How much does it cost to travel to Koh Tao?
You should plan to spend around $37 (฿1,348) per day on your vacation in Koh Tao. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $9.21 (฿338) on meals
- $8.67 (฿318) on local transportation
- $28 (฿1,042) on hotels
A one week trip to Koh Tao for two people costs, on average, $515 (฿18,877). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Koh Tao has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Koh Tao expensive to visit?
Koh Tao is a very affordable place to visit. Located in Thailand, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the lower prices of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its affordability. Budget travelers enjoy spending long periods of time exploring Koh Tao in depth.
Within Asia, Koh Tao is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in Asia for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Luang Prabang, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Taipei.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Koh Tao Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Koh Tao?
The average Koh Tao trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Koh Tao travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
฿1,042
($28)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
฿318
($9)
|
|
Food 2
|
฿338
($9)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
฿968
($26)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
฿3 -
9
($0 - 0)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
฿131 -
393
($4 - 11)
|
Accommodation Budget in Koh Tao
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Koh Tao is $14 (฿521). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Koh Tao is $28 (฿1,042). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Koh Tao? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Koh Tao
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Koh Tao is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $8.67 (฿318) per person, per day, on local transportation in Koh Tao.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$8.67
฿318
How much does it cost to go to Koh Tao? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Koh Tao will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in Koh Tao are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Koh Tao, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Motorbike Rental
฿190
-
Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry
฿650
Food Budget in Koh Tao
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Koh Tao can vary, the average cost of food in Koh Tao is $9.21 (฿338) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Koh Tao should cost around $3.68 (฿135) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Koh Tao is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$9.21
฿338
Typical prices for Food in Koh Tao are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Koh Tao, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Sit Down Lunch (for One)
฿200
-
Breakfast
฿150
-
Casual Breakfast (for Two)
฿120
-
Fancy Dinner (for Two)
฿490
-
Pancake
฿70
-
American Breakfast (for Two)
฿280
-
Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)
฿270
Entertainment Budget in Koh Tao
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Koh Tao typically cost an average of $26 (฿968) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$26
฿968
Typical prices for Entertainment in Koh Tao are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Koh Tao, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Kayak Rental (One Hour)
฿250
-
Snorkel Rental
฿100
-
Kayak and Snorkel (2)
฿100
Tips and Handouts Budget in Koh Tao
Calculated from travelers like you
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in Koh Tao
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in Koh Tao is $3.41 (฿125), as reported by travelers.
-
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$3.41
฿125
Alcohol Budget in Koh Tao
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $7.14 (฿262) on alcoholic beverages in Koh Tao per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$7.14
฿262
Typical prices for Alcohol in Koh Tao are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Koh Tao, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Beer
฿65
-
Bottle of Wine
฿370
Water Budget in Koh Tao
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $1.86 (฿68) on bottled water in Koh Tao per day. The public water in Koh Tao is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$1.86
฿68
Koh Tao On a Budget
The beach at 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.
Sights
The entire island of Koh Tao is a sight to see. Take a bike and just tour the island for a day. Ko Nang Yuan, Freedom Beach, Mango Bay and Tanote Bay are just a few areas that provide amazing scenery. Really, though, for the best experiences, get off the bike and take a walk. Roads can't reach most of the spectacular views. Follow a path to John Suwan Mountain Viewpoint in the south, or Fraggle Rock in the north.
If all you want is to see some sandy shoreline, there are plenty of beaches to lounge on. The largest beach on the island is Sairee Beach. Located on the west side of the island, Sairee Beach is full of dive schools, resorts, restaurants and bars. The southern and central sections of this island are the place to be for the Koh Tao nightlife.
The main spot of Koh Tao is where the ferry will arrive. This is the Mae Head beach. There are plenty of shops, but keep in mind that this is one of the most expensive areas on the island.
Chalok Bay is where to go if you're looking to lay down a towel and chill. There are several resorts and restaurants but way less than Sairee Beach. If this still isn't isolated enough for you, there's Tanote Bay. There are no towns or villages on this beach, and only four resorts. Keep in mind, though, there aren't any ATMs here and you want to watch your step. The sane is coarse and there is broken glass in most places from people drinking while sitting on the rocks. It's still a beautiful place for relaxation and reflection.
Neighborhoods
The west coast of the island gently wraps around a large bay. The southern end of this bay is the ferry pier, where most travelers arrive. Heading north up the bay is a beautiful beach with many small hotels and resorts. The narrow roads providing access to these places are full of shops and restaurants for travelers.
The eastern side of the island is home to some smaller bays with a variety of additional accommodations.
Activities
The biggest draw to Koh Tao is the scuba diving. It's relatively inexpensive, easy, fun, and there are plenty of friendly critters waiting under those waters. You'll get to see turtles, stingrays, barracudas, reef sharks and countless smaller fish. Don't let the word "shark" scare you off. These sites are safe as the sharks are quite small. In recent years the large influx of tourists seeking the inexpensive scuba certification schools has led to a degradation of the coral reefs around the island, but the diving is still better than in most places in the world.
Koh Tao welcomes more than just divers, though. This beautiful island can provide a dream vacation for anyone who loves a good time on the water. Take your boat and explores the coves and bays of untouched mountain ridges. Scale those gorgeous mountains, and then do a daring cliff dive. Go wake boarding, work on your mini golf game or take a relaxing moment to get a massage.
Food and Dining
Koh Tao is full of all the specialties of Thai dining you could ask for. Seafood – especially barbecued fish- are on the menu almost anywhere you go. While many people living here are from all over the world, there are also other cuisines offered around the island.
If you're really interested in Thai food, ask your hotel about cooking lessons. They are frequently available in many of the resorts around Koh Tao.
Transportation
There is no car rental in Koh Tao, but you can rent a motorbike, ATV, or four-wheel drive. Bear in mind, the roads in Koh Tao are easily in the running for some of the most dangerous in the country. There are concrete roads that are worn into dirt roads - that lead to forty-five degree inclines. There are accidents on an almost-daily basis. Stick to the motorbikes and ATVs. If you absolutely must go by car, it's probably best to let the locals handle the roads and take you where you're going. Remember, taxis can be really expensive. It might be more cost-effective to rent that motorbike.
Related:
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Chiang Mai or other parts of
Thailand?
Going to the
Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan?
Hitting the beach in
Koh Samui?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
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.