A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tiberias vs. Koh Tao for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tiberias or Koh Tao?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Tiberias or Koh Tao? 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: Tiberias or Koh Tao?

Tiberias

Tiberias is a major tourist destination in Israel. It's positioned on the western side of the Sea of Galilee and is a popular spot for Israeli and international tourists alike. The town itself offers great views of the beautiful blue waters and the surrounding green hills. Tiberias is also considered to be one of the Jewish Four Holy Cities. Many people also use Tiberias as a jumping off point to explore the Golan Heights area.

Koh Tao

With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.

This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.

Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Jerusalem, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Jerusalem, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Tiberias?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tiberias is $87, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $37. 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 Tiberias and Koh Tao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tiberias $55
    Koh Tao $14
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tiberias $110
    Koh Tao $28
Compare Hotels in Tiberias and Koh Tao

Looking for a hotel in Tiberias or Koh Tao? 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 Tiberias


Hotels in Koh Tao


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: Tiberias Hotel Prices and Koh Tao Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tiberias $4.55
    Koh Tao $8.67

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao

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


  • Motorbike Rental
    $5.18
  • Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry
    $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Tiberias or Koh Tao?

Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Tiberias 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
    Tiberias $28
    Koh Tao $9.21
Typical Food Prices in Tiberias

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


  • Lunch for Two
    $5.30
  • Pastry
    $1.86

Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:


  • Sit Down Lunch (for One)
    $5.46
  • Breakfast
    $4.09
  • Casual Breakfast (for Two)
    $3.27
  • Fancy Dinner (for Two)
    $13
  • Pancake
    $1.91
  • American Breakfast (for Two)
    $7.64
  • Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)
    $7.36

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tiberias $10
    Koh Tao $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tiberias

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


  • Two Bikes for Day
    $32

Tours and Activities in Tiberias

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

  • Culinary Day Tour of the Galilee: $287
  • Haifa Shore Excursion: Nazareth and the Galilee - for cruise ship guests only: $115
  • Safed Wine & Cheese Tour: $250
  • Shabbat Experience in Tzfat with Wine Pairing: $160

Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao

For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Kayak Rental (One Hour)
    $6.82
  • Snorkel Rental
    $2.73
  • Kayak and Snorkel (2)
    $2.73

Tours and Activities in Koh Tao

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

  • Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $22
  • Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $22
  • Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $23
  • 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $24
  • Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $28
  • Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $33
  • Koh Tao Viewpoint and Snorkeling Tour: $55
  • Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
  • Koh Tao Cliff Jumping Snorkeling Experience: $135
  • Koh Tao Snorkeling and Island Hopping Tour (Private) : $175
  • Advanced Adventurer - 2 days ( Advanced Open Water): $277

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tiberias $17
    Koh Tao $7.14

Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao

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


  • Beer
    $1.77
  • Bottle of Wine
    $10


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

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


Which is Bigger, Tiberias or Koh Tao?

Tiberias has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Tiberias and Koh Tao, 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 Tiberias or Koh Tao?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Tiberias or Koh Tao in the Summer?

Both Koh Tao and Tiberias during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Tiberias because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.

Koh Tao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Tiberias usually gets less rain in July than Koh Tao. Tiberias gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

It's quite sunny in Tiberias. In the summer, Tiberias often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Tiberias gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Tiberias is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tiberias in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Tiberias 28°C (82°F) 
    Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)

Should I visit Tiberias or Koh Tao in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tiberias and Koh Tao. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Tiberias year-round. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao. Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Tiberias usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Tiberias gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Tiberias, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tiberias usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during autumn. Tiberias gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tiberias is generally around the same temperature as Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Tiberias average around 24°C (75°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Tiberias 24°C (75°F) 
    Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)

Should I visit Tiberias or Koh Tao in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tiberias as well as Koh Tao. Tiberias attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.

Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season. Tiberias usually gets less rain in January than Koh Tao. Tiberias gets 41 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. In the winter, Tiberias often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Tiberias gets 184 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun.

Tiberias is much colder than Koh Tao in the winter. The daily temperature in Tiberias averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Tiberias 14°C (57°F) 
    Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)

Should I visit Tiberias or Koh Tao in the Spring?

Both Koh Tao and Tiberias are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Tiberias throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. In April, Tiberias usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Tiberias gets 26 mm (1 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tiberias. Tiberias usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during spring. Tiberias gets 269 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Tiberias is cooler than Koh Tao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tiberias in April average around 20°C (68°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 25°C (77°F).


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Tiberias 20°C (68°F) 
    Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)

Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Tiberias

Tiberias Koh Tao
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 14°C (57°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 22°C (72°F) 94 mm (3.7 in)
Feb 14°C (57°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 23°C (74°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Mar 16°C (61°F) 47 mm (1.9 in) 24°C (75°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Apr 20°C (68°F) 26 mm (1 in) 25°C (77°F) 74 mm (2.9 in)
May 23°C (73°F) 3 mm (0.1 in) 25°C (78°F) 189 mm (7.4 in)
Jun 27°C (81°F) 0 mm (0 in) 25°C (78°F) 174 mm (6.9 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 0 mm (0 in) 24°C (76°F) 174 mm (6.9 in)
Aug 29°C (84°F) 0 mm (0 in) 25°C (76°F) 206 mm (8.1 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 7 mm (0.3 in) 25°C (77°F) 158 mm (6.2 in)
Oct 24°C (75°F) 12 mm (0.5 in) 24°C (76°F) 276 mm (10.9 in)
Nov 20°C (68°F) 22 mm (0.9 in) 23°C (74°F) 380 mm (15 in)
Dec 16°C (61°F) 37 mm (1.5 in) 23°C (73°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)