Which place is cheaper, Khao Sok National Park or Tauranga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tauranga or Khao Sok National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Tauranga or Khao Sok National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Tauranga or Khao Sok National Park?
Tauranga
Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.
Khao Sok National Park
In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.
Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.
You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.
To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTauranga $103Khao Sok National Park $88
The average daily cost (per person) in Tauranga is $103, while the average daily cost in Khao Sok National Park is $88. 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 Tauranga and Khao Sok National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTauranga $74Khao Sok National Park $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTauranga $148Khao Sok National Park $44
Compare Hotels in Tauranga and Khao Sok National Park
Looking for a hotel in Tauranga or Khao Sok 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: Tauranga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tauranga $6.78Khao Sok National Park $64
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tauranga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tauranga:
- Roundtrip Transfer from Port of Tauranga Omanu Golf Club: $73
Is it cheaper to fly into Tauranga or Khao Sok National Park?
Prices for flights to both Khao Sok National Park and Tauranga 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 dayTauranga $22Khao Sok National Park $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tauranga $10Khao Sok National Park $28
Tours and Activities in Tauranga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:
- Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Mount Maunganui Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Tauranga Harbour Scenic One Hour Historical Boat Cruise : $24
- Waimarino Adventure Park Supreme Pass Entry Ticket: $29
- Waimarino Adventure Park: $30
- 2-Hour Tauranga & Mount Maunganui City & Scenic Local Tour: $45
- 3hr Tauranga Sun-downer History Tour COMPLIMENTARY Wine or Beer: $54
- 4hr Tauranga Scenic History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $57
- 4hr Shore Excursion - History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $57
- Tauranga Shore Excursion: Small-Group Bay of Plenty and Tauranga Tour: $59
- Tauranga Shore Excursion: Omanawa Falls & Great Sights Tour: $72
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTauranga $10Khao Sok National Park $5.65
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tauranga and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Tauranga is more expensive. And not only is Khao Sok National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tauranga is in Pacific and Khao Sok National Park 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 Khao Sok National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Khao Sok National Park 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 Tauranga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tauranga than you might in Khao Sok National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tauranga Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.
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.