Should you visit Doha or Phuket?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Phuket can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Phuket?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
Phuket
Phuket Island is the holiday gem of southern Thailand. Known for its beaches and resorts, the island brings in a massive amount of travelers from all over the world, year round. Although the beaches are beautiful, Phuket has also become more westernized and tourist-oriented in recent decades, leaving many travelers to venture elsewhere to find that amazing beach with a more authentic Thai vibe. However, Phuket Island is quite large, and hidden gems can still be found.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand.
Which place is cheaper, Phuket or Doha?
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 Doha is $245, while the average daily cost in Phuket is $139. 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 Doha and Phuket in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Doha or Phuket? 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:
Doha Hotel Prices and
Phuket Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
-
Airport Transfer: Doha Airport DOH to Doha by Luxury Van:
$131
-
Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Business Car:
$86
-
Airport Transfer: Doha to Doha Airport DOH by Luxury Car:
$118
-
Departure Transfer: Doha to Hamad Airport DOH by Luxury Van:
$131
-
Desert Horse Riding Tour With Transfers From Doha:
$152
-
Doha : City Tour To All Main Attractions Including Transfers:
$30
-
Doha Airport (DOH) Private Transfer to Doha City Centre/Hotels:
$32
-
Doha Airport Arrival Departure Transfer to Doha City and Hotel:
$34
-
Doha Airport Transfer:
$99
-
Doha Airport Transfer Services with Pickup and Drop Off :
$49
-
Doha Arabian Horseback Riding Adventure in Desert with Transfers:
$120
-
Doha Night Desert Safari Camel Ride Dune Bashing with Transfer:
$39
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Phuket:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phuket
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phuket:
-
Ziplines 28 platforms with Free Transfer RoundTrips:
$80
-
ATV Bike 1 hr+ Skyline Adventure 28 platforms with free Transfer:
$133
-
Airport Transfer: Phuket to Phuket Airport HKT by Business Car:
$118
-
Andamanda Phuket Water Park Tickets with Transfers:
$114
-
Arrival Phuket Airport Private Transfer : Hotel in Phuket:
$43
-
Arrival Private Transfers from Phuket Airport HKT to Phuket City:
$130
-
Best ATV Bike and Ziplines Adventure with Transfer :
$42
-
Best Ziplines Adventure 30 platforms with free transfer :
$127
-
Departure Private Airport Transfer : Phuket Hotel to Phuket Airport:
$43
-
Departure Transfer: Phuket to Phuket Airport HKT by Business Car:
$118
-
Flying Hanuman Ziplines 42 platforms With Lunch & Transfer RoundTrips:
$123
-
Freedom Party Boat Cruise By HYPE Boat Club Phuket - Include Pickup Transfer:
$152
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Phuket?
Prices for flights to both Phuket and Doha 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
Doha $106
Phuket $43
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
-
Qatar Island District Sightseeing, Boat & Food Tour – 7 Tastings:
$144
-
Doha Desert Safari Full day With Dinner,Dune Bashing,Sandboarding:
$152
-
5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner:
$158
-
Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch or Dinner:
$160
-
Private Full Day Desert Safari Dinner and Camel Ride in Doha:
$190
-
Full-Day Desert safari With BBQ Dinner and Camp Activities :
$190
-
Full Day Desert Safari with Camp Access, Buffet Dinner,Camel Ride:
$195
-
Overnight Desert Safari Adventure:BBQ Dinner & Breakfast Included:
$210
-
Overnight Desert Safari – Includes BBQ Dinner & Breakfast:
$233
-
Desert Safari 7 Hours Tour with Dinner and Camp:
$270
-
Overnight Private Desert Safari with Buffet Dinner and Camel Ride:
$299
Typical Food Prices in Phuket
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phuket:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phuket
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phuket.
-
One Day Experience Cooking at Phuket Patong Thailand:
$28
-
Express Thai Cooking Class in Phuket:
$52
-
Vegetarian Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket:
$53
-
Phuket Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours:
$55
-
Authentic Thai Cooking Class by Suuko Wellness Spa:
$57
-
Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour and Hotel Pickup:
$57
-
Organic Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour in Phuket:
$57
-
Carnival Entertainment and Dinner Experience in Phuket:
$58
-
Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings:
$59
-
Phuket City Tour with Phothong Ride and Cooking Class:
$59
-
Phuket Easy Thai Cooking Class and Market Tour:
$61
-
Choose Your Own Dishes: Half-Day Thai Cooking Class in Phuket:
$63
Entertainment
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Doha City Tour in Qatar:
$15
-
3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar:
$20
-
Doha Tour App Hidden Gems Game and Big Qatar Quiz:
$21
-
Explore Heart of Qatar Doha City Tour with Professional Guide:
$22
-
Qatar Sunset Desert Safari: Dune Bashing & Golden Sands Adventure:
$30
-
Qatar Desert Safari Adventure Experience .:
$30
-
Picture-Perfect Tour of the City Most Instagrammable Spots:
$39
-
Moonlight on The Gulf A Doha Dhow Cruise Adventure:
$39
-
Doha Highlights Private City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide :
$40
-
Moonlight on the Marina A Traditional Dhow Cruise Experience:
$42
-
Doha Evening Cruise on a Traditional Arabic Dhow:
$45
-
Doha City Tour: Guided Tour to Souq Waqif, Katara, Pearl Island :
$45
Typical Entertainment Prices in Phuket
Here are a few typical costs in Phuket for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
-
One Day Boat Tour
$28
-
Scuba Diving (Two Dives)
$79
-
Thai Oil Massage
$20
-
Surfboard Rental
$9.42
Tours and Activities in Phuket
Here are a few actual costs in Phuket for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Oto Indoor Play Park Entrance Ticket in Phuket:
$7.90
-
Aquarium Phuket Admission Ticket:
$14
-
Phuket City Tour with Pickup Option:
$15
-
Feed Me Banana Elephant Experience Short Activity :
$16
-
Phuket Rock Beach Swing Tickets:
$16
-
Phuket Bird Park Admission Ticket:
$19
-
Phuket Highlights: Half Day City Tour with Landmark & Viewpoint:
$21
-
Phang Nga Bay Skywalk at Samet Nangshe Admission Ticket:
$21
-
Half Day Phuket City tour + Hotel Pick Up and Drop Off:
$21
-
Exclusive Jurassic Mini-Golf Ticket at Dino Park Phuket:
$23
-
Patong Beach Water Sports Adventure from Phuket:
$24
-
Athena Cabaret Show Admission Ticket in Phuket:
$25
Alcohol
Typical Alcohol Prices in Phuket
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Phuket from other travelers:
-
Cocktails (for Two)
$6.28
-
Beer
$2.67
Sample the Local Flavors in Phuket
Also in Phuket, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Experience:
$41
-
Phuket Sightseeing Tour with Rum Distillery :
$111
-
Big Buddha & The Distillery Phuket:
$136
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Phuket, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Phuket much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East and Phuket 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 Phuket would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phuket 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha than you might in Phuket.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Doha Expensive? and Is Phuket Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Phuket?
Doha has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Phuket. When comparing the sizes of Doha and Phuket, 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.
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