival Transfer : Airport to Hotel in Krabi: $130
  • ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer: $129

Is it cheaper to fly into Tampere or Phuket?

Prices for flights to both Phuket and Tampere 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
    Tampere €57
    Phuket €37

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tampere

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

  • Tampere Food Tour Local Tastings, Meal & Rooftop City Views: $102
  • Food Tour with Tastings, Meal, & Rooftop City Views: $110
  • From Private Lakeside Sauna & Campfire Dinner: $681

Typical Food Prices in Phuket

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:


  • Casual Dinner (for Two)
    €7.66
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    €4.51
  • Sit Down Dinner (for Two)
    €11
  • Thai Noodles
    €2.39
  • Bananas
    €0.66
  • Pizza (for Two)
    €7.95

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.

  • Authentic Peranakan Cooking Class & Tasting Menu in Phuket: $29
  • Phuket Express Thai Cooking Course with Authentic Recipes: $47
  • Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket: $50
  • Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $51
  • Catamaran Sunset Cruise in Phuket with Dinner at Promthep Cape: $52
  • 3-Hour Authentic Thai Cooking Experience: $52
  • Phuket 10+ Tastings Food Tour & Charming Old Town: $52
  • Phuket Coral Island & Sunset Dinner Cruise by Catamaran Yacht: $53
  • Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket: $55
  • Simply Thai Cooking Experience: $55
  • Phuket Coral Island and Sunset Dinner by Luxury Catamaran: $58
  • Coral Island Premium Yacht Half Day Tour with Sunset Dinner: $58

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tampere €24
    Phuket €41

Tours and Activities in Tampere

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tampere.

  • Tampere Private Walking Tour with a Local: $47
  • Guided Walking Tour with Coffee & Snacks: $52
  • Mushroom Picking and Tasting Tour with Meal: $53
  • Midnight Sun Canoe Tour with Crepes: $58
  • Fatbike Tour with Coffee Stop: $63
  • Private Forest Mind Tour in Tampere: $65
  • Calm lake Experience at Hatanpää Manor: $75
  • The Uncomplicated Finnish Forest Tour: $80
  • Tampere Scenic Bike Tour with Sauna and Local Flavors: $102
  • Näsijärvi Lake Guided Paddling Tour: $106
  • Finnish Sauna & Lake Swim Bike Tour: $126
  • City and Nature Walking Tour with Local Guide: $126

Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket

Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:


  • One Day Boat Tour
    €24
  • Scuba Diving (Two Dives)
    €66
  • Thai Oil Massage
    €17
  • Surfboard Rental
    €7.95

Tours and Activities in Phuket

Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • (Bookable Rows 1–3)Simon Cabaret Show Tickets in Patong Phuket: $25
  • 1 Day Phuket Sightseeing Tour Without Shopping: $37
  • 1 Hour Phuket ATV on Tour + Big Buddha: $39
  • 1-Hour Quad Bike ATV Ride – Ultimate Adventure: $60
  • 12 Islands Overnight Tour: $199
  • 2 Day Tour to James Bond Islands, Krabi and Phi Phi: $184
  • 2 Days 1 Night Surin Islands Snorkeling Tour from Phuket: $230
  • 2 Hours ATV Riding in Phuket (Popular Tour): $98
  • 2 dives on coral reefs - no prior experience required: $184
  • 3 Hour Zipline Adventure Park Experience: 65 Platforms: $104
  • 3 Khai Islands Tour- Snorkel, Swim & Relax (Half or Full Day): $33
  • 3-Island Speedboat Tour: Racha Noi, Racha Yai & Maiton: $125

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tampere €10
    Phuket €6.18

Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:


  • Cocktails (for Two)
    €5.30
  • Beer
    €2.25

Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket

Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Pub Crawl Rooftop, Bars, GoGo & 3 Clubs with Shots: $17
  • Phuket Guided Pub Crawl: $29
  • Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience: $40
  • Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience and Lunch: $52
  • Phuket Real City Tour with Rum Cocktail Distillery: $86
  • Half Day Rum Distillery Tour & Sunset Viewpoint: $95
  • Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery: $107
  • Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket: $132


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

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


Which is Bigger, Tampere or Phuket?

Tampere has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Tampere and Phuket, 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.


When is the best time to visit Tampere or Phuket?

Tampere has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Phuket experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Tampere or Phuket in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Tampere as well as Phuket. The warm climate attracts visitors to Phuket throughout the year.

Tampere is much colder than Phuket in the summer. The daily temperature in Tampere averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phuket. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampere this time of the year. In the summer, Tampere often gets more sunshine than Phuket. Tampere gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Phuket. Tampere usually gets less rain in July than Phuket. Tampere gets 80 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Tampere 16°C (61°F) 
    Phuket 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Tampere or Phuket in the Autumn?

Both Phuket and Tampere are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Phuket because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Tampere is much colder than Phuket. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tampere in October average around 5°C (42°F), and Phuket averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Tampere usually receives less sunshine than Phuket during autumn. Tampere gets 81 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Phuket. In October, Tampere usually receives less rain than Phuket. Tampere gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Phuket is December to March. The rainy season in Phuket is June to October.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Tampere 5°C (42°F) 
    Phuket 27°C (81°F)

Should I visit Tampere or Phuket in the Winter?

Both Phuket and Tampere during the winter are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Phuket year-round.

Tampere can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Tampere is generally much colder than Phuket. Daily temperatures in Tampere average around -7°C (19°F), and Phuket fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

In Phuket, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Tampere often gets less sunshine than Phuket. Tampere gets 37 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phuket receives 287 hours of full sun.

Tampere usually gets more rain in January than Phuket. Tampere gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Phuket.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Tampere -7°C (19°F) 
    Phuket 28°C (82°F)

Should I visit Tampere or Phuket in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampere and Phuket. Phuket attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Tampere can be very cold during spring. Tampere is much colder than Phuket in the spring. The daily temperature in Tampere averages around 3°C (38°F) in April, and Phuket fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phuket this time of the year. Tampere usually receives less sunshine than Phuket during spring. Tampere gets 174 hours of sunny skies, while Phuket receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Phuket receives a lot of rain in the spring. In April, Tampere usually receives less rain than Phuket. Tampere gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Phuket receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, June to October is the rainy season in Phuket.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Tampere 3°C (38°F) 
    Phuket 29°C (84°F)

Typical Weather for Phuket and Tampere

Tampere Phuket
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -7°C (19°F) 36 mm (1.4 in) 28°C (82°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Feb -7°C (19°F) 24 mm (0.9 in) 28°C (83°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Mar -3°C (27°F) 25 mm (1 in) 29°C (84°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Apr 3°C (38°F) 31 mm (1.2 in) 29°C (84°F) 120 mm (4.7 in)
May 10°C (50°F) 35 mm (1.4 in) 28°C (83°F) 318 mm (12.5 in)
Jun 15°C (58°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 28°C (82°F) 279 mm (11 in)
Jul 16°C (61°F) 80 mm (3.1 in) 28°C (82°F) 287 mm (11.3 in)
Aug 15°C (59°F) 83 mm (3.3 in) 28°C (82°F) 262 mm (10.3 in)
Sep 10°C (50°F) 65 mm (2.6 in) 27°C (81°F) 399 mm (15.7 in)
Oct 5°C (42°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 27°C (81°F) 304 mm (12 in)
Nov 0°C (32°F) 55 mm (2.2 in) 27°C (81°F) 165 mm (6.5 in)
Dec -4°C (24°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 27°C (81°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)