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Koh Tao vs Krabi cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated October 2026
🇹🇭 Koh Tao
🇹🇭 Krabi
At a glance
- Where Krabi is clearly cheaper: Haircut (50%↓), Transit (40%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (33%↓)
- Where Koh Tao is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (50%↓), Local meal (17%↓)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Krabi is easier to travel (2.8 vs 3.0). Biggest gap: language — Koh Tao 2 vs Krabi 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking ›
Item by item
| Item | Koh Tao | Krabi | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | ฿ 100$3.03 | ฿ 120$3.64 | Koh Tao −17% |
| Street food1 item | ฿ 60$1.82 | ฿ 60$1.82 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | ฿ 350$10.6 | ฿ 400$12.1 | Koh Tao −13% |
| Coffeeone cup | ฿ 80$2.42 | ฿ 80$2.42 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | ฿ 100$3.03 | ฿ 90$2.73 | Krabi −10% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | ฿ 180$5.45 | ฿ 200$6.06 | Koh Tao −10% |
| Bottled water | ฿ 15$0.45 | ฿ 10$0.3 | Krabi −33% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | ฿ 30$0.91 | ฿ 30$0.91 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | ฿ 400$12.1 | ฿ 300$9.09 | Krabi −25% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | ฿ 150$4.55 | ฿ 100$3.03 | Krabi −33% |
| Transitone ride | ฿ 100$3.03 | ฿ 60$1.82 | Krabi −40% |
| Scooter rentalper day | ฿ 250$7.58 | ฿ 250$7.58 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | ฿ 1,800$54.5 | ฿ 1,600$48.5 | Krabi −11% |
| Studio rent (month) | ฿ 13,000$394 | ฿ 10,000$303 | Krabi −23% |
| Laundry | ฿ 50$1.52 | ฿ 50$1.52 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 299$9.06 | similar |
| Haircutcut | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 150$4.55 | Krabi −50% |
| Massage1 hour | ฿ 300$9.09 | ฿ 350$10.6 | Koh Tao −14% |
| Half-day tourper person | ฿ 900$27.3 | ฿ 900$27.3 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | ฿ 100$3.03 | ฿ 200$6.06 | Koh Tao −50% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Koh Tao or Krabi?
Krabi is 12% cheaper than Koh Tao. Daily budget $112 vs $101; a month $1,831 vs $1,557.
Which is easier to travel, Koh Tao or Krabi?
Krabi is easier: Krabi 2.8/5 vs Koh Tao 3.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Koh Tao and Krabi?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Koh Tao is about $1,831 and Krabi about $1,557 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.