Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Akureyri?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Akureyri or Koh Tao?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Akureyri or Koh Tao, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Akureyri or Koh Tao?
Akureyri
Akureyri is the largest town in the northern region of Iceland, and is often considered the unofficial capital of the north. The town is a popular fishing port and is often used as a basecamp for visiting the more rural surrounding area. Akureyri is known for their great art scene, beautiful architecture, and stunning natural scenery.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Iceland, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.
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Akureyri Prices
Iceland PricesKoh Tao Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAkureyri $191Koh Tao $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Akureyri is $191, while the average daily cost in Koh Tao is $50. 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 Akureyri and Koh Tao in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAkureyri $103Koh Tao $16
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAkureyri $206Koh Tao $32
Compare Hotels in Akureyri and Koh Tao
Looking for a hotel in Akureyri 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.
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: Akureyri Hotel Prices and Koh Tao Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Akureyri $23Koh Tao $9.98
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Akureyri
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Akureyri:
- Whale Watching Tour with Transfer from Port: $141
- From Godafoss Waterfall Guided Trip with Transfers: $126
- Akureyri Airport (AEY): Transfer to/from Akureyri City: $29
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Tao:
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Motorbike Rental$5.97
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Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry$20
Is it cheaper to fly into Akureyri or Koh Tao?
Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Akureyri 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 dayAkureyri $71Koh Tao $18
Typical Food Prices in Koh Tao
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Tao:
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Sit Down Lunch (for One)$6.28
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Breakfast$4.71
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Casual Breakfast (for Two)$3.77
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Fancy Dinner (for Two)$15
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Pancake$2.20
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American Breakfast (for Two)$8.79
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Dinner at Bam Bam (for Two)$8.48
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Half Day Thai Cooking Class with Sea View from Koh Tao : $51
- Memorable Thai Cooking Class with Stunning View from Koh Tao : $55
- Private Thai Cooking Class at Rooftop Kitchen on Koh Tao: $208
- Koh Tao Private Rooftop Thai Cooking Class with Scenic View: $222
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Akureyri $18Koh Tao $30
Tours and Activities in Akureyri
Here are a few actual costs in Akureyri for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Akureyri Cruise Port: Mývatn Lakes, Waterfalls & Nature Trip: $282
- Akureyri Guided E-Bike Tour: $167
- Akureyri Port: Dettifoss, Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn Tour: $229
- Akureyri Port: Goðafoss and Akureyri Botanical Garden Tour: $170
- Akureyri Port: Goðafoss and the Forest Lagoon Tour: $203
- Akureyri Port: Godafoss Waterfall Classic Tour & Viewpoint: $82
- Akureyri Port: Lake Mývatn & Goðafoss Guided Tour with Lunch: $329
- Akureyri Port: Myvatn Nature Baths & Godafoss Waterfall Tour: $247
- Akureyri Private Walking Tour: $143
- Akureyri Private Walking Tour: $135
- 3-Hour Classic Whale Watching Tour by Ship: $108
- E-Bike Tour with Forest Lagoon Entry: $217
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Tao
For Koh Tao, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental (One Hour)$7.85
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Snorkel Rental$3.14
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Kayak and Snorkel (2)$3.14
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: $24
- Amazing 5 Point Snorkeling Tour in Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: $24
- Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $27
- Snorkelling Trip 5 Island Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nang yuan: $27
- Snorkel Tour to Koh Nangyuan and the hidden bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $27
- No Rush Morning & Afternoon 5 Stop Snorkeling tour for Koh Tao: $27
- 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $27
- Koh Tao Top Crystal Clear Snorkeling Day Tour by Big Boat : $27
- Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $29
- Koh Tao's First Light Snorkel Adventure with Oxygen Tours: $32
- Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $37
- CocoTipAdventures and Snorkel with Meals-BBQs-Cocktail-Sunset: $54
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAkureyri $15Koh Tao $8.22
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Tao
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Tao from other travelers:
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Beer$2.04
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Bottle of Wine$12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Akureyri and Koh Tao, we can see that Akureyri is more expensive. And not only is Koh Tao much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Akureyri is in Europe 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 Akureyri would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Akureyri 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 Akureyri Expensive? and Is Koh Tao Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Akureyri or Koh Tao?
Akureyri has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Akureyri 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 Akureyri or Koh Tao?
Akureyri has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Tao experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Akureyri or Koh Tao in the Summer?
Both Koh Tao and Akureyri during the summer are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Tao year-round.
In the summer, Akureyri is much colder than Koh Tao. Typically, the summer temperatures in Akureyri in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 24°C (76°F).
In the summer, Akureyri often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Akureyri gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun.
Koh Tao gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Akureyri usually gets less rain in July than Koh Tao. Akureyri gets 33 mm (1.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyAkureyri 11°C (52°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Akureyri or Koh Tao in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Akureyri and Koh Tao. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
It's quite cold in Akureyri in the autumn. In October, Akureyri is generally much colder than Koh Tao. Daily temperatures in Akureyri average around 3°C (38°F), and Koh Tao fluctuates around 24°C (76°F).
Akureyri usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during autumn. Akureyri gets 52 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Akureyri usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Akureyri gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, October and November is the rainy season in Koh Tao.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberAkureyri 3°C (38°F)Koh Tao 24°C (76°F)
Should I visit Akureyri or Koh Tao in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Akureyri as well as Koh Tao. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Akureyri. Akureyri is much colder than Koh Tao in the winter. The daily temperature in Akureyri averages around -2°C (28°F) in January, and Koh Tao fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Tao. In the winter, Akureyri often gets less sunshine than Koh Tao. Akureyri gets 7 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun.
Akureyri usually gets less rain in January than Koh Tao. Akureyri gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, February to June in Koh Tao is the dry season.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryAkureyri -2°C (28°F)Koh Tao 22°C (72°F)
Should I visit Akureyri or Koh Tao in the Spring?
Both Koh Tao and Akureyri are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Akureyri can get quite cold in the spring. In the spring, Akureyri is much colder than Koh Tao. Typically, the spring temperatures in Akureyri in April average around 2°C (36°F), and Koh Tao averages at about 25°C (77°F).
It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. Akureyri usually receives less sunshine than Koh Tao during spring. Akureyri gets 130 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Akureyri usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Akureyri gets 29 mm (1.1 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilAkureyri 2°C (36°F)Koh Tao 25°C (77°F)
Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Akureyri
| Akureyri | Koh Tao | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (28°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) | 22°C (72°F) | 94 mm (3.7 in) |
| Feb | -1°C (30°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) |
| Mar | -1°C (31°F) | 43 mm (1.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 2°C (36°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| May | 6°C (43°F) | 19 mm (0.8 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 10°C (50°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 25°C (78°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Jul | 11°C (52°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 174 mm (6.9 in) |
| Aug | 11°C (51°F) | 34 mm (1.3 in) | 25°C (76°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 7°C (44°F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 158 mm (6.2 in) |
| Oct | 3°C (38°F) | 58 mm (2.3 in) | 24°C (76°F) | 276 mm (10.9 in) |
| Nov | -0°C (32°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) | 23°C (74°F) | 380 mm (15 in) |
| Dec | -2°C (29°F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
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.