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

Should you visit Bangalore or Koh Tao?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bangalore and Koh Tao can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bangalore or Koh Tao?

Bangalore

Bangalore is the capital city of the state of Karnataka, in India. It's also India's third largest city with a population of about 8.5 million. It's considered one of the most liveable cities in the country and was historically known for its many gardens and lush green spaces. Today those areas are all but gone, having given way to the growing population and sprawling metropolises. Bangalore is also the information technology hub of the country and is sometimes referred to as India's Silicon Valley.

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 Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Luxury Tours to India, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, and The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Koh Tao or Bangalore?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bangalore is $51, 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 Bangalore and Koh Tao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bangalore $19
    Koh Tao $16
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bangalore $38
    Koh Tao $32
Compare Hotels in Bangalore and Koh Tao

Looking for a hotel in Bangalore 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 Bangalore


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: Koh Tao Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bangalore $9.20
    Koh Tao $9.98

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Tao

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


  • Motorbike Rental
    $5.97
  • Chumpon to Koh Tao Ferry
    $20

Is it cheaper to fly into Bangalore or Koh Tao?

Prices for flights to both Koh Tao and Bangalore 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
    Bangalore $21
    Koh Tao $18

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)
    $6.28
  • Breakfast
    $4.71
  • Casual Breakfast (for Two)
    $3.77
  • Fancy Dinner (for Two)
    $15
  • Pancake
    $2.20
  • American Breakfast (for Two)
    $8.79
  • 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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bangalore $10
    Koh Tao $30

Tours and Activities in Bangalore

For Bangalore, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • From Delhi: Sunrise Taj Mahal, Baby Taj & Agra Fort Day Tour: $5.64
  • From Delhi: Taj Mahal Sunrise, Agra Fort, and Baby Taj Tour: $24
  • Taj Mahal and Agra Private Tour with free Airport pickup: $57

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)
    $7.85
  • Snorkel Rental
    $3.14
  • 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.

  • 5 Islands Full-Day Tour Around Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan: $27
  • Amazing 5 Point Snorkeling Tour in Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: $24
  • Basic Diver ( One Day Experience): $124
  • CocoTipAdventures and Snorkel with Meals-BBQs-Cocktail-Sunset: $54
  • Full day snorkeling adventure around Koh Tao: $24
  • Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao 5 Point Snorkeling Tour: $27
  • Koh Tao Island Puzzle and Treasure Hunt Adventure: $75
  • Koh Tao Snorkeling Tour to Hidden Bays and Koh Nang Yuan : $29
  • Koh Tao Top Crystal Clear Snorkeling Day Tour by Big Boat : $27
  • Koh Tao's First Light Snorkel Adventure with Oxygen Tours: $32
  • No Rush Morning & Afternoon 5 Stop Snorkeling tour for Koh Tao: $27
  • Premium Snorkel Tour to the Bays of Koh Tao onboard the Oxygen: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bangalore $8.61
    Koh 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:


  • Beer
    $2.04
  • Bottle of Wine
    $12


When comparing the travel costs between Bangalore and Koh Tao, we can see that Bangalore is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Bangalore or Koh Tao?

Bangalore has a larger population, and is about 3690 times larger than the population of Koh Tao. When comparing the sizes of Bangalore 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.