A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dunedin vs. Khao Sok National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dunedin or Khao Sok National Park?

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

Should I visit Dunedin or Khao Sok National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Dunedin or Khao Sok National Park?

Dunedin

Dunedin is the second largest city on the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the southeast coast and is largely Scottish in its heritage. It is part of the Otago region and has mild temperatures during the spring and summer, but extremely cold temperatures during the end of fall and winter. Dunedin is a university town; The University of Otago is the oldest in New Zealand, established in 1869. The students make up over a tenth of the entire city's population.

Khao Sok National Park

In the south of Thailand, visitors will find a gorgeous getaway of pure nature. The Khao Sok National Park is a jungle reserve that covers over 700 square kilometers, and described as one of the most beautiful wildlife reserves in the country.

Many say this jungle is over 160 million years old making it one of the world's oldest rainforests. The lush environment of limestone, waterfalls and thickets of vegetation will make any wanderer eager to discover more. Keep your eyes peeled for bears, boars, gaurs, tapirs, gibbons, deer, marbled cats, wild elephants and more. Look to the sky for over 300 species of bird and 38 different types of bats.

You'll find the best time to book is from December to April, better known as the dry season. From June to October there is significantly more rain and the threat of monsoons. Not only does it rain on your parade, but also it causes the leeches to emerge.

To enter the park is a 300 baht fee for foreigners, 150 for children, and 40 for Thai citizens. If someone tries to sell you a ticket for more than that, simply buy one at the park entrance. When planning your stay remember that your entrance fee is only valid for 24 hours. If you're staying multiple days, you'll need to pay up front. Often if you're with a tour, the entrance fee is included in the tour price, but you should inquire about this to make sure.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand, The Best Eco Tours in New Zealand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand.


Which place is cheaper, Khao Sok National Park or Dunedin?

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 Dunedin is $122, while the average daily cost in Khao Sok National Park is $126. 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 Dunedin and Khao Sok National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dunedin $51
    Khao Sok National Park $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dunedin $102
    Khao Sok National Park $56
Compare Hotels in Dunedin and Khao Sok National Park

Looking for a hotel in Dunedin or Khao Sok National Park? 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 Dunedin


Hotels in Khao Sok National Park


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: Dunedin Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dunedin $27
    Khao Sok National Park $74

Is it cheaper to fly into Dunedin or Khao Sok National Park?

Prices for flights to both Khao Sok National Park and Dunedin 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
    Dunedin $49
    Khao Sok National Park $52

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dunedin $17
    Khao Sok National Park $33

Tours and Activities in Dunedin

Here are a few actual costs in Dunedin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Olveston Historic Home Guided Tour: $16
  • Larnach Castle and Gardens Admission Ticket: $27
  • Larnach Castle & Gardens Admission Ticket: $28
  • Garden and City tour: $35
  • Heritage Dunedin City Walking Guided Tour: $39
  • Wildlife and Penguin Tour: $39
  • Otago Peninsula Wildlife Cruise with Monarch: $39
  • Monarch - One Hour Wildlife Cruise: $41
  • Wildlife and Penguin Tour: $43
  • Shore Excursion: V8 Trike, Peninsula and City Tour: $48
  • Dunedin Nature & City Tour – Full Day Cruise Excursion: $56
  • Iconic Shore Excursion: Dunedin City Highlights Tour: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dunedin $14
    Khao Sok National Park $6.50

Sample the Local Flavors in Dunedin

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dunedin:

  • Speight's Brewery Tour & Guided Tasting: $27
  • Speight's Brewery Guided Tour with Tasting: $27
  • City Sights Tour, Distillery & Lunch all inclusive: $138


When comparing the travel costs between Dunedin and Khao Sok National Park, we can see that Khao Sok National Park 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. Even though Dunedin is in Pacific and Khao Sok National Park is in Asia, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dunedin Expensive? and Is Khao Sok National Park Expensive?.